Stand By Me

Life is to be lived.  If you have to support yourself, you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting.  And you don't do that by sitting around.--Katharine Hepburn, American actress
March 1990 It is already early March and I was quite surprised to receive a letter from my former hot and heavy ‘flame’, Steven Antol, the United Airlines flight-attendant that I had met in Hawaii.   He wrote me from the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers and he used an address label that I had sent him of the secluded beach (that looks similar to a Hawaiian beach we were both enjoying together at one time).  Frankly, I almost forgot that I sent him those address labels.  So much has happened since…
I’m frankly surprised he wrote to me, although I shouldn’t be too surprised as he is the one who tells me he is still in communication with his friends from Kindergarten.  I am in communication with many of my Elementary School pals from St. Anthony’s (so it was one thing we found amazingly similar about each other).  It’s a rare thing.   He did send me that Snoopy PEANUTS Valentine last month, too.   This is what Steven wrote:
March 01, 1990Dear Michael,Hi buddy…I hope this finds you well.  Boy, it sure has been a while since I wrote you.   Haven’t talked with you in ages and haven’t seen you in over a year!   I’m sure that you’re doing well.  You must be well-adjusted to the big L.A. Lifestyle and all…I could have done this more than a few months ago but I apologize for the delay.  Thank you Mr. Michael for the lovely address labels…  I can’t tell you how excited I was to receive them.  One month prior to receiving them in the mail I saw my friends’ catalog of the exact stickers and commented on how great they looked.   I had a few gifts this past Christmas and this was one of my favorites.   Thank you.  MAHALO!   ARIGATO…  That was very sweet of you and I appreciate your thoughtfulness, my friend.I have been flying lots these past months (Japan and New Zealand exclusively…with the exception of one Denver trip).  I haven’t seen LAX or SFO for quite a long time.   I have your new address and phone number, so I’ll ring you when I drop in town.   Maybe we can have dinner together.  I’d love to visit with you.  I may even call you sooner if I don’t get a trip there soon.So how’s life treating you?  I often think of you and the fun times I had with you in SFO.  You’re really a nice guy, Michael.   I’m always wishing you well.I’m off to dreamland real soon.  Have a great day.  It was nice chatting with you.   Aloha, Steven
P.S.  I talked with Tammy Wynette.   She was on the DENVER-HONOLULU flight I had.   Do you know her?  She was very nice.   Hint:  STAND BY YOUR MAN was her Country/Western HIT.   Goodnight.
Well, now I understood his letter.  He certainly didn’t STAND BY ME when we were together.  It’s funny as I feel like Alan would STAND BY ME ‘no matter what’ for some reason.  He’s extra special (thus far, minus the Cancun BLT mayo sandwiches and loud shouting at me at the Blue Bayou Restaurant). 
Dorothy wrote me on a postcard that depicted a photo of Katharine Hepburn that I found quite remarkable.  It was photographed in 1934 by fashion photographer, George Hoyningen-Huene.   I feel I truly have a keen eye for photos and cards.   I had confided in Dorothy about my wanting to start a sort of unique greeting card business.   I would need a lot of capital to get it started.  Perhaps I could own a café for artsy people to visit and buy a card, have a coffee and write to a secret someone.   That’s what I’d love to do.   I could even supply postage stamps and have a mail drop to make it easy.  Dorothy wrote:
3-3-90Dear Michael,Your CANCUN card was perfect!   You know how I love crystal clear, emerald green water.   The water and the white sand remind me so much of GUAM.  The beaches of HAWAII (with their brown sand) don’t compare. No apology needed for the missing “MEXICO” postmark.  You’re sweet for asking.  It just confirms you were having a great time which brings a smile to my face.   I’m so glad it was fun.  I hate to go on a trip like that and not enjoy every minute!   I wish I could see your pictures.  Maybe someday we’ll be able to get-together and you can give me the story behind each one.  It must have been hard to come back home!
So, what’s this news about Laverne and the new Tel Sales job and still being with PAC BELL?  I’m jealous that she’ll be there in a few weeks.   What fun you two will have.  I’ll be thinking of you guys and wishing I were there, too! 
I just missed getting a job I wanted last week.  The Vice-President I talked to said it was a tough decision between me and this other guy.  It was because he had 10 years more experience than I did.   Mortgage Banking is one of those industries where everyone knows everyone else’s reputation, so I’m wondering how long it will take for them to discover the skeletons in this guys’ closet!  That job was a plus as I saw that I’d fly to Orange County once a month.  Oh well…on to whatever else is out there!PHOTO:  Katharine Hepburn, 1934
What do you think of this card?  I loved it the minute I saw it.  It made me think of ME…then I realized it is Katherine Hepburn!   Love, Dorothy
Alan introduced me to a new artist.   I didn’t meet the artist.  I simply took an immediate liking to her work.   It seems Alan had her father as a client when he was selling municipal bonds at Kidder-Peabody.  The clients’ name is Perry Preusch who lives in the Pasadena area.   His daughter (the artist) is named Lori Preusch.   Perry had given Alan a number of her greeting cards and Alan gave me one of her original masterpiece photo cards.  It depicted a young girl, playing dress-up in an attic.   I loved it as it reminded me of my nieces, Ashley Armijo or Lauren Armijo (playing dress-up).   I had to send it to my mom:

