IT REALLY IS NO FUN TO TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER
“The nicest days are always the ones we don’t plan.” --V.E. Schwab, THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE
I received a 'piggy at a party' card from Barbara Reynolds (Ha-ha):
20 May 95
Dear Mike,
Thanks for the great postcards and note. I know you’ll be having a great birthday in Miami, etc. This piggy card came from Alice’s work and since it is the Year of the Boar and ‘your Boar year’ and you become 36 years old I thought it fun.
I saw an ad for the BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY movie a couple of nights ago. It looks good. Thank you for your compliment comparing me to Meryl Streep. Funny thing...RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT was shown on our plane to Dusseldorf. Since I had seen it before I took the opportunity to sleep for about the first hour, then viewed the balance. It’s so picturesque. Today, I finally saw SECRET OF ROAN INISH, so good and so happy to see it—all of the islands.
We saw a lot of islands on my trip. Two weeks went quickly. My friend, David, was awaiting me (thankfully) and we took the train to Hagen (stopped a few minutes in Dusseldorf). It was very warm and sunny (which put me into sleepy mode). I was ready to sleep any way—but got to Hagen (80 minutes eastward via train) and checked my bags and did a tour of Hagen that day. There was a celebration in Hagen for the 50th Anniversary of Liberation. It was early because the Mayor of Hagen was scheduled to be elsewhere on the 9th of May, so we went to a gathering—old photos, poetry and music—put together by a group of peace activists (some friends of David’s). I found myself nodding off during the German poetry. We continued the tour and went to the Hostel where I got booked for the night, then found a bar for a bite of dinner. We stayed another day in Hagen to prepare for our train trip to Slovenia, leaving Hagen at 6AM and arrived Bled, Slovenia 4;30AM, Sunday. It was so quiet. It was beautiful. It took quite a while to get our bearings but worth it. A very nice Hostel in Bled and picturesque town with a lake with an island (complete with an old church). You can go via gondola to the island but we rented a row boat. A castle was near our hostel and a lovely pathway up the hill was an easy step in back of our place.
We left Bled on the 9th and stopped in Ljublijana (capital and largest city in Slovenia) where there was a big 50th celebration of Liberation. I got a great walk and lunch by the river, then continued to the coast of Istria to Koper (where the Hostel was unavailable—thankfully there was one hotel where we had a decent room, viewing the Bay for three nights). Then we breezed down the coast and stopped at PORAC, then got to PULA and found a hotel off the pyramid bus exit. This was a marvelous locale by the sea and a commune, a peaceful spot. We had begun to get rain and advised best to wait until June for swimming. David took it on regardless. We had two nights there and viewed the Ampitheater and found an open church. We had some good food. Sunday, we got on a bus to Rjeka, then took a day trip to KIRK. Then we caught a train to Salzburg, another 4:30AM arrival—by 10:15AM we had a room in a good Hostel. This one had so many young Americans. It was fun. After my nap we explored and enjoyed the sunshine and also enjoyed being away from the Third World Country (where the buses always have taped music). We walked along the Danube River and ate gelato and bought Mozart sweets and went to the place Mozart was born, a very comfortable town.
Thursday we ‘trained our way’ through Augsburg and got the ICE train to Mannheimer, arriving Hagen at 2AM. We slept until 5AM, walked in rain to bus to train to airport. I got home at 4pm, Wednesday, cleaned out my bags, took a bath and made some soup, then sat down with my mail, prioritizing. I really wanted to make an appearance at my Math class—so I was rushing it. I discovered to my misfortune that my car had been impounded. Alice had failed me, so I got a friend to help and got my car 2 ½ hours later. No class and I’m staying a distance from Alice until I deal with my feelings. Oh well. I had a good trip and really enjoyed being with David. He plans on going to St. Petersburg, so I hope I may visit him there. We’ll see.
So, buddy, I’ve got to go. Oh yes, I hope you got your postcard. I didn't’ have this address in my book. Oh well, I’m sure you’ll get it eventually. Have a great Birthday!
Love, Barbara
Alan also wrote a few early words for my forthcoming Birthday, using a cool postcard from LA TERRASE AU SOLEIL in Ceret, France (where we had stayed the last time we were in France). Alan had forgotten his shoes there and he never forgets when I said, “Well, I guess they weren’t that important to you---otherwise, you wouldn’t have forgotten them!” I know he didn’t like that I said that at the time—but we can laugh about it now.
Mike, Remember where I left my shoes? It didn’t matter, did it? Let’s go back—Happy Birthday. I hope you enjoy, enjoy, enjoy...
