More Important Than the Exposed Anatomy

Claudia: “You should want to learn one new thing every day.” 

Mrs. F: “No, I don’t agree with that. I think you should learn, of course, and some days you must learn a great deal. But you should also have days when you allow what is already in you to swell up inside of you until it touches everything. And you can feel it inside you. If you never take the time out to let that happen, then you must accumulate facts, and they begin to rattle around inside you. You can make noise with them, but never really feel anything with them. It’s hollow.” --E.I. Konigsburg, in her book FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E FRANKWEILER, 1967 

Gloria had a party at her condo in Santa Monica, CA. My mom was still in town, so she enjoyed it, too. It was really just a small gathering of the locals: Me, Alan and mom with Jack and Gloria, of course—Alan's cousin, Jonas, who attends USC and lives in Venice now along with Cathy Imai (Alan’s accountant) and her husband, Trevor. I took a couple of polaroid shots. One of just mom and Gloria and another of the group...but Cathy Imai took the photo.

It was a pleasant Saturday evening (Sept. 21, 1996). Everyone was chatting about the latest goings on...like Jerry Lewis raising over $49 Million dollars at the recent Muscular Dystrophy Telethon earlier this month; how a US cruise missile struck in Iraq and how oil prices are now rising; the crazy gang violence after Tupac Shakur, a rap singer, was shot in Las Vegas the day after my mom’s Birthday and then died 6-days later on Sept. 13th at the age of 25; how SPACE SHUTTLE Atlantis 17 launched into Space on the 17th; and how President Clinton signed the NUCLEAR TEST BAN Treaty at the UN this week (on Sept. 24th). 

When I had my initial training at Charles Schwab & Co. I was in training for a couple of weeks in Indianapolis, Indiana. I befriended a gal named April Stosur who was about five years older than I. She was cool and I kept in touch. I had spoken with her briefly at work and I learned that she had a baby boy, so I sent her an outfit for her son, Alex Preston Stosur-Bassett. She sent a cute Thank You note to me with a photo of Alex Preston at just 2 ½ WEEKS old. April wrote to be from 693 Warwick Drive in Carol Stream, Illinois, where she is currently living:  

Dear Michael, 

Thanks so much for the darling outfit! How in the word did you find a Sox Outfit in California? The quality of the material is superb. Thank You. It will be a perfect fit next summer. 

As always, your card was absolutely beautiful. Where do you find those things? 

Are you scheduled to do your marathon here? Is it in October? Let me know, I’d love to get together again—probably with Alex in tow. 

I’m scheduled to work once a week on Wednesdays, but I come in two or three more days, so if you need to toss me—Wednesdays are a good bet. 

Michael, Thanks again for your thoughtfulness. It’s a darling outfit.  

Photo: 8-29-96, Alex Preston Stosur Bassett, 2 ½ weeks old.  

P.S. I just love that SPACE SHUTTLE stamp. We cut it off and are saving it to show kids at school.  

Dorothy also wrote me this week, using a cool photo card by an artist named Mara Bosnak. 

9-7-96: Dear Michael, 

My card to you is way overdue. Really enjoyed the last two you sent. The one you ‘found on the street’ was definitely suggestive. I’m sure you wouldn’t pass on by for that one. Bright red Mysteries was very different, interesting.  

How wonderful to have your vision corrected. Aren’t lasers great? 

You must have been in San Diego when I called you at work in early September. I was informed you were ‘on vacation’. Bet it was a fun trip.  

9-22-96 

Hi Again Michael, 

Started this card a while back and as you can see, did not get very far. Received your most recent cards a couple of days ago. I do feel really bad about the lack of communication on my part lately. Never is a good enough reason not to at least drop a quick postcard to let you know I’m thinking of you, especially since you’re so important to me. 

No, I have not had time for Nude Beaches for quite a while—plus everyone begins to look alike after a while if you know what I mean. Besides, more important than the exposed anatomy is the person it’s attached to.  

Thanks for the movie tips. I’ll have to make time to watch them. Need some of that balance in my life. 

I do not know if I have email on the computer at home. Have to check with my kids. I know I don’t have email at the office yet. I’ll keep you posted.  

Sounds like you have quite a Toy Barbie collection. I had no idea that was a hobby of yours. I’ll have to see them sometime. 

If you go to South American next year don’t even tell me about it. I’ll be so jealous! Just kidding. I’d love to go, too.  

I haven’t viewed any BRIDGES lately, but I think I’m due. Lord knows I feel ready. From my last postcard you know I was in Hilton Head, S.C. and Savannah, GA recently, for a business (VALENT) training session. More soon, 

Love, Dorothy 

I love Dorothy’s letters. It seems the stories never end. There’s always a continuous flow. I wonder if Dorothy feels that way when she reads my letters.  

One feature of a beautifully ended story is that we can imagine the lives of the characters continuing on beyond it. --George Saunders, A SWIM IN A POND IN THE RAIN