GET MOTIVATED

He was a strikingly handsome boy, a young God whose body had been burnished by the elements—he went surfing even in the dead of winter and also excelled at basketball, tennis, swimming, and soccer—sports that had given him one of those physiques that one claimed were “every queer’s mad dream”: not an ounce of fat, smooth, muscular torso descending in a V to a wasp waist, and long, strong, supple legs that would have made the best boxer green with envy.--Mario Vargas Llosa, AUNT JULIA AND THE SCRIPTWRITER  

I had a JUST YOUR AVERAGE JOE postcard (Joe Poe Rizzo) and decided to jot my mom a note as tomorrow is the Big Day for Alan and I. We are running in the 26-mile LA Marathon (March 3, 1996). We’ve trained a bit with short runs but not super training. In other words, we won’t be the top 500 winners. Ha-ha. At least I’ll be running with my SONY headphones. I’m sure I’ll hear MISSING by Everything But The Girl (one of my favorites that’s playing on the air waves right now). The running is good for my physique, but I know I need to focus on weight-training and more to be where I want to be...whenever that will be. All I know is that I’ve been waiting and waiting for this exciting Marathon goal to be complete. I’m happy I motivated Alan to do it as well. 

The postcard I sent mom depicted an average (Michael) JOE thinking to himself as if his mother were speaking: “You can’t call your mother...I never hear from you...You don’t come over...You can’t even send me a postcard!”

March 2, 1996

Mom: 

I saw this card and thought of you...but at least I call, come over and send postcards. Ha-ha. 

Tomorrow is the Big Marathon Day. Yikes! 

I will see you in a few days (March 9th). I wonder fi there is going to be a Retirement Party. If not...we’ll go shopping in San Francisco. I have to get Birthday gifts for Ally, Leigh and Holly. 

Later—Love, Michael  

And I can always count on a little sparkle from Dorothy Rua with this MARILYN MONROE photo card she mailed from the Santa Barbara region while she was visiting Pismo:  

3-3-96 

Hi Michael, 

Sorry I wasn’t able to give you much notice on this trip to Pismo Beach. Hope we’ll be able to connect during my next trip down.  

How was the LA MARATHON? You must be in great shape. I need to get motivated. 

Thinking of You, 

Love,

Dorothy 

Both Alan and I completed the Marathon. They captured a photo of Alan during the run but 'not me'. Oh well, that's okay. I'm glad Alan has evidence. I suppose we both do as we have our medals. Hmmm...where did we put them?

I waited and waiting, and the days, as they elapsed, took something from my consternation. --Henry James, THE TURN OF THE SCREW