I ALWAYS TRY MY HARDEST
“People go to the theater to laugh, to cry and to be reminded of how good and noble one is.”--Carlos Ruiz Zafon, THE CITY OF MIST, The Prince of Parnassus short-story I am still thrilled by the visit a week ago by Paloma and Alexandre. It was swift but I still can’t get over that they were here in Marina Del Rey, to see me and Alan. Now, we have to go to Paris or the South of France to see them again!
It is Valentine's Week and I feel the love. I love to receive a Valentine. It brings me back to 6th grade when I used to hand them out to all of my fellow classmates. And certain people received special ones. Here's the one Alan sent me: It was typewritten:
February 14, 1996
Dear Michael,
I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!
I remember our first Valentine’s Day at Palm Ave.
I remember our first dinner at LOUIS XIV
I remember our first trip in Cancun, drinking White Russians.
I remember our picnics in Pacific Palisades.
I remember Alta Mura Road.
I remember Sea Colony.
I remember our most romantic dinner.
I remember our most romantic night
I remember our most romantic bath.
I remember our most romantic closet.
I remember our most romantic day.
I remember the Center of the Universe.
I remember so so so so so so so much...
AND
I want to experience more and more and more with you. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY. Love, ALAN
I received a cute Valentine Teddy Bear Card from GLORIA and JACK:
Love Always, Gloria and Jack
I received a most phenomenal Valentine’s Day card from my niece, Ashley. It blew me away because of the size! It was like a 9 x 14 card of the cutest little girl and boy (all dressed-up), having ice-cream cones together! It was ever so heartwarming for me. She wrote:
February 14, 1996
Dear Uncle Mike,
Happy Valentine’s Day! Instead of getting you a regular Valentine Card, I saw five I really liked. I got you this card. I know you like these kinds of cards, and it gave me more room to write on. A lot more room. Actually, too much! I’m having a hard time writing straight and filling this card out.
Guess what? I’m Student of the Month! My Core Teacher, Mr. Hodge picked me because he said I ALWAYS TRY MY HARDEST (True). And my hardest is Outstanding work. I get to cut all of the school lines. I get a green card to indicate that I’m Student of the Month, too! The other day I had to buy two Cup O Noodles, 3=-Pizza’s and a Pepsi! Not for me, for all of my friends.
Guess what else? I’m going a Play called FUDGE, bases on a book called TALES OF 4th GRADE NOTHING and the TV show ‘FUDGE. It’s not a really big play, just a little one for my Core Class. I’m getting extra credit for being in it. I’m Narrator 1 and the Director. Me, Carmen, Jeanette, Pablo, Jessican, Sara, Brian, Allen, Jon, Sonia, Paul and don’t forget Melissa are in it too.
In Science, Mrs. Kaake took us to the Science Projects in the library. I saw this one project. The topic was “Do Women or Men Have Easier Lives?” The hypothesis was each man and woman have equal lives. Guess what? Men have easier lives based on interviews and written information!
Did you know that could be Dylan or Ally on this card?
Anyways, when are you coming to visit us? I really miss you.
In P.E. now we have to run six laps which is 1 ½ miles. We are playing basketball in P.E. My team includes Kristen and Susan. We are called ‘The Bad Girls’ because we are very bad. We’ve played 3 games and have lost all of them.
Anyways, I hope you have the greatest Valentine’s Day ever, and I hope this card brings a smile to your face. I Love you so much, Uncle Mike.
Your Neice,
Ashly M Armijo
P.S. Write Back Soon
I was so thrilled by Ashley’s card. It was beautiful beyond words. A few days later I took to my computer and typed a letter to Paloma in Balaruc-Les-Bains, South of France:
February 17, 1996
Dear Paloma,
You must be home by now. Even if my seeing you was as brief as it was, I am so glad that Iwas able to see you. You looked as ravishing as ever.
Getting back to one of your previous questions. There is no one that I' have been writing to as long as you. WE could become a True Story like THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Did you see that film? It is very good. I read the book. You must see the movie. It's with Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood (I don't care for him very
much).
I don't know if I answered this one already or not, but, NO. Alan does not read your letters you write me. I sometimes mention thins to him that you have written me though. His business venture is going so smoothly. Effective, February 21, 1996 he will be the new CEO/Chariman of the Board for EAST COAST BAGEL CORPORATION. It's all so exciting. It will do well. We went to the store in Marina Del Rey this morning and the line was out the door.
Shelly Long was not the actress on CHARLIES ANGELS. That was Shelly Hack. Shelly Long was on the TV comedy series CHEERS and she was on the movie called CAMP BEVERLY HILSS and OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE with Bette Midler or more recently she played the mom in the movie version of THE BRADY BUNCH (if you saw any of those).
That’s funny that you rummaged through old cards of mine and found the Sonny and Cher one. I do remember that one. I also remember that letter when I told you I had a baby girl somewhere. Yes, it is true. She was born in or around September 1985, so she would be around 10 years old now. Amazing you should mention that. I would be astonished if she showed up at my doorstep in 8 years. I would be shocked, surprised and probably happy to see her. I’d take her to Paris and Agde to meet you.
That was sad about Lous Malle dying but I don’t feel too bad for Candice Bergen. She’s got megabucks and every time I see her on a SPRINT TV commercial, she is making even more money, so she’s well provided for.
I bet you and Alexandre had a wonderful time. I am so glad you were able to come here to Marina Del Rey and visit the house. Now you can imagine me typing her on the computer here, near the kitchen area.
Again, it was so nice to see you. For your records, my home Tel# is 310-578-2001 and my fax# is 310-310-4002. My email address is anfmike@aol.com but that may change. I just wanted to give you that information for the record because the last letter you wrote me before you came to visit you mentioned that you didn’t even have my Tel#
I am going to run in the Los Angeles Marathon. It is about 25 miles, I believe. It is on March 34d, so wish me luck. I even went running this morning. My legs are getting stronger but they’ll never be as sexy as yours.
On that note, I will end here.
Later,
Love, Michael
“I want to know the Meaning of Life, I want to know where I can find the best chocolate ice-cream ever and I want to fall in love,” I declared.
“The answer to your first two wishes is the same.”
As for the third, she gave me a kiss that tasted of all the truth in the world and made me want to be a decent man.--Carlos Ruiz Zafon, THE CITY OF MIST, Two Minute Apocalypse short-story
