Dear LizDee
Hey again [LizDee].
So glad I had your email address and that we’re in touch again after what is it, two plus years?
Yes, the changes have been good, although they’d best be described as bitter-sweet. Since we last talked, I have:
· Moved from Philly to Altoona.
· Resigned from my computer programming job of fifteen years.
· Began pursuing my new career as a freelance writer.
· Found, dated, and broke up with a sweet young woman.
· Started doing disc jockey work to earn some extra cash until my writing can earn me a much bigger take.
I moved from Philly (almost breaking my heart) in December, 2001. The writing on the wall that I wouldn’t be staying at my job for long had become clear then, and noisy neighbors weren’t helping matters any.
Philly was (and is) the city of my dreams. I cried like a baby upon leaving. But I didn’t want to risk getting into another noisy apartment since that last one was the second bad one in a row I’d had.
I wanted to buy a house in Ardmore (not a row home). But all I could afford was around $150,000. And the houses there were at least $200,000. Again, with the uncertain future at computer programming, I couldn’t assume a mortgage.
Further, Mom needed some help with her house up here, so that’s where I’m at now. So far, we’ve changed the roof, redid some plumbing, insulated the second floor, and replaced the windows and doors. She’s in pretty good shape now.
I hope to move back to Philly once I get some articles published and can do it consistently.
The computer field was getting too fast-paced for me. I spent so much extra time at work just to keep up with everyone else (‘cause I read slower than they do) that I had no life, was tired of taking orders from bosses, and just tired of the corporate politics. I left that position one year ago today and I’m just so much happier. Giving up the money was difficult. But there’s more to life than making lots of money and I’m really appreciating that these days.
About a year before I quit, I realized that I liked to write and that I had some opinions about how romantic relationships ought to work. And I thought, “Why not see if you can get published, Tom. Writing is a great occupation for a vision-impaired person. You can do it from home and your home can be just about anywhere as long as the Internet is available.” It didn’t take much to convince myself to leave that company actually, for I was very unhappy there during the last quarter of 2002 and first quarter of 2003.
So now, I’m writing short stories (two are complete so far). I started writing a book too. In fact, I wrote 70,000 words in it last year.
But being an inexperienced writer, the book project got away from me. I wasn’t sure how to organize such a large volume of ideas into a coherent form. So I tabled the book for now and decided that short articles and stories would be better because they don’t require the same high level of organizational skills that a book does. Once I’ve published ten or twenty small pieces, I’ll return to the book.
Last summer at camp, I met a young woman [named Emmy] and we hit it off instantly for several months.
As you love Bob, I still love her. But something was missing, though we hung on for nearly eight months trying to find it. It just wasn’t there. We’re still friends but I could not, in good conscience, call her my girlfriend anymore. I knew I wasn’t “IN” love with her because I didn’t like introducing her as my sweetie to others.
I was never sure about where you and Bob were in your relationship. Seemed like it was very on-again-off-again. You know?
Bob got me a little ticked because while [Emmy] and I were an item, he kept hitting on her – trying to visit her, phoning her multiple times per day, putting his hands on her on the train to the winter retreat this past December, and repeatedly propositioning her to give me up and be with him.
[Emmy] is young (only 20 years old) and he said that he disapproved of our relationship because of our age difference. But he sure was chomping at the bit to get with her himself nonetheless. But what are ya gonna do? 
Bob is Bob I suppose.
Oh, and finally, I got into Djing. In the summer of 2001 in a fit of boredom, I began uploading my CD collection to an external hard drive. Today, almost all the CDs are on disk, and I have 28,300 instantly accessible MP3 files now.
I bring the system to camp every year and several of us get together for little music parties. Last summer one day, we started playing just after lunch and kept going until it was time for supper some 4 and ½ hours later.
Anyway, I had such fun doing that, that I purchased a complete DJ outfit with amplifiers, speakers, CD players, mics, lights, fog machine – the whole works, and do about 12 gigs per year here in Altoona. It’s a way to get out of the house.
I’ll only do it until the writing takes off. At least, that’s the plan right now. Who knows? If Djing does well, I might just decide to keep dong it. But it’s too early to tell how either venture is going to turn out. Stay tuned!
Now, let me address the points you mentioned in your letter. Yes, you stuck around in my mind. You had this happy energy that’s really hard to forget.
Congratulations on your condo. Buying a residence is such a thrill. I owned a house in Ohio from 1992 to 1997 and loved it. I hope to buy again one day. Are you still in Warminster?
Looking for your prince charming. I know what you mean. I’ve been looking for my princess for 28 years now and am starting to think that she doesn’t exist. But I’m reasonably happy with my work, though I admit that finding her would put the icing on the cake of life and make it taste so much better. I guess we just have to do what we can to find our soul mates and have faith that the universe will take care of bringing them to us when the time is right.
Good luck with the job and dog pursuits. Hopefully, you won’t have to wait long to find a job once your training is done.
Yes, I know of Bob’s transplant and bypass. He’s been keeping in touch with [Jack. Remember him? [Emmy] and I get updates about him from them.
Nice that you supported him in his time of real need the way you did. Women like that have always moved me. I remember a boss at work was like that when her husband contracted cancer. She made all sorts of calls around the country to find the best treatment for him and spent most of her off-hours in the hospital with him, putting her own career advancement on hold. Anyway, after he died, I remember telling her what a treasure she was for standing by him like that. You did good and I’m sure Bob appreciates that, even if the two of you aren’t together romantically anymore.
Well, about me predicting that you and Bob wouldn’t stay together, I never wanted to come between you two. But I suppose that this was my subtle way of telling you that I wished you had been with me on that cold hayride instead of him. But he got to you first, and I do believe in the first-come, first-serve philosophy. However, now that you’re not with him, I suppose it’s safe to tell you that I did have a crush on you then, but knew my place given the circumstances.
Anyway, this is getting pretty long and I’ve got to watch the evening news, due to come on in three minutes. So take care. It’s so nice to hear that things are going well for you. Write back soon, ‘k?
Later,
Tom Hesley
