Start of the Race

The happiness that arises from meditation IS NOT the same as the feeling that comes from the pursuit of pleasure seeking.  Ask yourself, “Who can I make smile this morning?”  This is the ART of creating happiness.--Thich Nhat Hanh, HOW TO LOVE
On April 29th it was feeling odd being away from California.  Indiana isn’t for me (even if the houses are cheaper).  I decided to write mom and Alan postcards when I had my lull time.  I sent mom a START OF THE RACE, INDY 500 postcard because that’s how I feel (I’m at the beginning of the start of a race).  Alan received the POPPY FIELDS IN ANTELOPE VALLY, California card:
4-29-92Hi Mom,It’s cold here in Indianapolis.I’m going to try to go on a tour this Saturday of the INDY 500 Speedway.  It could be interesting.There’s not a lot to do here.  It’s a nice small town but the roads are long to get places.  June is only weeks away.  I’ll see (or call) you soon!Love, Michael


4-29-92Dear Alan,
This postcard reminded me of the HOWARD’S END movie and the neat journal you got for me.It’s so cold here in Indiana.  There are a handful of fellow new brokers that I like.  The rest I can do without.  Some seem like “schmucks”.   Two are from New Jersey.  One is going to work at the WORLD TRADE CENTER Schwab branch.  Do you remember when we were vacationing in NY and we went there?I may go to the INDY 500 this weekend.  I don’t know.I bought 100 shares of the SAMUEL GOLDWYN COMPANY stock at .75 cents per share.  It’s my last buy.  I promise.  I’m going to sell it when it goes up some (if it goes up).Love You,Michael
Feeling homesick I wrote mom again a few days later.  The pic of the boy on the postcard expressed my feeling of being in Indiana.  5-3-92Hi Mom,I’m sitting right in front of a water fountain in front of the INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART.  It’s 2:30pm and I just finished my tour.  They had a neat exhibit of a Swiss painter who did much of his painting in France.  His name is Felix Vallotton.  
I saw a few paintings that you would have liked.  One of them is a painting of PEPPERS ON A ROUND WHITE TABLE.   They had it in the form of a postcard, so I bought it for you.  I bought this card because it reminds me of how I feel about being in Indiana.  I’m a little lonesome—especially this weekend.   At least during the week I have some of the SCHWAB “goobers” to hang out with.  It’s getting a little windy here right now.Love You,Michael
The following day:
May 4, 1992Mom, Here are the PEPPERS on a painting ‘postcard’ by Felix Vallotton that I told you about.  It should look good in your kitchen. Ha-ha.
I’m in the hotel room now.  I bought some snacks of sunflower seeds, cashews and Spanish peanuts.  I’m enjoying them with this great root beer that’s from Biloxi, Mississippi. I can’t believe it’s already MAY.  Did you buy your plane tickets to LA?   You probably forgot to tell me (like that check from IDS).  You got a check from IDS and I never did.  That’s funny. Love You,Michael J Armijo
This week I had mail arriving in my mailbox from Gloria (Alan’s mom) and Jack; Barbara Reynolds; Paloma; and Dorothy Rua.  I would be reading them soon: 
KYOTO, JAPAN Monday, May 4thHi Michael,I’m sure you received this after you come home.  I’m doing lots of sightseeing:  Buddha’s; Shrines, Shinto Temples; Zen Meditation spots…very Japanese!  Miss you.Love you,Gloria and Jack
I adore this card from Barbara Reynolds of a young girl, playing violin in a mustard field.  I want to be there.

4 May 92Dear Michael,So…where is THE LACKAWANNA VALLEY.  It was the postcard you send from the National Gallery of ART in Washington D.C.   And how are the maids’ quarters?  It sounds like a neat change.  I think a lot about moving.  Alas, now is not the best time to think about that. I bet you did well in your training.  You are brilliant.
I was a bit relieved to get your postcards since the blazing of L.A. was happening those days and spreading toward your old location.  You certainly were gone at the “right” time.  Congratulations!You recovered from your appendicitis in 4-days?  How?  Today is 4-weeks since my surgery.  I still feel like I have to walk slower.  It’s certainly not my quick gate.  I will enjoy when it’s possible.  I still have this gut pain.  I’ll see the surgeon again tomorrow.  Perhaps that infection altered my experience.  I just can’t believe you recovered in 4-days.  So, I read this enclosed story yesterday and thought you would enjoy it.  Last week I received a note in response to my note about my story from a friend in Salem, MA (who will be here the 18th for her graduation).  Anyway, Mary told me that her mother’s sister died from a burst appendix at age 21, one year after her marriage.  So I consider us lucky.I just checked the map (for Marina Del Rey) and it is close to Venice.  I have great memories of Venice.Did I tell you my doc signed my disability form so that I go back to work on July 1st?  I understand now why he did that.  I even had another night (the 24th) in my same hospital bed.  I will get better soon.Love, Barbara
Hmmm…there was no insert of a story from her friend in Salem, MA.  I hope she remembers to send it in her next letter.  Oh well…no big deal.
Paloma’s postcard of a vintage baby was short and simple:
Dear Michael,This is the only postcard I could find in my drawers.  I always keep some for you but now I don’t know where they are.  As you can tell this is not a recent one.  I bought it at the open market.  I have to get some new ones.  This is a tiny town.  I think it’s hard to top some cards!United Airlines may still call you, no?  Or do you not want to be a flight attendant anymore?Love, Paloma
And from Dorothy…a Black and White romantic looking one:
5-4-92Dear Michael, I have about 8 pieces of correspondence on my desk at work from the TRAMMEL CROW Company (customer), so when I saw this envelope from your hotel in Indianapolis my immediate thought was, “Oh no, how did they get my home address?”
Obviously, I was relieved to see your address stickers on the back side of the envelope.
I’m really happy to hear from you, especially, with all that’s been going on in Southern California.  First, the earthquake, and then the reaction to the RODNEY KING verdict.  I wasn’t sure how near your home and workplace are to the “activity”.  I guess you’re fortunate to be in Indianapolis through the worst part.   It’ll be interesting to hear how that part of the country reacted to the violent rebellion and how the media presented the news to “middle America”.I hope you eventually find/found something fun to do in Indiana.  I was in South Bend, Indiana in a “previous life” and I don’t recall any of it. Love, Dorothy
So it was believed that neither rain, nor fire, nor wind could ever wipe out the stain of crime.  For justice hangs over the world like a great sledgehammer lifted by a powerful arm, which has to stop for a while before coming down with terrible force on the unsuspecting anvil.  As they used to say in the villages, even a speck of dust shows up in the sun.--Jerzy Kosinski, THE PAINTED BIRD