Love, Alan
Oh...after 5 ½ years, I thought you should be surprised once in a while. Happy Birthday! Your present is under wraps, waiting for you to pick it out—a mountain bike of your choice. This present should hold you until the real one arrives.
Love, Alan
And lovely Paloma sent her cute Birthday card with a nice, typewritten letter:
Le 22/05/95
Dear Michael,
Just a few words to wish you a very Happy Birthday. So, 36, huh! You know now –how it feels! I’m sure you are as young, as gorgeous as ever...
Love you, Miss you, Paloma
I had recently written to her a few days ago:
Dear Paloma,
It’s your lucky and happy day...after all, you’re getting few cards from me instead of the typical bill or junk mail. I understand your being busy—me too! Time sure does seem to fly by. Last weekend, 5-12 to 5-15 I went to the Bay Area. I didn’t even to get San Francisco. I only went o Alameda and Berkeley. On Saturday, May 13th I met a friend of mine named Dorothy Rua for lunch at Chez Panisse! Isn’t that the restaurant where you friend is a chef? I wish I remembered her name or bought the picture of her because my waitress wasn’t very helpful at helping me out when I mentioned it. Dorothy lives in Walnut Creek and is married and has 2 kids. We used to work together back in 1987-88 at SMART Yellow Pages. We’ve kept in touch through writing letters now and again. I hadn’t seen her in 3 years and she’s only in Northern California, so don’t feel bad that we haven't’ seen each other since 1990!
I can’t believe it about the incident of your stolen car. That’s really terrible. I can’t believe it when idiots do that—especially to someone who’s so good and that I care about. I know it must be nerve racking when you think of the items in the car that can’t easily be replaces. It’s a good thing you didn't get those dollars—but you’re right--it’s a good time to ‘scoop’ up on them. Although, it must be tough now with the Residence Club being 80% of capacity. Business must be goo though, right?
I saw the Dustin Hoffman movie, ALERTE (as you call it; however, it was titled OUTBREAK here. It was good—but scary, yet touching in parts. I also saw TOOTSIE, KRAVER vs KRAMER, RAINMAN, THE GRADUATE—but I’ve never seen LITTLE BIG MAN. Is that any good? And yes, I also saw BENNY AND JOON and INDECENT PROPOSAL, starring DEMI MOORE and ROBERT REDFORD. Those were good. You have good taste but then if you didn't, I wouldn’t be writing you. Ha-ha. I thought PULP FICTION was too violent and the storyline or plot was just about killing and drugs—it was stupid. The scenery was a bit creative but that’s about it.
The Gianfranco Ferre APLA Fashion Show fundraising event was great. Liza Minelli was there to honor him and an actor named Patrick Dempsey (I don’t know if you know him; he’s not really a big star). He was one of the guys used as a model. The rest of the models were ‘real models. Oh, and wow...Patty Hearst models now. She was one of the models!
Oh, I do know who Tippi Hedren is, too. Tippi is older now, isn’t she? She was on my mom’s favorite soap operas called BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. I have seen Estelle Halliday btu I never knew who she was until you told me. I’ve seen her on a few magazine covers. I didn’t know she was from France. When I went to New York I made a point to go to the Fashion Café which is owned by ELLE, CLAUDIA and NAOMI. I was disappointed because I wanted a drink at the bar and they did not even have an “ELLE”, “NAOMI” or “CLAUDIA” cocktail. I gave them the idea. I wonder if they’ll do it. I wanted to order an “ELLE”. Elle McPherson was in a film called SIRENS. Did you see it? Hugh Grant was in it and it’s really good. I think it was filmed in Australia. For my Birthday, I am leaving on May 27th for Miami and Key West with Alan. It’s supposed to be 95 degrees there ight now. I need some heat, a tan, rest and relaxation.
My nieces, Ashley and Holly and my mom, are coming to visit me from June 17th to June 26th. That should be fun. Ashley is eleven now and Holly is seven.
I’ll drop you a card while in sunny Florida. This is leftover stationery from Honk Kong, The CONRAD Hilton Hotel obviously. Thanks for remembering that my Birthday is coming. MIss you...I should plan a France getaway to see you. Time will tell. Later.
Love, Michael
Balaruc, le 23 mai, 1995
Dear Michael,
You are right. That was my lucky day. I was not expecting a letter form you at all, today but I got one. That was a nice surprise!
You are very lucky, too. I would love to go to Berkeley. French food is great but we do not have bagels and cream cheese, cakes at Virginia Bakery, your Chinese food and your pizzas (I like yours better). Well, after all maybe it is better for me if I don't got to the States or I will come back really FAT!
