Itty-Bitty
“Don’t you do things you like after you get done working?” --T.J. Klune, The House in the Cerulean Sea After work I have been enjoying some new bicycle rides in my new Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Once home from work I go on a short ride and/or take a quick shower to erase the stressors of the day. When mom last came for her visit we went to the old Marina Del Rey house. I took a photo of mom and Alan underneath the secure moldings that were placed to investigate if there--in fact---was structural damage from the earthquake.
Ashley are Barbara graced my mailbox on the same day. I liked the illustration Ashley made of the witch; I liked the comment Barbara gave about that Velveteen Rabbit suit---she used to wear it at-the-office when I worked with her during the Halloween holiday. It’s those itty-bitty accessories that make all of the difference in our psyche.
Nov. 2, 1994
Dear Uncle Mike,
Hi! How are you? I'm fine. For Halloween I was a witch. I had a black dress, green face, black lips and black eyebrows! Our cat got bitten by another cat and has a bandage.
Say “HI” to Carrie. I have to go to Girl Scouts now.
Love Ya,
Ashley
Nov. 2, 1994
Hi Mike,
Gosh, one week from today and you’ll be gone---tres excitement!
Yes, I’ll keep your old address—no problem.
Just this moment I am listening to a looney 78-year old lady (?) complaining about what—a so said LOVE AFFAIR yesterday. Good movie day. Last Saturday I went with Alice to Hunter’s Point ART Show—wonderful time, so much creativity. Fun Time! Then I put my 9-year old Velveteen Rabbit suit on and went to a costume party. I had a great time dancing and joking around.
Hmmm...I’ve never seen THREE OF HEARTS. It’s a good season for films... not as pleasant out these days. I’m sipping a cup of cocoa and getting cozy.
Joan Lyons says “HI” back to you and laughed at ‘moi’.
Nov 3rd... Gosh...too many things happening yesterday and today and now I’m at the post-office to send this your way.
So... can’t remember what I was going to say yesterday but Please enjoy this card as I enjoy yours. Oh yes...the woman with the long-hair isn’t that amazing. Alice gave that to me. She works for PALM PRESS.
So you will have a note waiting for you when you return.
Later, Love, Barbara
Dorothy sent me an itty-bitty card in an itty-bitty envelope. She wrote in itty-bitty handwriting.
11-3-94
Dear Michael,
Went into San Francisco yesterday with my friend, Jim, to see SIRENS. I couldn’t find it playing in the ‘burbs’ and after watching the movie I can understand why the ‘pod people’ are not to appreciate what SIRENS has to offer.
After the movie we went to the Wharf for dinner, stopped to view the artists wares along the way and immediately thought of SIRENS when I saw this photo magnet, knowing I had to send it to you. The artist/photographer told me the model is from Australia, forty-five years old and her name is Monique.
I need to discuss the movie with you. I don’t want to put my thoughts in writing except to say THANK YOU for strongly suggesting I see it (I think).
Love, Dorothy
Alan sweetly used a postcard from a Paris restaurant that we love called LE TELEGRAPHE at 41, Rue De Lille:
11-4-94
Michael,
Let’s find great sights, restaurants, adventures, romantic hideaways and a great 12 days of memories in Hong Kong. I Love You. Alan
Paloma wrote a recent update with what is happening in her life. I need to update her with mine; yet, I may as well write once I’m back from Hong Kong-China. I’ll definitely send her a card from somewhere during the journey. She wrote as follows:
Dear Michael,
Long time no news! I thought about you for Halloween. I met you 11 years ago. Did you have a good time?
Nothing has really changed for us now. We are still waiting. I have been busy with visits and looking for a small car for me. One car wasn’t enough now that we don’t work at the same time. For the summer we had our motorcycle but now it is getting too cold and it rains a lot, so now I have a card you probably don’t know—it's a FIAT PANDA. It is really little and I find it cute but it’s only good for a short distance ride.
I have also been busy looking for a cheap house to buy but I haven’t been able to find that yet. We might have to move if we have to pay rend. We’d rather buy something instead but it seems it’s more expensive than I thought.
The other day I saw on TV that they were talking about the movie LEON. They said it was coming out in the States on November 18th. I don’t know if it’s called some other name there. It’s Luc Besson’s last movie (the guy who made NIKITA). It has kind of the same atmosphere. I loved it. I just think it should have lasted longer.
I have also seen TRUE LIES. I thought that was well-made but I liked TERMINATOR way more—maybe because I loved seeing the French movie, LA TOTALE first. I don’t like remakes that much. You already know what’s going to happen. I haven’t seen the American version of NIKITA yet. Have you seen it? It seems like Americans like French movies these days! I wanted to see NATURAL BORN KILLERS (I think that’s the English title, in French it’s TUEURS NES). They’re not playing it anymore. They didn’t play it for a long time, that’s a bad sign! Have you seen it?
So how are you? Are you happy? You’re not telling me anything anymore! I have to go now. I miss you.
Love,
Paloma
P.S. Have you seen PULP FICTION? I haven’t yet.
What a pleasant surprise. My niece, Ashley, wrote me again. I love to reply to her letters. I like opening her mind to new things. In this letter I was happy to read that she was open to participating in a play. Whether she did get a part or not—just the idea of pondering it is enough. We all need itty-bitty ideas to flourish in our minds. She found a unique artsy card that depicted a painting from 1910 by the artist UMBERTO BOCCIONI, called THE CITY RISES:
11-7-94, 5:19PM Dear Uncle Mike,
It’s been raining in Alameda. How is your new house? Is it bigger? And because it is on a hill is it all alone?
I can’t believe you’re going to Hong Kong.
Are you coming to Alameda for Thanksgiving? If not, you’re missing good food!
There is going to be a school play. I am thinking of trying out for it because this is my last year and all. Not a bit part, not a small part—I want to get a part that I’m in a scene a lot but NOT talk much. Did I say that wrong?
Gotta Go! I Love You,
Regards to all (Ha-ha).
Ashley Armijo
We heal ourselves by learning to give to our children what we did not receive. --Sam Keen, FIRE IN THE BELLY, On Being A Man
