Inner Light

“I've always loved you, and when you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.” --Leo Tolstoy, ANNA KARENINA 

I flew to see mom on the April 13th weekend. It was a nice visit to ALAMEDA. Mom and I are excited about our plans to attend Carol Lucero’s wedding next month (May 18) in Yosemite. I made reservations at a Relais & Chateau called CHATEAU DU SUREAU.  

I saw my nieces, Lauren and Leigh, when Helen dropped over. She gave me a recent picture of them. They're too cute for words--with all of their extracurricular activities that they do.

My great former co-worker at Pac Bell Yellow Pages is on another cruise and sent me another letter of kindness to keep me abreast of what’s happening. I loved it. It gave me a feel for what he experienced. Sometimes, he provides me with inner light when I read his words (especially after I stop reading, breathe and imagine).

Dear Michael, 

We gave all our postcards with money for stamps to our tour guide to mail. She put them in one envelope and mailed them all to our home. Made a few bucks, I guess. Oh well...live and learn.  

Moscow was a very dreary, dirty, dark and depressing city of 9 million people. We were there 5-days and was glad to leave. St. Petersburg was wonderful. We saw much more, and it is colorful and friendly. The average room rate is $350. We were on a travel agent tour rate and got a great deal with meals, transportation, hotels included for $910 each (round-trip).  

The Summer Palace of Catherine the Great is being restored at costs of millions of dollars but it is beautiful. Looks like an expensive movie set. Lots of gold leaf and silver, etc.  

The postcard is THE HERMITAGE or Winter Palace of Peter the Great. Lots of history, poverty and inflation. 5000 Rubles = $1 US dollar. Average salary is about $6.00 per day if you have a job. 

Have a fun time in Washington. 

Best Always, 

Reed 

On the postcard Reed wrote: 

Hi Michael,  

This is 18 miles of walking to see it all. We did about 9 miles in 3-hours. It is beautiful as is the Summer Palace. We will return to St. Petersburg one day. Well worth the time and lots of American dollars being passed around. 

Best, Reed 

“Just as a painter needs light in order to put the finishing touches to his picture, so I need an inner light, which I feel I never have enough of in the autumn.” --Leo Tolstoy