Thursday, August 14, 2014

A letter from Robin Williams

It turns out the female star of Mrs. Doubtfire was going to get expelled from school because of missed dates due to her work. Here is a link to the letter he wrote to the high school, asking them to reconsider. it is not zany or strange, just eloquent and beautiful.
Letter from Mrs. Doubtfire

Monday, August 11, 2014

A Letter to Robin WIlliams

August 11, 2014                                                                                                                    
PO Box 200
Old Bridge, NJ 08857

Dear Mr. Williams,

I know that this letter to you is arriving later than it should, but I hope it will get to you somehow. I apologize for this letter taking so long but things get in the way, as they so often do. I was hoping to tell you all this in person, but things rarely work out as are planned and expected.

When I was growing up, I was a fan of yours on Happy Days and then on Mork and Mindy.What can I say other than you made an overweight unhappy and shy kid laugh. And you never knew it because that is how these things work, the gifts of one can change the oceans of the anonymous. I am sure I can speak for many like me who had their lives made a bit better by what you gave out.

When I got older, I wanted to be a stand-up comic for the simple reason that you inspired me to do so. Your racing mind and improvisation enchanted me and I could not help myself but try to do what you did. While I failed miserably at stand-up, my racing mind and silliness never stopped. All I had to do was listen to your first album (which I memorized) for inspiration.

But while I put comedy on the back burner, it was your movie Dead Poets Society that inspired me, no, wait, healed me enough to go back to teaching. On no uncertain terms your performance made me go back and be a teacher that would inspire their students by passionate example. To this day, I still try to live up to that example.

I went back to comedy a few years ago and found that your influence was still very much there and it saved me from a horrible teacher trying to get me to quit. I didn't and found myself within the amazing joy of improvisation with others on stage. On no uncertain terms, I always looked back to you as a reference for excellence.

Nothing came of my career but the path you showed did, and still does, bring me joy. Over the years of commercial failure I learned that the rue joy comes from the work, from being with others and making something beautiful that you have no control over. One cannot describe this to those who have not experienced it, but I am confident you know what I am talking about.

Having met people who worked with, they always said the same thing. That you were a good man, when talking one on one you were quiet and shy, very open and listening all the time. You were also very generous, paying the checks for people on movie sets and doing good work for causes in private. When I read your interviews long ago, I identified with your quiet side, the one you would show only in small parts when you felt safe. I could see that there was a line between the performer and the person. While they were part of a unified whole, one did not have to live the life of the stage when one as off.

So, SIr, I thank you for being a deep deep part of my life.You changed it in so many ways but never knew it. In the end, I still carry one thing you said with me each day. At the end of your debut album, you got into a serious character, an old man who has survived a nuclear holocaust. In the end you took a modified quote from Lord Buckley and said, "People, the're kinda like flowers. It's been a privilege walking through your garden. My Love goes with you...." I never,ever forgot that and the older I got, the more beauty I saw in it because that is what Truth does, blooms over and over again with each season.

I hope that you are no longer tired of the stressful life you have. Living a live in the web of the public eye can be a horrible place as one can become the well known stranger at all times. You did so much good and your sensitive soul must have gotten hurt so much. Nobody is perfect. Not you, not me, not anyone. But I just wanted you to know that you really did change my life in a very real and deep way, which in turn had an impact on many others. I hope that Truth makes you smile, even if it is from a stranger.

Know that I shall always keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and be forever grateful that you were an inspiring part of my life.

With Deepest Sincerity and Gratitude,
Michael Kovacs

Sunday, August 10, 2014

STATIONERY SEMINAR FROM THE DC PEN SUPERSHOW!

My Deepest thanks to those who have kept visiting my blog and to everyone who came out to the show yesterday! I was very excited to give this new seminar and hope to keep doing it at other places! I will be updating this blog on a more regular basis starting next week


The Art of Stationery Making
(on your own....)
by Michael Kovacs


“Images precede language and are closer to feelings. They summon feelings before they’re named and categorized , when they're still fresh and sometimes hard to recognize or categorize.”  
 - Eric Fischl, painter, from his book “Bad Boy, My Life on and off the canvas”


Thank you for attending this seminar. I hope that you will leave here with a new look at stationery and how you can make your own at home.

