The Beginnings - Part 79; EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK

I read, confident that reading would make me a better person. Reading spoke to me through my pride. Music spoke directly to my emotions.
-Christopher Bram
SURPRISING MYSELF, a novel

Twenty-five years ago today: September 20, 1987

Paloma wrote me a letter dated the 20th of September 1987:

Dear Michael,

Or should I call you doctor? It seems that you are just full of projects. That’s great. I think it’s just the way to get somewhere. If you don’t try anything you won’t get anywhere. That’s for sure. And that’s just why I’m going to become a top designer for children’s clothes. I’m planning to start this winter since I can’t do much with my baby. I’m going to do it all by myself. I mean, create, make and sell. I’ve already created lots of things. Now I need to go get some material, leather and stuff. I hope it works. I’ll send you pictures but it’s still going to take a while because right now I’m pretty busy. We’re moving to a new apartment. I think I told you the house where we are belongs to my parents-in-law, so we’ll keep coming here very often. You can write at this same address for now. I’ll give you my new one soon. We’re going to a great place but I don’t know for how long we are going to stay there. It’s a little expensive for us. We’ll see how things go.

By the way, my son’s name is JONATHAN, with an ‘A’ at the end. I’m sending you a new picture of him. I’m not taking pictures of myself anymore. He is going to be my favorite model.

I think you are very lucky to have two new babies in your family. I’m just crazy about them now. Alexandre’s sister is expecting one for February. She was pregnant at the same time I was but she lost the baby. It’s too bad…now they’re going to have an eight month difference.

Jonathan is, of course, pretty big. His father is kind of really big and I’m not that short either, and he is going to become Mister Olympia in a few years. Can you imagine that he was already training in a gym when he was two weeks old!

I can’t wait for some new pictures of you. I love to get your letters and pictures.

Don’t worry about Alexandre. He doesn’t read my mail, not the English ones at least. He can only say a few words in English.

It seems you miss our long conversations, too. I remember we used to stay on the phone for hours and laugh so much! I’m sure we’ll be friends for the rest of our lives.

I’m really happy the pig you have as a roommate reminds you of me! You are just so sweet, love you too, Michael!

Of course, I think about the states very often. When I think of you, the Walsh Family, Carmela and a few other friends I miss it very much. I loved frozen yogurt pies and Domino’s pizza. Where I live now is very much like California. It’s kind of like a French Santa Cruz with hundreds of people at summertime. It’s empty at winter. I also have the beach and pretty much the same weather. There’s a BURGER KING but they don’t have good hamburgers in the country.

Of course, Jonathan is potty-trained. He also does the dishes and cleans the house and drives the car…smart kid, isn’t he?

You’ve got plenty of time to get married and have kids. You must think about it twice before you do it. You are right. It’s terrible for a kid to grow up without his mother and father. I can’t imagine living without my baby now. Nobody has ever loved me the way he does. I can see in his eyes. I’m the most important thing in his world for him. When he wakes up and I look at him he smiles. He looks so happy to see me. That’s just something I’ve never felt before. He only wants to be in my arms. He trusts me so much.

Every kind of life has its ups and downs. I also sometimes miss my single life. I’m sure someday you’ll find the person you’re looking for…no rush.

Well, Michael, I’ve got to send this letter now. I want to get one of yours fast—that is why. So I just hope everything is going great for you and I hope to read you soon.
Love,
Paloma

The Beginnings – Part 79:  EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK

Thursday, September 1, 1983

Hurrah! I have the day off tomorrow. I love to start out a new month this way.

David Vigil said, “Next Friday we have to go out for Happy Hour again in The City…or Sausalito.”
“Okay, that’ll be fun.”
I know that I want to keep seeing Susan Low though. She’s very special to me.

There’s a great new song by Elvis Costello that I really love called EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK.  It’s so ‘me’.  I guess one could say that’s exactly what I do. I think this is a book for the 90s (or perhaps the turn-of-the-century). I mean…it’s heavy stuff!

Another card that I mailed to Ann-Margret returned to me with the stamp “UNABLE TO DELIVER”. I will try to send it in care of NBC-TV. I’m determined for her to receive it somehow. I love that lady!

I drove over to see George in Sunnyvale. We were overdue. I spent the night at his house. He took his time coming out of the record store today. I sometimes wonder if he really wants to leave that job.

I was rather happy that I was about to make almost $400 per week beginning November 3rd. I will be making $429.50 to be exact. I suppose that’s actually ‘chicken-feed’ to someone like Ann-Margret. I must find out her actual address.

Helen and I went to the BASS Ticket Office joint to see what concerts were forthcoming. I also accompanied her to get her shoes fixed at a shoe repair store.
It was funny because the lady said, “It will take me three minutes to fix this.”
It ended up taking most of our lunch hour.

“…you have to do whatever makes you happy.”
Have you done what makes you happy?
“I’m not sure.” I said. “I’ve tried. I haven’t always succeeded.”
-Mary Morris
ACTS OF GOD, a novel