MIX-IT-UP a Little Bit
Dear Michael,
Where are you? Thinking of you as always... Love, Dorothy
It only takes a few cards from Dorothy Rua to realize that I’m behind in correspondence. She sent a brief one from Santa Barbara with only a few words. Was she really there? Then she sent a rush of a few more a few days later.
Sometimes we hit a wall or a lull. We just want freedom from some things. Things cannot become too routine. We need to mix-it-up a little bit. Instead of writing or watching TV there’s exercise, reading, movies, work (of course), planning a trip and always having something NEW to look forward to.
4-23-97
Dear Michael,
Guess what? After working in Iowa most of this week I found myself with a half-day of free time, so I headed for THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY! Winterset is only 35-minutes from where I’m staying in Des Moines, Iowa.
I did not go out to visit Roseman Bridge, but I walked through this one in Winterset. It’s only three blocks from the house actor JOHN WAYNE grew up in. How exciting! Plus, this bridge was from my friend, Denny Donahoe’s family in Madison County. Such a small world. I wish you could have been here.
Love,
Dorothy
Michael,
You’ve energized me and I’m still glowing. This Friday night (tomorrow), Rosemarie and I plan to go out to celebrate. Looks like we may try KIMBALL’S EAST CARNIVAL in Emeryville. Have you ever been there? They’re supposed to have a good Salsa Dance band and even five free lessons beforehand. Hope it doesn’t turn out to be a real ‘meat market’. If so, we’ll have to move on.
Does your brother still work at the Holiday Inn in Emeryville? Just getting out of suburbia will be refreshing and with my new “energy” level I’m looking forward to an evening out with some good music.
Rose and I are thinking for future Birthday celebrations we should plan an overnight trip to interesting places. Sounds like fun to me. I know we really enjoyed our cruise for our last birthday(s).
Speaking of trips, aren’t you heading to Miami soon? Why Miami? I mean, is there any reason like people, sites, museums? Or is it somewhere else you are planning to go? I’ll be looking forward to your card. Speaking of trips. Jan and I are currently looking at June 9-11th for Pisom Beach, probably drive down late Friday evening. Think about it, okay. I’ll let you know for sure and send the details later. She specifically told me to tell you you’re welcome to stay over.
Oh, I’m sending you the picture the waitress took of us at CHEZ PANISSE, sending it separately. The ‘housewarming’ book I was ready to send, then I flipped through the pages at the last minute. I seem to remember the photographs being of celebrities, but I discovered the book is loaded with nudes!
I’ll have to think about the book and whether you’d find it entertaining. I don’t mind nudity at all, just that it wasn’t my intent when I bought you the book five years ago.
Do hope you had a great weekend while you were home. I’m sure you made the visit extra special for your mom. When is your Grandmother's Birthday? Are you going to give her that bowling card?
I really miss you but just thinking about you makes me smile.
Love Always,
Dorothy
From the sound of it, Dorothy knows about trying to mix-it-up a little bit. Her card with what seemed to be a glimpse of a nude woman’s body in the sand was very artsy. And the quote that went along with the image was perfect by Geroge Jean Nathan: “Art is the sex of the imagination.”
Mail became a part of his heart. He carefully chose the places to read these lengthy communications, which were far more exciting than the chapters of a novel because he was the major character in them. --Leonard Cohen, THE FAVORITE GAME, a novel
