Oh Rick, you socialite, you. You are so Trumanesque, at times. (That'll really throw 'em)

Dear 'Spaw,

The kids and I understand, really, we do. We know that your busy life is all done on our behalf, and that your efforts now are just your way of taking care of us later.

A little news from the home front for you. Little Ricky is getting very good on stringed instruments. He is somewhat disappointed that he only has 27 guitars, 18 banjos, 6 melodians, a zither, 7 and a 1/2 bodhrans, 2 fiddles (one borrowed), and 2 hurdy gurdy's. He says all the other kids, like Peter T., MMario and even little Embo have more. It really tears my heart out when he sits and stares at the hammered dulcimer...sez it reminds him of you. Little Neo, the bonny wee lass is getting all grown up and will need all new ankle socks any day. Send money if you can. Because things are a little rough, I had to send Jed and Aine off to Texas to special schools. Jed keeps speaking in rhymes and Aine is talking some gobbledeegook with too many consonants.. Makes no damn sense at all. And I have my hands full with Kat. She loves playing in the sandbox, but has the nasty habit of going number 2 and burying it. Really pisses off the rest of the kids. Oh, and I am thinking of sending THE FAIR ONE off to the same speech therapist as Jed and Aine. She is having a problem saying the word "Down". And she often is seen holding a wierd little stick she calls a tipper. I probably wouldn't mind her holding that sticyk, if she would just do it right.

Well, dear Pat, I must sign off now. The neighbor just dropped off the kids for me to watch for a week. Since you aren't around much, you probably don't remember them. Dave and Pam? She is a cutey, but Dave has a helluva mess on his upper lip. I have been scrubbing like hell but it won't come off. Probably a birthmark. I think I will take them to the park in Toronto this weekend. Wish you could be there. We will think of you often.

Love,

Big Mickelina