So as to make sure that there is no confusion or disappointment for anyone attending, this seminar will NOT be dealing with the following:

* Paper making

* Scrapbooking

* Intensive graphic design

* Drawing or any other artistic techniques outside the basic use of basic colors

* The content of the letter itself or anything to do with writing style



In this brief seminar, we will discuss:

> Ink color, types of paper

> Basic layout and design

> Ways of creating your own style

> Stationery and envelope making


In this class you will need:

paper, scissors, q-tip, ink, paper towel and a glue stick....

.... and a willingness to just go with the flow of creativity!



To start with, I believe that there should be a few basic definitions that need to be stated so that we are all on the same page, so to speak. Stationery is, for today’s purposes, any ornamentation of paper and envelopes that may or may not exist before the creation of the body of the letter itself, to accentuate the mood or content of the intent of what is being communicated. In this case, the medium actually is the message.

A very brief history of this would be to start at illuminated manuscripts. An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders (marginalia) and miniature illustrations. In the most strict definition of the term, an illuminated manuscript only refers to manuscripts decorated with gold or silver, but in both common usage and modern scholarship, the term is now used to refer to any decorated or illustrated manuscript from the Western traditions. Comparable Far Eastern works are always described as painted, as are Mesoamerican works. Islamic manuscripts may be referred to as illuminated, illustrated or painted, though using essentially the same techniques as Western works.

My reason for starting here is as follows: while the personal letter has a history back to pre-Roman times, personalizing stationery with a unique and copyable image or images first occurred here, and also this is within the realm of being an OPTION that was chosen.

Ornamented stationery is, for the most part, not needed, or at least has not been considered to be needed for the majority of the history of the letter. Outside of a wax seal, most letters were written on some sort of writing material and sent off. As the golden age of letters occurred when they were the only real form of communication between parties of any distance, most people just said what they had to say and got it off to those they needed. But it is the fact that at one point, pictures were used to ornament the written word. Take note of this. It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Insular art appears using this technique around 600 AD. Technology always dictates the parameters of what is possible for society, and all art with written word was labor intensive and very costly.

For today's class, fast forward to the times when movable type and paper were easy to make and literacy was higher. Having the physical appearance of the personal letter hold some sort of meaning became important, and we carry this through to today. The most obvious example is wedding invitations. People spend a great deal of time getting the right paper and then picking out the right stamp to put on the envelope. Even in today's digital haze, there is still a place where stationery really matters.

At the turn of the 20th century, mourning stationery was used for calling upon the bereaved. The white or cream stationery was bordered with black. On a more general and pragmatic note, the envelope used for Air Mail is a wonderful example.

Stationery is one of the hardest artistic creations to perfect as it is, by definition, UNFINISHED until it is used. Most stationery I have seen for sale tends to be too heavy or light in image and color. What I mean is that there tends to be too much image on the page making it claustrophobic or it is too minimal.  We all liked the Griffin and Sabine books, but how many of us are trained artists getting paid to make stationery? There are simple ways to make stationery on your own that require little work and can look quite nice.


******************************************************************************************************
The only real decision one must make when making stationery is: what matters more, the visual or the language. All other design decisions come from that one point.
******************************************************************************************************

We will approach today’s class with the following premise: what is written on the stationery is the primary focus of the letter, that the decoration of the paper will add to the words and not the other way around. Since there is limited space to write, let us set the general equation to be that no more than 50% of the page can be filled with anything other than words.

Judging by what I see in the chain stores and small boutiques, as well as some that I saved from days gone by, personal stationery design (that is to say, stationery that is used for personal letters) falls into three design camps: border, clumps/images, and a combination of the two.  Very fine stationery tends to have one or more of the sides of the paper lined with a color or two, or even a design. If that is not the case, then either there will be a blob or some sort of image situated somewhere on the page. We can learn from this and do better.

We have all gone to the store and spent time looking at rows of stationery trying to find the right one to use. We then buy it and go home and, after a few letters, get tired of it. Why? To me it is because the mood of the letter should, if possible, fit the stationery. If you are having a miserable week full of little comedy and lots of tragedy, having your words be alongside cartoons of cows riding a motorcycle can give you some cognitive dissonance or at least throw you off your game. I started making stationery simply because I wanted the images on the page to reflect the mood of my writing. Period.

Stationery can be created before or after writing the letter. You can design it before and store it somewhere, or leave a space while writing to add colors or images after the fact to accentuate the mood of your words. In the end, this is not about being clever, but about being as true as possible to the emotion you are trying to convey.

