Reminded Me of Me

The essence of loving kindness is being able to offer happiness. --Thcih Nhat Hanh, HOW TO LOVE 
My niece, Ashley, is becoming the ideal penpal.  I am loving it when I find a letter from her in the mailbox.  All of my nieces make me so happy.  This time Ashley wrote the following: 
Dear Uncle Mike, Hi!  Christmas is over.  Gone.  I miss it.   I wrote to Carrie, Sara and Emily.  HOpefully, they’ll write back.   So, what’s new?  Don’t you like this stationery?  Well, I just want to say THANK YOU.  I loved your presents.  The game is so fun.  I love the staionery.  The bookmarks are great and I LOVE the mailbox (trust me).  I mialed this First Class.  Ooops!   I didn’t put the First Class sticker on the front of the envelope. Oh well... Lauren and leigh are here...so BYE!  Ashley  Ashley surprised me with another letter and I learned that she is adapting to the computer.  I was thrilled to receive her latest typed out letter (from the computer) with a Bozo the Clown image on it.  How creative is that? 

Feb. 3, 1994 
Dear Uncle Mike, 
Hi!  It’s me, Ashley.  I’ve written you a letter but I didn’t mail it, so here it is.  Thanks for the candy.  It was good. 

At school we are doing Indian reports.  I’m doing a repot on the tribe called COAST MIWOK. 

On February 1st I went on a field trip with my class.  We actually went on a double-decker bus.  When I was on top I got sick (but basically everyone did).  It was boring. No, I’m not really excited about changing schools.  On friday I’m going to my friend Amy’s slubmer party.  It’s her birthday.  I got her a bookmark and two books.   Yes, I am getting a few teeth pulled.  Ok, I admit.  I’m getting 8 teeth pulled.   Why do you always get to go places?   I miss you.  I LOVE you.  Happy Valentine’s Day. Love, Your Niece, Ashley 
On Tuesday (Februay 8th) Alan and I drove out to Pasadena.  We went to a quaint restaurant we like called RAYMOND.  I love to do that during the middle of the week.  It makes my work week seem shorter.   Dorothy Rua sent a cool, mysterious postcard that I really like.  It ‘reminded me of me’ in deep thought, looking out from a vista point at the vast sea.  The image was actually a depiction of an oil on canvas painting by JOHN SLOAN, an artist who died in 1951.   It’s a 1907 painting titled THE WAKE OF THE FERRY. 

I can’t believe that the day is coming.   This Saturday, the 12th Alan and I fly to LONDON.  London is calling (which reminds me of that song by THE CLASH called LONDON CALLING, a favorite from the early 80s; it was actually released in December 1979).     
He hadn’t failed in the least.  He thought he didn’t have it in him to help another human-being.  BUt to his great surprise, he did.  He was proud of it. --Charles Belfoure, THE PARIS ARCHITECT 
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Published on February 02, 2020 00:30
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