I do not know if Unmi works at CHEZ PANISSE after all. She was going to 2 years ago but she also had other plans, I think. In fact, when Unmi and Duane, her husband, came to France that was the first and the last time I had seen them. They just stayed for about 4 days. After that she sent me an invitation for her wedding party. I often get invitations for parties in California, as you can guess I never go!
In fact, if Unmi came to visit it is because she wanted to work in our restaurant in Sete. She is the niece of Jean Saperstein who was the owner of the Montessori School in Berkeley. I used to work for Jean and her husband, Guy who may come this summer. That’s what she told me in her last Christmas card. Here is the last letter. She sends all of her friend every year, so that you have an idea bout who she is. Bonnie also sent this kind of letter this year. It is not very personal but that sure is the best way to give lots of news to a lot of people.
I was thinking about that the other day, one of the things I really miss most is when we used to go out together. We always had something to talk about, remember? It really is awful to be with people when you have nothing to say. I believe I am kind of friendly, so I try to force myself to find something to talk about but it really is no fun to talk about the weather.
Your last letter made me jealous though. I thought I was the only one you used to write this way. It seems I was wrong. I am talking about Dorothy! Oh well, you know how life is. That’s ok. I’ll survive and I’ll keep talking to you!
The police found our car 4-days ago, but we do not want it back anymore. We can choose, the insurance company is going to pay us tomorrow. I will also see I f there is something left inside. WE have now made up our mind for a new car, this time it is going to be a red SEAT TOLEDO, something I am happy about si that we are going to have the air conditioning. Summers are so hot. I’m less happy moneywise, of course. I’m not that crazy about cars. I’d rather travel. Oh well, we’ll see.
What is really scary about the OUTBREAK movies is that it’s happening right now in Africa. They talk about it every day in the news. Planes are coming from there all the time. A few years ago the EBOLA virus killed some people in Germany.
You should see LITTLE BIG MAN. That’s a fantastic movie. I liked it a lot. I also liked Kevin Costner’s DANCING WITH WOLVES. I think about it because that’s the same kind of story. Since I find you gorgeous, I’d better have good taste, right? Ah, ah, ah!
I just saw a movie I liked a lot: TRUE ROMANCE. The story was written by Quentin Tarentino (of Pulp Fiction). It was awfully violent but it really kept me awake until the end. There were so many great actors who played in it (and in small parts—Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt). I loved Brad Pitt’s part. I’ve seen him in such great movies: THELMA AND LOUISE and another one where he was a serial killer, I don’t remember the title. Have you seen LEGENDS OF THE FALL? I have not.
I know who Patrick Dempsey is. I remember him in a comedy where he was going to get married and they invited the Pope to their wedding for un. Does it ring a bell? I’ve seen him iin other movies, too. I do not think Patty Heart models. She is kind of fat but designers seem to like to use stars as models. Jean-Paul Gaultier used MADONNA many times (and Neneh Sherry—I like her), Azzedine Alaia had Grace Jones and Sharon Stone in a fashion show last year, too. I don’t remember which one. Catherine Deneuve is always with Yves Saint Laurent. I know all of these things because I’m always dressed by them, of course. jean-Paul Gaultier would have to pay a lot for me to wear his clothes. Yuk! That’s a fun show to watch though. He especially makes men look really ridiculous. With him you would wear beautiful leopard dress or even worse. He loves skirts for men. He wore one for the Cannes Film Festival—but again if I made as many bucks as he does, I would also wear the same clothes. Last year, there was an ad in the newspapers where he was looking or models that were not models, he was looking for different people, this homeless guy is now a model because of him.
I did not think SIRENS was good. I was not planning to go see it. It seemed boring I guess I was wrong.
I have to go now. Write me. Love you, Paloma
And so, after reading a letter from Paloma I always feel reminiscent. I often wish I could blink and just be in Paris. I would love to be in any part of France for that matter. There is something special about that country. I cannot put my finger on it exactly. I just know that when I'm there I always experience something new. I read a book recently where a woman asked if you could live somewhere with only one season what would it be? “Spring”, she says “when everything is new”. “Fall", he says “when everything is fading”. And now I digress, should I tell Paloma that I still have NOT seen "LITTLE BIG MAN"?
“You know, they say people are like snowflakes, each one unique, but I think they’re more like skies. Some are cloudy, some are stormy, some are clear, but no two are every quite the same.”--V.E.Schwab, THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE
