"THAT GIRL"

'It seemed a shame that we could be so close in our letters and never see each other alone.'
A WAY OF LIFE, LIKE ANY OTHER by Darcy O’Brien

On March 29, 1988 I wrote the following letter to PALOMA:

Dear Paloma,

Do you remember my Nastassja Kinski framed picture hanging over my bed?  Well, I found the male version that’s sure to get you very excited.   I know you’ll like it.

Guess what?  My sister in law, Helen, had her baby girl today at 5:55AM.   She was 6 lbs, 19 ounces and 19 inches long.  Her name is LEIGH ERIN ARMIJO.   Now I have three nieces.  My sister in law, Sherri, is due to deliver on April 12, 1988.

PHOTO:  Leigh Armijo

So…how are you, Jonathan and Alexandre?   I am doing well.  I am still dating Kelly M.   She’s a really nice one.   I like her a lot too.  If it amounts to anything ‘real significant’ I will let you know.

I heard our song today:  RED WINE by UB 40.

Do you remember the 1984 TV movie called LACE?   You told me about that blond and how she is a famous actress in Paris (ARIELLE DOMBASLE).   Well, last month, my roommate, Mike Miller, and I were in San Francisco and I saw her on a catalog cover for a store called CELINE.   The store gave me a catalog to take home.   I’m writing your letter on top of the catalog right now.  
PHOTO:  Arielle Dombasle

My Pacific Bell office moved to a new building in San Francisco and it’s really nice because we’re a block away from the HYATT REGENCY.   There are all kinds of new places to go for lunch.   There’s nothing like THE GOOD EARTH (of Berkeley), of course. 

 I haven’t been bicycling lately.  I am starting to feel FAT again.   I havent’ even been to the gym for a couple of weeks.  Oh well…I jogged a lot the week before last.   What is your current body rating?   Are you still ravishingly SEXY and BEAUTIFUL?  Haha…or need I even ask?

PHOTO:   Film Clip from DOMINICK AND EUGENE

The Academy Awards are on April 11^th and that’s going to be fun to watch.   If you get a chance be sure to go and see a new movie called DOMINICK AND EUGENE starring Tom Hulce and Jamie Lee Curtis.   It is really sad and happy at the same time.  It’s a super good movie.   It just opened in the US theaters here last week.   It will probably hit France in about a year.   How long does it take?

Have a good day ‘sweets’.   Give Jonathan a kiss and hug from ‘UNCLE MIKE’.  Lots of Love,  Always,  Michael J Armijo

PHOTO:  LEIGH  ARMIJO

Yes, my niece LEIGH was born on March 29, 1988.   I love one of my first Polaroid shots of her where her eyes are so OPEN with curiosity.   She’s such a doll.   

Ironically, another niece was born on April 2, 1988.   She was born ten days earlier than expected.  Her name is HOLLY ALYSSA ARMIJO.    They were both born in Oakland, CA (just like me).   They were born at KAISER HOSPITAL.    I was born in OAKLAND HOSPITAL.  I wonder what ever happened to that hospital? 

I accompanied mom to KAISER on April 2^nd to see HOLLY.   Ashley came along and I snapped a photo of mom and Ashley leaving the hospital.  Earlier I had spotted my nieces (Lauren and Ashley) playing around in the hallways of the hospital with two other little girls.  

It’s cute how kids make friends so quickly.   They seem to start out by looking at each other and simply asking, “What’s your name?”    I’ve decided the next time I go to a bar or club and I see ‘THAT GIRL’ I’m just going to put my little boy hat on, smile and ask, “So…what’s your name?”   
I mean…that’s the best introductory question, isn’t it?

After the KAISER HOSPITAL visit was back at mom’s house and I congratulated my brother, Tony, on the birth of his second daughter, LEIGH.     He seemed pretty happy.   I think he figured I have one already, so the second one should be a breeze.

Mom was so happy.   She gave birth to three boys and now she suddenly has four granddaughters. 

“I always wanted a girl…and now I have four,” mom said, smiling.

Soon I'll be able to take photos of Holly, too.   She's still in the hospital for observation.

I had mom take a pic of me, holding my new niece, Leigh.  Sweet.  She's so small and fragile.  She didn't even cry.  I guess this means she'll be a 'good girl' (for the time being). 

Mom is so good with her granddaughters, too.  Lauren and Ashley spent the night and mom put bobby pins in their hair in order to create curls for them.   They were so excited and looked so cute with the bobby pins.   They looked at themselves in the mirror and laughed at themselves.  It was super cute.  I had my mom take a Polaroid of both LAUREN and ASHLEY on my lap with those bobby pins in their hair.   It was classic.

PHOTO:   Ashley Armijo and Lauren Armijo in bobby pins

'Families could be great things if they worked right.' -Darcy O'Brien
A WAY OF LIFE, LIKE ANY OTHER