There will be three main concepts that we will be dealing with today:

#1) Color: Mark Rothko, Vincent van Gogh, Monet, Kandinsky, Pierre Bonnard, and many many many other painters have showed the power of color. Today’s class will assume that either black or blue ink will be used to write upon the stationery. Please note that black (or sometimes blue) ink on white paper is still the most popular in written communication because of the contrast. It is simply easiest to read. While Midnight Black Ink on black paper may SEEM like the best way to truly tell someone how you are feeling, it makes the reading of the words, how should I put this, annoying and difficult. Try to focus on clarity before cleverness. If you want to play with ink colors and you have many to pick from, please print out or buy a color wheel. This nifty device will show you quite easily how to work colors with each other.

I have chosen to color the pages today with ink. Why? Well, it seems that most of us here have bottles of ink lying around that we do not use, and why not put them to use? That bottle of Noodler’s Edgar Allan Poe red ink was a nice idea, but how much can you use? And how about those three different bottles of black ink you got thinking they would look reallllly different from each other that turned out to be.... kinda the same? Or how about that ink you bought from some new company that ruined every pen you put the ink in? Yep, time to use it!

We will be using a medium bond paper today to absorb the ink and not ripple after it is absorbed. If you are artistically inclined, you can you ANY medium to color your pages. Gouache, markers, colored pencils, blueberries, WHATEVER! But, since I have a personal preference towards ink and it is handy, we will go with that for today. Please note that the more liquid the color medium, the heavier the paper you will need to avoid the post-application warping of the paper.

Papers can be used for both colors and design. All art stores carry sheets of paper with interesting designs on them. For a very small investment you can get enough paper to last you a very long time.

#2) Image: This is where the cue ball hits the rack of possibilities and self expression. Today we will be using old photographs and images from vintage magazines. Again, this is simply a matter of personal preference on my part. You can get old photo albums and magazines at antique stores or on Ebay. In the end, it is whatever you feel best describes you and that could be vintage pens, puppies, fashion, the periodic table, power tools, cigars, puppies smoking cigars using power tools while playing cards... whatever. For today, let the limitations help you make decisions. Remember, you do not have to use any of what you make today.

#3) Placement: Where the above two concepts are placed on the page are very important so as to make the words of the letter be easiest to read. Again, we are placing the word content equal to or above priority to the visual content.

Here is the one almost absolute rule I have for making stationery and my amazing artist friend Abby agrees: If your piece of stationery looks complete you have done it wrong.

Why?

A piece of “art” can stand alone and deliver its message. Stationery is, by definition, incomplete until it is written upon. This makes it one of the most difficult mediums to create in. So, when making stationery, one must always try to find the point to stop.

Finally, please note that if you desire to have your stationery look and feel like real stationery, all you have to do it take your work to either your local self-copy place or perhaps even your own home scanner and copy your work. This will give it uniformity of texture and image. Also note that if you plan to do any post-writing addition, make sure to use the proper bond paper in the printer/copier.

If you truly wish to take a stab at making your own styler making stationery, I would suggest that you go about it in the way Elton John and Bernie Taupin went about writing together: they wrote about 100 songs simply trying to see how to get it right. You can go to any art store and buy a spiral bound art book and fill it up with stationery attempts. If you like what you make, there should be no problem in taking it to a self serve color copy place and making a usable copy! The key is to simply try and see what happens. Over time you will find that your own voice emerges and you will never look back.

Concluding Thoughts


Thank you again for taking the time to come to this seminar. I hope you had fun and left with some ideas as to how to go about making stationery on your own.

If you are interested, you can see some of my own stationery for sale at:
http://www.zazzle.com/postmodernletters

If you wish to be in touch, please fell free at:
or
Michael Kovacs
PO Box 200
Old Bridge, NJ 08857

My deepest thanks to Christine Kovacs, Abby Gualtieri, Kerry Gibson, Ilana Kein, and Sabine for keeping me able to give this seminar.

Sincerely,
Michael Kovacs









Sunday, March 16, 2014

THANK YOU LONG ISLAND!!!

I just got back from the Long Island Pen show and all I can say is thank you all for making it such a great time! Thank you thank you thank you!

Photos to follow in a shortly!!

Monday, March 10, 2014

Will be giving the Seminar at the Long Island Pen Show THIS SUNDAY!

Hey everyone! I will be giving my seminar at the Long Island Pen Show this Sunday at 1 PM! It should be a lot of fun so come on out!!!!!!!! (They spelled my name wrong again...)
Mike Kovacs at the Long Island Pen Show

Friday, February 21, 2014

L A YOU ROCK! And...

