Dear J,

 Has it already been so many weeks since you’ve gone? Near the beginning it felt that every empty bar stool or open space at the worn out wobbly picnic tables at Ten Bells was pining for you. We were pining for you too. Many a pint was and has been hoisted in your honor, sir. I can only hope you were able to get a minor buzz off the breath that exalted your name.

 

You asked in your message how things were. As far as a generalized response on an un-smart phone can go, I’d have to stick with OK. To tell you total and absolute truth it feels like the world has been turned on to automatic. It’s all work, food, drink, weekends spent in a blur of activities and mayhem only to revolve back to work. Let me tell you, after this last celebration of my trip around the sun, I am finally beginning to feel my age. Its pure vanity in some respect as I have noticed more signature lines around my eyes, an underlying impression of lack of sleep or proper nutrients out side a bottle of beer, are starting to press on my face like worn out memories. This along with the general decline in my energy level and total disenchantment with anything remotely youthful in pop culture and so on. Yes, I’m becoming that woman, and hey, if that ball hits my yard its mine now! Calling all feral cats! 4pm dinners are soon to follow.. oh my old heart!

 

All kidding aside, how the hell are you? Nice haircut. It reminds me of when we first met. The first impression of you as a clean cut kid has come full circle. It looks as if you have stepped into a ready made family. Good show. No, I’m not being unenthusiastic about this at all. I just seem confused, but what do I know? It isn’t even really my business. As long as you are still writing and writing in earnest I can only see this as a positive direction. Three squares and a person to love you is always a good thing, but of course this is only my impression. Please do tell me what is going on, and also send copies of your newest work. I have missed your presence here. I am quite sure that my latest writers block coincided with your departure.

 

I miss you. X+ misses you. We’ve had some parties on the porch and at the usual haunts and the conversation always turns to you. Did you know how much we all love you? Well, I keep thinking about the park and our hangover talks and just the feeling of knowing you were somewhere in the building with a handle in your bag. Speaking of, Mad Swirl has been tremendous with its new private room in the back of the bar. It’s small and intimate and they have a dedicated bar back there. You can smoke whatever you want and there are no loud and obnoxious barstool drunks to perform over. The guys are getting ready for the grand trip across theAtlantic. I managed to scrape up some dough for the cause and have a brand new Mad Swirl T shirt to show for it. Des is settled in your old space and it is looking remarkable considering the state it was in. No offense but that was rough! I suspect your lovely lady of late must be keeping your bachelorhood habits at bay. Please tell me more about her, she looks lovely. Please tell me you have been participating in the vibrant poetry scene as well. How are all the regulars and have you heard anything that has turned you on? Is there more than one regular reading going on weekly? Is there any money to be made and do you know if they need any features for the fall? Is there anyone who I should get as a feature here? Oh, Poets on X+ is going well, and I am hoping to continue after the summer sponsorship from WS. Even if I have to hold it at the Casa De Salas the reading must go on. That being said, when do you think you might make it back up here? I’d love to have a welcome back feature for you when that happens. Regardless if you are coming back to stay is not an issue, because I am not sure if that is even in your future plans, but I would love to see you before the end of the year with poetry in hand. 

 

How is work and home life? Do you see any of your old friends? What kind of hours do you work? Are you maintaining a regular schedule for writing or are you doing it on the fly? Have you considered keeping a blog? It’s really been helping me stay consistent and I am writing more frequently because of it. I don’t think there is a large readership so it is still kind of just for me. I have been studying Strunk and White’s and trying to get more serious about my skills. My job has been taking up a lot of my time and I don’t think I will be pursuing school as I thought I might be this coming spring. I have also taken on a few more books that I am reading during my commute. I just finished ‘Go’ by Holmes, which was a predecessor to Kerouac’s On the Road. If you should run into a copy I highly suggest it. It’s really illuminating on the character that Kerouac played in the early formation of the beat scene and because it is not personally written by him, it gives more explanation on what kind of person he was. I know it isn’t purely autobiographical but it is really entertaining. I swear, the bulk of the book is about their parties, sleeping partners and drug use! We could be writing a great American novel based on just that, don’t you think? Well I guess some things never change, and poets have always known how to party! Now I have just started the collected letters of Neal Cassidy, and if you can I suggest getting your hands on this one immediately! Whenever I read collected letters I run to my desk and start corresponding right away. So here is your letter. I couldn’t think of any one person that I’d rather spend my time with this morning, avoiding work. I do miss you dreadfully. I can’t wait to get a great big bear hug from you soon. My love to your loves, and I hope this letter has found you in the best of health and spirits. Write back super fast, as I await your response.

 

Love,

Opalina

 

P.S. I almost forgot! I just got interviewed for an upcoming article in the OC Advocate. I dropped your name a few times. Let’s see what happens with this. I can only hope some paying gigs or more exposure for X+ to follow. I will send you the issue when it comes out.

 

P.S.S. I’m still in contact with the kid. He seems to be doing well, and his writing is coming along superbly. I am trying not to input too much collaboration with him and he is still finding his own voice. He say’s he’s on the wagon. One can only hope. <3 Ops