What's New?
They say time slows down at times of great danger, almost like Neo being able to see and dodge bullets in THE MATRIX. That was just an illusion, of course. Time is constant. This time illusion was caused by how we store memory. The richer and denser the memory of an event—for example, during moments when you are terrified—the longer you perceive that event lasted. This phenomenon also explains why time seems to go faster as you age. When you're a child, experiences are new and so your memories are fresh and intense—so again time seems to slow down. As you grow older, especially when you are stuck in a routine, very few new or vibrant memories are being laid and so time flies by. That’s why when a child looks back on summer, it seemed to last forever. For adults, it’s barely a blink. --Harlan Coben, RUNAWAY Reed Campbell sent a simple card that made me laugh. It pictured a crocodile with the copy reading WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU? And inside it was imprinted AROUND HERE, IT’s THE SAME OLD CROC...
Best, Reed.
This led me to wonder where that phrase derived from (the same old croc of shit). I wonder. I will have to write him back and inform him of what's new.
She also included this handwritten letter which told me what’s new with her.
Feb. 24, 1995
Michael,
I’m so sorry I haven’t been able to write sooner. No time to myself. And I’m wondering if this will get to you at all.
I sent you a Christmas card and it was returned. Now I know you wouldn’t move and not tell me. So, I called and there was a strange voice on your answer box. Then I thought maybe you did move and forgot to tell me. Then I thought I’ll call your mom but I didn’t want to worry her and what if you forgot to tell her you moved too.
Soooo....I’m writing this card praying it doesn’t get returned and you write back before you go to Japan or on some other vacation cuz it might not be until this summer and I’m kind of worried cuz you might have decided to stay in Japan or worse—like you might have been kidnapped by a bunch of short people. I might never know!
So, if this gets sent back, I hope you don’t mind but I’m calling your Mom!
Write soon!
Birda
P.S. Everything's Great here!
Loe Always,
Birda
...luckily her addressed letter to Marina Del Rey was forwarded to our 1698 Alta Mura Road, Pacific Palisades (temporary home) address this time. Nonetheless, I laughed at her concern and imagination. Ha-ha
Paloma also sent a beautiful postcard of a DETAIL from ZODIAC by Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha 1887.
Dear Michael,
I hope you like the French Barbie for your new collection. She speaks French. And I made you a wrapping with the National columns. Not as nice as yours but pretty creative, isn’t it? I hope you liked it (the doll). If not, just give it to one of your nieces!
Write me! Love, Paloma
We had bought a kilo of cherries and we were eating them as we walked along. We were both insufferably childish and high-spirited that afternoon and the spectacle we presented, two grown men jostling each other on the wide sidewalk and aiming the cherry pits, as though they were spitballs, into each other’s faces, must have been outrageous. And I realized that such childishness was fantastic at my age and the happiness out of which it sprang yet more so. --James Baldwin, GIOVANNI’s ROOM
