Remain Calm, Take it Slow

“Waste nothing—remember, there is a purpose for everything.  These scraps can be very useful.” --Rohinton Mistry, A FINE BALANCE 

At least President Bill Clinton was acquitted by the Senat in his impeachment trial earlier this month (on February 12, 1999).  It was all such nonsense, interfering with progress for the USA that he had consistently been doing.  

In the meantime, a former coworker I know, Gloria Romero (from my Pac Bell Yellow Pages days in San Francisco) always remembers how I like postcards.  So, she sent me a sweet card from where she is living now (Gig Harbor, Washington): 

February 23, 1999 

Hi!  Michael, 

Finally getting a letter off to you.  Enclosed are various postcards and a picture of George and at Gig Harbor.  Health checkup for both of us was fine and glad of that. 

I’m getting ready for my trip.  Nina, my daughter, and two other ladies (From San Francisco, my MACY’s Cooking Class friends) and me...” PARIS” here we come.  We may even try to take the train to Italy for a day or two.  We all love to cook.  We got an apartment in Paris.  Nina and I have our own place with my friends about a block away.  We will be close to everything and can walk and take the Metro.  We are leaving on March 22nd and returning April 7th.  Nina and I will be celebrating our birthdays in Paris.  I’m excited. 

Love retirement...George and I may go to London next year. 

Now’s your new venture in the business world.  Lots of Luck to you.  It will be successful. 

Keep in touch. 

Love Your Friends, 

Gloria & George 

My subtle correspondence to friends and family about my Financial Advisory business (Verona Capital) are ending up with responses like “Congratulations”, “You’ll be successful”, “How exciting” ...but where are the sign-ups and exclamations that I’m looking for like, “I want to be a client!”  Such is life.  I’ll remain calm, take it slow.   

With free time I wrote mom a postcard on February 24th, 1999. It's actual a classic hard-to-find photo of model, Naomi Campbell, for the DO NOT DISTURB Versace themed collection: 

Hi Mom, 

Tell Ashley I saw this card & she reminded me of Jovan.

I’m on the way to Aruba.  It’s a pretty clear blue sky outside my airplane window.  We are somewhere between L.A. and Miami right now. 

I hope they sell magnets on the Carribean Island of Aruba.  I would hate to disappoint you.  It needs to be added to your refrigerator.   

Before you know it, I’ll be back in L.A and I’ll be planning my trip to deliver your 1998 tax return documents.  If you had a computer, you could send me an e-mail.  I could read it in Aruba.   

After Cable TV, then we get you a computer, ok?  That’s final. 

Love Ya, 

Michael  

And Gloria (Alan’s mom) isn’t shy by sending me a B&W postcard of sexy guys from Abercrombie & Fitch.  Too funny: 

3/1/99 

Hi my Love, 

Thinking and missing you, so decided to let you know about it. Things are going fine.  I came doing okay and I am the best babysitter out there.  This could be my new vocation.  All is well. Weather is great, saw AFFLICTION.  It’s a “C”. 

Love Always, 

Glorya (new spelling, looks chic) 

Hmmm...a “C” is satisfactory; but “C” is also for carrots. 

“My father says his one eye is equal to most people’s two because he eats carrots regularly.  A carrot a day keeps blindness away, he claims.” --Rohinton Mistry, A FINE BALANCE