Julia and the Blogmaid

I truly love starting my day with an email from our Blogmaid.
Then I write her back and because we are both writers, I believe
that we tell each other things about our daily lives that we would
miss if we were lucky to have coffee together everyday ~ not that
I wouldn't enjoy that, of course. We also cover "the big stuff" like
war, peace, global warming, pumpkins, RR, assorted husbands,
friends, laundry, flossing, the work world, women's rights, base-
ball, computers, step children, high and low finance and Macy's
is having a sale on all Jockey® brand whatevers. Oh, and I use my
daily email to the Blogmaid to warm up my heart and hands and
to get ready for the challenges of the day, including this blog.

This is from her Sunday morning email. Her family spent the
weekend at her parents' home in Rancho Cordova. This is so cool:

 In 1981, when I was 17, I wrote a letter to the screenwriter 
Alvin Sargent. He wrote Ordinary People and a bunch of other 
films, but the one I was interested in was his adaptation of 
Lillian Hellman's "Julia." I told him I hoped to be a playwright 
and screenwriter, and I thought I could learn a lot if I could 
read a copy of his script because I was so familiar with the 
memoir. He sent me the script then, but in this new letter 
he wrote that he was cleaning out his office and found my 
letter from 1981. He said he was pretty sure he had sent me a 
copy of the script, but wanted to be sure. And he said he 
hoped I was happy "writing, or not." He also sent me a copy 
of my original letter, which I haven't read too closely yet 
because I'm sure I'll cringe. I just googled him -- he's
he's 84 now. I'll send him a thank you note, although 
I'm pretty sure I sent one back then, too...

And then,for your amusement:

Let me know how you liked your Plot class. At first I thought
it was a class taught by Plot.

all questions answered

I sort of like this daily Round Robin write from the past. It refers
to the death of Christopher Reeves' wife ~ leaving their boy without a parent.

IN THE PALM OF MY HAND (the prompt)

I have the answer here, ladies and gentlemen. Give that man over there
your $20 and I'll tell you the purpose of life. Have you been wondering
how a just God can take away both parents of a 13 year old boy? Well,
now you'll know. I have been told and I will reveal the truth.

Step right up and ask me those difficult questions. Even the ones
that start with "how come?" Like how come the days/weeks/months
go by so fast as you get older? We need long quiet days of reflection
instead of getting up and going back to bed in about an hour. But
I now know this and much, much more.

Yes, I have the answers here in the palm of my hand. I know why some
people are born into a life of wealth and ease and others into total
and abject poverty. It will make perfect sense to you too, but first
I need you to talk to the tall man in the top hat in that ticket booth
to your left.

Of course I can explain mental illness and tragic accidents too. I wish I
had found these answers earlier in my life, but my purpose now is
to pass them on to you. You will never again wake up at 3am and
wonder what the fuck you are doing here. Those fears will vanish
and you will be as calm as that handsome man in the tuxedo
over there on your left.

Many people just like you have benefited from the answers which
I hold here in the palm of my hand. Step inside my golden tent
and you'll be amazed and delighted with all that I will tell you.
Money back guarantee if you aren't completely satisfied.
03/12/06