Dull Days

I had all that confidence, you know.  When you got that confidence, why, it lets you do more things. --James Stevenson, SOMETIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS, a novel 
Mom is in Puerto Vallarta.  I miss her.  I am used to calling her every day.  I even call her from work during my lull periods.  She wrote at least: 
7-26-94 Dear Mike: It’s beautiful here.  It’s your kind of weather.  We’re having lots of fun.   The girls like to go swimming.  We go to the beach every day.  There are a lot of people selling a lot of stuff.  I bought some t-shirts.  Yesterday we ate in a nice restaurant.  It’s too hot, hot, hot here.  I’m glad it’s only for a week. Love, Mom P.S. I’ll talk to you when I get bank on Saturday.  
I think Ashley was missing her Grandma (my mom), too.   I reaped the benefits of it because Ashley also wrote to me:  
Hi!  You know---or may not know—that I’d rather receive than write but ‘what the heck’.  You’re worth it!   
Not a lot to write.  So sorry and thanks for the card but I like the girls better (the Norman Rockwell--Day in the Life of a Littly Boy card).  
I am going to a house camp this year and I can’t wait.  Last night I woke up at 2:01AM and watched movies with dad, Holly and Ally.  We are having a Garage Sale on the 25th.   
I’m going to spend the night at Grandma Janet’s (with Ally).  I’m selling books!  I LOVE reading.  I already read for the summer reading club.  Ally is in the lead.  She got a button!  Holly got an ice=cream ticket, name on the wall, sticker, eraser and an A’s ticket...so did I.  I miss you and I had a lot of fun at Jessica’s.  I wrote to her. OXOXOXOXOXOXOX Ashley
Alan and I went to see THE MASK, starring Jim Carrey.  I was skeptical because I’m not much of Jim Carrey fan.  His humor is just so-so, but this film was well done and I actually enjoyed it because it was so different.  THE MASK was like a drug.  When he wore it his confidence level shot up to the point where he felt invincible.  One must know their limits or it could get dangerous.  
My Aunt Lela wrote to me this week.  The teddy bear card was a sweet, soft touch.  The teddy bear was looking out of a window, getting a feel for dull days.  I had no pity for the teddy because there's always something to do:  read a book, write a letter, create a project around the house, clean out the garage, exercise, sketch something, etc.   
Nonetheless, Aunt Lela wrote a loving letter that I shall treasure: Michael, 
Thinking of You.  So glad to hear you went to New Mexico with your mom.  Boy, how I’d like to do what you did in New York.  The time we were there we were only able to take certain tours, so I missed all of the ART stuff!  I loved my stay at the Waldorf. 
I saw CHORUS LINE that year.  What fun.  You asked how bit a family I have.  I have four brothers and one sister.  My one brother, Bob, passed away at age 32 (nineteen years ago).  
Boy, am I counting the days until September 26th.  Donna’s coming home for a 2-week stay after being gone for three years.  Am I going to be on cloud nine, having my three girls here for two weeks to spil. I’ve been to the winery you mentioned in Dixon. 
Thanks for the beautiful card.  You add a touch of culture to my dull days. God Bless, Love, Aunt Lela  
The most solid advice, though, for a writer is this, I think:   Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep.  Try as much as possible to be wholly alive, with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell, and when you get angry, get good and angry.  Try to, be alive.  You will be dead soon enough. --William Saroyan, in his PREFACE for THE DARING YOUNG MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE and Other Stories