March 4, 1990, 7:45PM SundayDear Mom:Alan is friends with the lady (Lori Preusch) who does the artwork for these cards.  He had an extra one or two of her latest works.  He gave them to me because he knows I write a lot.   I was going to send this one to Ashley or Lauren but I figured if I sent it to you…both of them would see it.  It’s kind of a neat card.

Enclosed are some photos of CANCUN and my latest home décor photo prints.   What do you think?   Please return the CANCUN pics for my album.  I have some other CANCUN pics in which I am getting copies made.  I forgot to tell you that I saw Santa Claus in CANCUN.  Ha-ha.  He has a year round store in CANCUN.  I was able to get a picture with him.  I’ll send it to you.  I’m getting copies made for the girls. You really made me laugh when I read your written words in your last letter:  “PUFF PUFF”.I miss you and our weekend outings, too.   Don’t worry…I’ll be over soon.  I was going to come this month but due to my car situation we will have to wait and see.   You really make me feel better when you tell me not to worry regarding my work, etc.   I thought the San Francisco office was bad but the one here in Los Angeles is really screwed-up.   There are so many people who don’t even know how to do the job and think they do.   Oh well…I don’t want to talk about it.

It’s funny when you call and then forget to tell me something.  I forget to tell you something too, so we call each other back when we remember.   Yeah, it was fun seeing that actor guy from THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.  Alan says, “Sooner or later you run into everybody.”So that’ll be interesting when it starts happening and I recognize others. 

I wish you could fly here once a month to clean my place and do my laundry.  Ha-ha.   Well, I can dream, can’t I?The books I bought the girls are good. I even read them.   When they get them have them bring them over to you so you can read the books to them.Oh well, I guess I don’t have all that much to write.  I’ve exhausted everything since we talked on the phone last.We will have to catch up on the latest during our next phone call.   That was good dirt about Nellie and Armando.  Funny.Miss You,  Love “Uncle Mike”

Mom’s mom (my grandmother) actually wrote me a letter.  It was sweet:

Oakland, CAMar. 6, 1990Dear Grandson,I received your card from Mexico…hope you had a good time for not knowing Spanish.  You really spelled the Spanish right, of course.   They talk different than we do in Mexico but it’s always good to know both languages if you go there.  We had some good rain on Saturday and Sunday.   John and Sherri went to LAKE TAHOE.   Ashley liked the snow (and Holly).   They had a good time.   Well, dear grandson, I am getting ready to go to my classes (Senior Citizens) to cut paper dolls, bunnies and Valentines.Take Care, Your Grandma.God Bless You.  Hasta la Vista.  I love you.

I sent mom a ‘ROCK AROUND THE MOUSE’ postcard.  I miss Alameda sometimes:

3-6-90Hi Mom,During my lunch hour I bought ‘3’ postcards.  One of DINO (sent to Ashley and Holly) and one of Fred Flintstone (sent to Lauren and Leigh).  I had this one left over and thought I’d send it to you. I miss you.I can’t wait to hear what the new ARMIJO baby for the 90’s name is going to be…Have a great day (or night…if the mail comes late). Ha-ha.Kisses and Hugs,Michael

Alan has mentioned me to his mother, Gloria.  She knows about me but he hasn’t introduced me to her yet.   I guess he’ll know when the time is right.  We may go out to dinner at some point.  Frankly, I’m a bit nervous to meet her.  I think Alan isn’t in much of a hurry to share me yet either.  I know I will meet his young daughters soon.  I'll be introduced as a friend. 

I wanted to keep him to myself, and, as I knew all too well, once a new friend was admitted to our jolly family group he entered the public domain and was no longer exclusive property. --Emily HahnNO HURRY TO GET HOME (Chapter: “Raymond”)