My entry for today was going to be about a visit to my doctor that reminded me that though I needn’t see every sunrise as a sunset, as, like many people with AIDS, I had trained myself to do, I probably shouldn’t either put a down payment on a condo for a gay retirement community for 2024. It was nothing major, just some bothersome lipid levels that require a shuffling of meds. However, I have no intention of getting too realistic again. I’ve discovered, as I think I have shared in this blog, that it is extremely important to plan your life bearing in mind the near-term, mid-term, and long-term, because you never do know. You might just live.
My mulling over matters medicinal was made moot by a magical missive in the mail. I had several late birthday cards, and an awaited letter or two, but I most marveled at an envelope from a completely unfamiliar address in Amsterdam--a city I've long loved from afar, in a country I adore (not because I spent much time there--3 days 30 years ago--but because my experience with Dutch people has been uniformly good.) I opened the manila envelope and out tumbled 10 or so postcards- some quite amusing, some artistic, some aesthetically pleasing-- from someone named Moni. I am assuming, but am not certain, that Moni is short for Monique, and so will refer to her in the female gender. Moni, if I am wrong I am sure you will correct me. (Moni’s handwriting could go either way, male of female)
Moni writes:
Hi Marc
Happy Birthday!!
Have a good day and take care.
Moni (a blog fan of yours from Amsterdam).
Let me just say: Holy rib-tickling, mind blowing birthday present! Someone I’ve never met who somehow discovered the blog and likes my writing enough to send me gift postcards! My first fan! (Please let’s hope not my last!)
I feel like Sally Field! “You like me! You really like me!” Plus one of the postcards Moni sent is a set of photos of George Bush next to a chimpanzee with exactly the same set of facial expressions. Earl and I laughed heartily, but the best part was showing it to Adam, the Ketchup kid, who is not only obsessed with the Kennedys but a rabid Bush supporter. (Given the obvious political contradiction, I have concluded Adam is actually obsessed with political dynasties, and it has something to do with his estrangement from his corporate attorney father, but I digress).
Anyway, Moni, I will be writing you directly, but if you could please send your typed address via email to my sister, I will send her my letter to send you because I am really not certain of the spelling of your address as written on the back of the envelope.
Moni illustrates the truth that we can all make a big difference in the lives of complete strangers, in the most unexpected ways and without a terrific amount of effort. This goes for how Moni made me feel today, and I guess also goes for how my writing may have affected Moni.
Some of you can expect some cool postcards in the mail.
MCO 2004
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