Dear L A Pen Show,

Thank you all so much for being an amazing crowd! Just about a seated capacity crowd! You were all amazing and I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Just to show you that letters are still alive, this found me:

EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Will post pictured soon.

With Deepest Gratitude,
Mike


Saturday, February 15, 2014

2014 Pen Show Instructions

IN CLASS PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
L A PEN SHOW SEMINAR 2014

Last year at the seminar we used quotes as a way to start getting the creative ways flowing for letter writing. This year we will be doing lists!

The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one's self of the chains that shackle the spirit. ~ Igor Stravinsky

Instruction sheet:

Please make sure you take TWO pieces of stationery as well as an envelope and a blank piece of paper. They have been made with lines cutting them in half for organizationa/architectural l purposes.

Think about the person you want to write to and, on the blank piece of paper, write down a list of three things you have never told them. It does not have to be anything too deep or emotional if you wish.

Examples:
3 great/interesting things you saw at the pen show
3 places you have always wanted to go
3 places you regret going
3 memories from your childhood
3 pieces of art that you love
3 books that changed your life
3 songs/pieces of Music that changed your life
etc

If you can’t think of 3 then do 2. No worries

Now, put that to the side, and start the letter by:

1) Placing the date and place in the upper right hand corner

2) Giving the salutation (Dear...)

3) Start the letter with a greeting and be sure to mention the last time you spoke/wrote to each other. Also tell them you are writing from the pen show!!

4) Now, segue into it by saying something like, “Ya’ know, I want to let you know a few of my ‘___________’ “ and write down your first thing from the list and write about it. How and what you write depends on how close you are to this person. There is no wrong or right answer for this.

Example:
“Okay, so I am now going to tell you about a few insane things that happened to me recently. I was playing a show a few days ago where I finally debuted as a spoken word artist at a capacity crowd at a bar near here and afterwards, some guy I did not see since graduating 8th grade shows up! I barely recognize him. We start talking and he says he remembers that I played a red guitar in 8th grade and how amazing he thought I was because I played ‘Smoke on the Water.’ Okay, this is insane because I cannot ever remember having a red guitar and I never liked Deep Purple! Yeah, okay, I played guitar but I would swear it was during the Summer of 8th grade! I didn’t want to debate the guy, but it is very bizarre when someone else remembers more about your life than you!

“The next thing was just sad. Chris and I went into NYC to see ‘Waiting for Godot’ with Patrick Stewart. During intermission, I saw guys huddled together around their cell phones mumbling things like ‘dead,’ ‘drugs,’ etc. I asked what was going on. They said that Philip Seymour Hoffman had died in NYC from a heroin overdose. I returned to our seats in a heavy fog. The second half of the play which deals with the question of continuing on regardless of despair seemed to hit a bit hard. It was a long train ride home under cold grey skies.

Finally, on my way back from the studio where I was being evaluated for voice overs, I saw a clown car get into an accident with a group of anti-vegan pink pong protesters outside a pet store that sold only used crickets. Things got crazy when a bus of nuns got involved... did I mention I have been drinking too much Red Bull and not slept for almost a week?”

etc.



**********************************

Use the last sheet of stationery (take more if you need it) and write out your conclusion to the letter with your final salutation wishing them well and hoping they will write soon.
Final Salutation and signature and you are done.



All original contents copyright Michael Kovacs 2014.

Michael Kovacs
PO Box 200
Old Bridge, NJ 08857







Los Angeles Seminar 2014 Sample Letters

L A Pen Show 2014 Sample Letters Handout

The following are sample letters from my project “A Month of Sundays” and appear, with music behind them, on the debut album “Seasons... and other Imperfect Circles” by my new project The Fractal Ensemble.

April 17, 1996

My Dear Friend,

DOOD! Of course I remember you?!

I’m so glad you found me in the middle of Europe! How have you been? How long has it been since we last spoke? Okay, let’s just call it too long and start from there...

What is going on with me? I’ve been here in Europe for a while trying to finish up my degree or at least get enough credits to finish it up at home in a year. When I got here I hated it but then it began to grow on me. Now I love it. I just got back from an insane trip to Semana Santa in Seville. The incense, candles, trumpets, drums, and INSANE costumes (someone should talk to them about those... hoods?)

