Change Of Pace

If you didn’t use priorities, when the music stopped you were left standing.--Robert A Heinlein, THE DOOR INTO SUMMER 
It looks like my former coworker at Charles Schwab & Co. (Brynly) who has moved to Massachusetts has begun to write me.  I wonder how long that will last?   It’s extremely nice to get her updates though.  Her style of writing is very conversational and amusing for me:  
October 21, 1993 Dear Michael,  SO, I’m lousy at picking out cards—and your preferences didn’t help I might add.  How the hell am I supposed to define “sexy or interesting”?  This is the best I could do for interesting.  I thought it seemed really busy and colorful.  So you might like it.  Anyway, I’m here in the big “B” (Boston).  My first day, actually so I am just hanging around going place to place...loitering in nice atmospheres to be honest.  It’s rainy and kind of chilly, so I’m really liking my change of pace.  I’m sure Chuck (Charles Schwab) is really missing my competent, yet, bitchy presence.  I know I sure am missing those positive attitude posters—the running horses with the title LEADERSHIP is one of my personal favorites...that or the big hand shake by the copier.  Can you tell how much I really miss L.A.?  I think I meant that rhetorically. So this is just a short note to say I’m here and so far, am liking it.  Tomorrow’s my interview so who knows what will happened with that.  Is wearing jeans and a t-shirt too dress?  Ha-ha. I can’t tell you how much ‘ve missed wearing panty hose the past few days.  I’m really looking forward to it.  I think when I’m feeling okay, my humor gets exceeding sarcastic and bitter. Anyway, take care, Amico Recordi Mi (Friend Remember Me), Address:  P.O. Box 44-1199 Somerville, MA 02144 Oh, I forgot, you have it programmed—anyway, that’s for reference. Ciao, Love, Brynly P.S.  As far as my messy writing goes this is pretty good, don’t you think? 
Brynly’s card was interesting.  It balanced out because Dorothy Rua’s latest card arrived a few days later and it was much more sexy:  10-25-93 Dear Michael, Can’t believe how quickly time is passing, days turning into weeks, then months.  Mainly because of all the hours I’m still spending at work.  More layoffs causing extra loads on the remaining employees.  Hope I can find something better by January.  During December I’ll only work about nine days, so I have that to look forward to.  Lately, I’ve found myself so tired out.  I deserve better, don’t I? 
Somehow I have managed to find a few hours now and then to meet with different friends.  One of the guys I work with (he started about 3 months ago) recently returned from a year and a half long trip through Australia/Indonesia/India.  Fascinating parts of the world, especially  Indonesia.  We’ve shared a couple MARGARITA evenings going through his pictures and listening to his adventures.  Made me think of you and how I wish I could spend time looking through your pictures of Europe, etc.  You know how I always want to be everywhere else! I got a chance to see the JOY LUCK CLUB.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It was more than touching and followed the book very closely.  Thank goodness I brought lots of tissue.  You’re right it should fall into the Academy Award category.  Photo:  THE LOVER, 1992 The other movie/video I watched (by myself) was the other one you highly recommended:  THE LOVER.  Incredibly, sensual and very well-done.  You could actually feel his tremendous need for her. How did you know I would enjoy it as much as I did?   I’ve even recommended the movie to a few friends I think will appreciate it. Thank goodness I have you scouting the theaters for me.  Let me know what other movies you enjoy out there—in the World of the Free.  Ha! 
You know what I’ve been thinking lately?  What a struggle it is to keep the real ‘other me’ alive.  So easy to drown in the land of Dodge Plymouth Vans herding the products of suburbia from one event to another.  How did I get here and who are these people in their pods?  Better question is how and when the hell am I going to get out? 
I had a Henri Matisse painting postcard and wrote to mom, inserting it in an envelope with a magazine article:  10-26-93 Mom, This article was in the most recent issue of FINANCIAL WORLD magazine.  I thought you'd be interested in reading it. I hope you’re taking better care of yourself!  Have you slowly started back on your treadmill exercise machine? I picked some new eyeglasses.  I should have them by the time you get here on November 8th.  I can’t wait until you are here!   Oh well...I wrote longer than I intended.  Enjoy the article.  I only read the beginning of it.  Later, Love You!  Michael  
My niece, Ashley, sent a National Parks card of a wolf—but the best part of the card was opening it to find a pencil drawing she did of a Halloween Witch.  Too cute!  
10-26-93 Dear Uncle Mike, How are you?  I'm fine.  How's Carrie?
Today we had a fire drill.  Boy, was it loud!  
Only ‘4’ more days till Halloween.  Guess what I’m going to be?   A WITCH!  For the costume I’m going to wear black tights, a black witch’s dress and belt.  I even have a hat and a broom!   
Ms Myovich is so much nicer than Mrs. Valterza at school.  We are reading DEAR MR. HENSHAW by Beverly Cleary.  I really miss you.  Love You Lots, XXXOOO, Ashley, XXXOOO
And through my eyes, this Ashley card makes for my Best Halloween feeling.  It’s a wonderful change of pace from my normal day.  It brings me into her day and I love that. 
The smell of the incense drifted to me, lulling me into a brief moment of peace before it too dispersed with the smoke. --Tan Twan Eng, The Garden of Evening Mists