A Smart Scheme

“I don’t ever want to do anything that will vex you.” --George Eliot, DANIEL DERONDA 

It's Valentine’s week, a time for joy and a time for showing the love.

Alan wrote a ‘2 Days in Advance Valentine Card’ in anticipation of our Las Vegas long 4-day weekend getaway. Alan bought tickets to see ELTON JOHN at the MGM GRAND. I’ve never really been a fan of his—but maybe I’ll enjoy it, nonetheless. The real entertainment for me is ‘being with Alan’. He knows not to vex me in any way. I love conversing with him. His words are always interesting.  

Alan’s other Valentine dated 2/18/98: 

Dearest Michael, 

Happy Valentine’s Day!! 

It was a great trip to Vegas: 4 days of you alone.

As you know, I Love You!!!

Let’s plan on more exclusive time in any city, any country—even at 3715 Via Dolce. 

Love, 

Alan 

While we were in Las Vegas we went to visit my former co-worker, Reed, and his wife, Deanna. By the time I got home I found a note and a cool card from him. It depicted a woman looking at a mask while a mysterious hand was trying to grab her away. It's actually an image from an oil painting on wood by MICHAEL PARKES, done in 1984 and titled: THE PALMIST. Reed wrote:

Dear Michael,

My deepest thanks for your many kind words and the great bottle of Champagne. I have saved it if for the special celebration--for what I don't know--but will think of you with many wonderful memories.

Thanks again,

Always, Reed 

My mom’s first cousin (my cousin, too), Marie Antoinette sent a Valentine my way also. I called my mom and read it aloud to her: 

Valentine’s Day 1998 

Dearest Michael, 

Hope all is well. I was thinking of you and didn’t want Valentine’s Day to go unnoticed. I received your card and as always was very happy to hear from you and not so happy to hear that you were under the weather. Glad you’re feeling better. I guess we all come down with a “flu bug” of some kind.  

Mom and Joe Pat were the only ones who go their vaccines, so maybe next year I’ll go get one and avoid the misery. Bright idea! 

Take Care and God Bless. Give my regards to all the family. 

Love Your Cousin,

Marie Antoinette 

And sweet Dorothy Rua sent a Valentine, but it was brief. She had said she’d write more but she didn’t this time: 

Dearest Michael, 

You lift my heart and soul.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Love you,

Dorothy. 

PS - More in the next card. Have a great weekend! 

And I was surprised and elated to receive a postcard from one of my newfound cousins of Alburquerque, NM who was visiting Seoul, Korea for a ROBOTICS CONFERENCE. She is my second cousin once removed (Denise D Gonzales-Padilla). Her great-great grandfather, Dario Lucero b. 1892 d. 1973, was my granduncle. Dario and my grandfather, Fidel Alexander Lucero were brothers. Denise wrote: 

Feb. 17, 1998 

Michael, 

I am visiting Seoul, Korea for robotics research and this is the very famous temple in Kyong-bok Palace. I’m learning! 

Take Care, 

Cousin Denise Padilla from Albuquerque, NM 

My mood swings from going to work are reaching a peak. I’m almost vested by being there at CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. For seven years. I feel I need to plan an exit strategy. I am discussing with Alan the ideal of our forming our own boutique business—maybe next year. I sometimes refer my clients to Financial Advisors. With Alan’s expertise in finance and with bonds, why can’t we become Financial Advisors ourselves? I’m vulnerable. I’m anxious. I want to come up with a smart scheme.  

'A man’s greatest source of strength—his family—is also his most vulnerable point.' --Sebastian Fitzek, SPLINTER