Life here is so different from the states. people seem to know how to live. I can get use to that, ya’ know? It isn’t like it is at college in the states. People still know how to party but still get to work and have a respectable GDP.

So what is going on with you these days? How have you been? The last time we met was a party over on the North Loop , no? That was a C-R-A-Z-Y party! How they got that gazebo onto that pick up truck is beyond me! (Wait was it the other way around? Damn absinthe!) I tried to find you at the end of the night , right after Tom fell down and broke his arm from falling down the stairs. Can you believe I dated that loser? I spoke to Susan (remember her?) and she said he is still looming around town. Live and learn (or at least let’s hope so.)

So what have you been up to? How have you been? Where are you working? Still at the... okay, I forgot where you are working. TELL ME! Are you still living over by the hardware store/supermarket at the corner of Drag Queen and Homicide? Take care, okay? That section of town is strange! You can get gunned down in front of that low budget comedy improv theater just around the block from you. Not that some of those performers do not DESERVE to hospitalized after their horrible performances, but still....

Okay. Take good care and THANK YOU FOR WRITING ME!!!!!

Love,
Ri

PS: I wouldn't mind if you would write me back! (HINT WINK HINT)

*********************************************************************

July 3, 1996

My Dearest AMAZING Friend,

I just got your latest letter in the mail. Damn you give good letter, I mean that was some of the best letter I have ever got! I know, I’m sick, sorry. I got the cookies and the poster! THANK YOU!

Life here has been just running out of control, like a cab being driven by Helen Keller through a soccer match. Today, for example. I got up early after staying out too late, cleaned (clomping around my apartment with dirty mop water and black boots like some depressed Euro club girl) , ran to the train to go to yoga (given by a fascist masochist Stalin-esque yoga instructor) AFTER my class three towns away......... ONLY to have rushed to the college to find the class cancelled and then, after eating a huge breakfast, decided to not go to Pol Pot Yoga. So, I am writing you on a train back to my apartment. Some strange looking stoner chick next to me is making a bracelet of some sort. Let’s where where this goes, shall we?

Classes at the university are in full swing and I am drowning in work. Still, I cannot help myself but get out there and be with my new friends. It turns out that there is a girl here from the university we went too. Her name is Holly and she is a totally bad ass chick. She plays guitar, loves the Indigo Girls, and is just too cool for any school. We hang out and sing whenever we can. We became best buds IMMEDIATELY!

Your letters! Ouch! What is going on with you Sweetie?! You must take better care of yourself. Is your job really that stressful? I am sorry about your allergies. You must try to get some sleep!

I have to ask you a question. Do you think I am attractive? I guess I am sorta cute, but what’s been happening here is making me question reality. It seems here men are falling all over me in ways that are boggling my mind. Do I have some sort of hypnotic beam coming from my chest or something? My new boyfriend, Julian, likes me a lot, but that is in a “high school” sort of way. He’s nice and smells good, but I am trying to figure out what is going on. His friends are hitting on me, guys on the bus, etc.! Okay, fine, I am an American chick in Europe, but REALLLY? The men in this country are like wolves.

On a different note, I got a job tutoring some German girls in English. They are nice and the pay is decent so I have a little less to worry about financially.

Well, here’s something interesting. The kinda strange girl who was next to me on the train making the bracelet, we wound up talking and she was really nice. She even gave me me the thing she was making!

Well, as you can surmise, I am not on the train now, but back in my apartment. I need to get some studying done before I meet up with some friends and we go out into the Summer night and go dancing till we can no longer stand. So I had better go. I miss you so much and cannot wait till I get back to see you again! Thank you so much for the letters! I LOVE THEM! (but not in that “High school sort of way” ha ha) Take care of yourself, Sweetie, and I will write more soon.

Love,
Ri

*************************
September 23, 1996

My dearest friend,
I just received your two letters and tape in the mail. They were awaiting me at my old address in the northern part of town. As I read your words, the sun is just beginning to set upon the hills that border the village and the sky beams with yellow and violet.

Thank you for writing me as you do, as we have shared so much during our time apart, it seems as though our trust is genuine and special. It always makes me feel good to know that there is someone out there who cares about my life.

I've just awoken from a nap because I spent the whole night on a hoot doing the rhumba. I showered and came down to the tiny terrace bar, one of two which flank my building door. The one I've always frequented is filled with families, tiny four year old girls in pink and purple print cloth and exquisite 1920's hair bobs, scrounging about in the dirt together while their grandparents expertly let the world go by as their beers glow topaz. Moms with leather jackets, plucked eyebrows, smoking. Older women with sweaters on their shoulders soothing the inevitably ruffled feathers of the pink printed dolls. Slick black haired men in jeans, sunglasses and white espadrilles giggle laughing babies. Inside the two bars from my outside vantage point, I hear the stereo roar as the Madrid soccer team makes a goal.
The other bar is the scary one filled with the young harder people who are known as "the heavies." Both men and women have long feathered hair, tight pants, black skirts, and interesting necklaces in their open buttoned chests, leather jackets and fringed boots. Then, on the other side are the night brood, the wild ones. Every night they gather and listen to tapes and drink liters of beer with a dog or two, leaning on a fence that faces the garden. Of course the bar group is more splendid and scruffy in their low class finery. But the wild children were the first I saw months ago from my fourth floor window. They gathered like dried leaves in the windy late winter nights, and disappeared before dawn.

Their circle kept its back towards me the nights I waited outside for Herman. I watched them, envious, dreaming of the Lost Boys, wanting to pass the beer bottle around and be accepted into their ring of arrogance and ease with each other. The long hair, the occasional horseplay, the generosity... I guess we'd have little in common. It was more glamorous from four flights up.

My favorite character has just appeared: a baby about ten months old, Deborah. Her mother is the only local I've talked to who doesn't own a bar or a shop. She is often in the hands of Christina and Carlos, the bar owner's kids. They are delightfully bright and extroverted. The baby laughs and laughs when I play with her. As she sits on someone's lap, she chews on a pack of fortunas. You know she is going to be wonderful when she is older.

I love you. Your subtlety and irony, even when you are down is dear to me. I'm sorry you've been in so much pain lately. I'm helpless except to reach across the Atlantic with an embrace. And remember, you make me laugh like no one else can.

Well, I must leave you now. The sun has almost completely set and places the cafe under the gentle blessing of the night sky. The bartender has just lit the candle on the table, reminding me that I do not know when I shall return to your shores. My life here is full, but I cannot call it home. I miss you every day but I know that I must be here for now and look for your words to travel across the oceans and rest in my hands. I shall never abandon you in my friendship and your heart shall for ever remain in mine. I'm not one to make promises, but I know this is one I'll keep.
The night has fallen and I shall walk to my lover's house with memories of us on my every breath. We may drift in time and in space, but I never want to imagine us being without each other.

May the universe cradle you in her arms, and may the wisteria of dreams hang over your head.

Blessings, health, and sweet laughter.
I love you always......

Ri

********************************

December 4, 1996



My Dearest Friend,

I was very touched to stumble upon your beautiful gifts,true to your spirit and generous heart.
Thank you.
Your mix is playing as I write, so your presence is all around me mixing with the falling snow outside the window . As you can see from this letter, my waiting,the forces of my mind, is scattered.
My life is on quite an upbeat these days. I've spent some major quality time alone and with my parents and life and love have never been sweeter with my boyfriend.I'm collaging, drawing, and writing a book about where I am now, how I got here, and what I am planning. It's really helping sort things out.Distill life's wisdom and to also get-through-the-night-stuff.
One of the broadest wisdoms with which i am arming myself with on this departure is about letting go. I have recently spent a lot of time with a dear friend who is tangled up with a selfish married woman. He means so much to me,but as Peter Gabriel just sang, "I let go...." He doesn't write much, but I know that the love and lessons he helped grow in me will be with me always, even when our daily chatter is a memory.
I've been a selfish hermit mostly. I'm moving from a quiet torpid sheltered life to quite the opposite. I wonder how it will all compare to my expectations?
Thank you,my friend, for thoughtfulness and your damned intensity.I am not quite done learning everything you have taught me, but I know that the lessons are in me,waiting to be understood, you know? There is a vain, glamorous, passionate,and painful part of me that you never failed to touch,forcing me to face it. It is a childish part of me that I laid aside at the end my last serious relationship and all the adoration that came with it. I like to think that I have achieved a humbler, realistic me. But you proved to me that I never laid down my mermaid's comb and mirror .As much as I have struggled against it,you kept me honest and whole.
I hope this letter made sense.
I am sorry if I ever hurt you.
Fly high,angel.
Goodbye.
Love,
Ri



All original contents copyright Michael Kovacs 2014.

Michael Kovacs
PO Box 200
Old Bridge, NJ 08857