Tom's Love Quest

Hi [Kandi].

Wanted to make sure I had your email address right.

Got back from camp at 1:00 PM today, and have been doing laundry, dusting, returning phone calls, and other puttering.

Spectacular session 6 this year, and I hope you and me can get more acquainted in the coming months. But, I don’t want to be a pest. If you’d really rather not talk, then don’t feel obligated to do so. I only want you to write back if you sincerely desire it, not because you feel you must. Okay?

Well, that’s all for now. Take care, and hopefully, I’ll hear from you soon.

Bye,
Tom Hesley

Dear   [Ann],

Yes, I had to pull out that Magic Stick song and play it this morning. It cracked me up, knowing that you and your daughter know that song.

Actually, since we’ve been talking, I’ve slept better. There is a tranquility about my heart that wasn’t there before. I bet it’s you that’s causing it. I too, hope that we are right for each other, and that the search will finally be over after so many lonely years. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Hope the visit with the child specialist went okay.

The gang is meeting on the chat line tonight. So perhaps we can talk after that.

Later,
Tom Hesley

[This lady is looking for a guy who already has children since she wants them herself, but cannot have them. So I responded as follows:]

Thanks very much for responding. Best of luck to you as well.

Tom Hesley

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Hi   [Ann].

Thinking of good things is nice. Amazing. As the boy, I never imagined we’d be communicating like this. Blessings do come around. But sometimes, they just take their good old time (like 30 years).

The sun is out here too, although it’s supposed to rain later. I have to go out and wrap up the garden hose and extension cords. Isn’t it neat that we’re both seeing the same sun, even though we’re over 125 miles away from each other?

You have a great day too. Will talk to you later.

Tom Hesley

PS: When I first read the subject line in this thread, I thought it said, “CHEATING,” not “CHATTING.”

Howdy   [Ann].

Yes, our chat was a real heart-to-heart last night, wasn’t it? Yes, it was nice to talk by ourselves, and yes, I did mention to Mike and Terri that you were on the other line. Sorry if I wasn’t supposed to. I guess I’m just not a secretive person. I didn’t mind that you called, and am looking forward to seeing you, too.

I woke up by 8:00, have listened to much of the weekly music countdown, and added about 100 more songs to the music database on my computer. Not sure what’s going on the rest of the day. It’s supposed to rain here after while. I’m supposed to work the weights today for a half-hour. So will do that this afternoon.

Catch ya later,
Tom Hesley

Good afternoon,   [Ann].

Your not-so-secret admirer here.

So you guys sleep in during the summer. Normally, I wake up around 7:30. But the past few days, it’s been closer to 9:00 because I stay up late writing and adding music to the computer. But as a teenager like [your daughter], I slept in until 2:00 in the afternoon. Man, I sure could be lazy when I wanted to be.

Ah well, teenagers usually have lots of friends. So you’ll probably just have to get used to playing the telephone operator of the house during those early morning hours. *grin*

Yes, I cook. I bought an upright freezer a couple years ago and every few months, I make big batches of various soups such as bean, chicken vegetable, and whole-grain medley types with chicken or beef broth.

Did you ever use one of those electric 18-quart roasters? They’re great for making lots of soup in one felt swoop. Also, I use the George Foreman grill to make the occasional salmon or other fish fillets. Haven’t had fish lately though.

I don’t cook every day, as I eat lots of salads and fruits.

Mom cooks now and then. She makes the stuffed peppers, beef roasts, turkeys, and such. We’re definitely not starving here.

On camp Beacon Lodge: Yes, I go every summer, in the late July session. These days, the sessions are 11 days long. The one I’m attending this year runs from July 17th thru July 28th. You probably do know some of the folks that are there right now. Mike [...], Jim [...], Randy [...], and a few others from our side of the state whose names I can’t recall right now.

Cindy [...] and Joe [...] have attended recently. I saw them at DelGrosso’s amusement park back in 2000. The camp takes the campers to this park once a session. At least they did until last year. And that park is only a couple miles from here.

Let’s see. Judy [...] used to attend as well, but I’ve not seen her in a couple years. It’s fun going because you never know who you’ll see. Terry [...'s] ex, Al [...] was in my cabin last summer, although he says he only comes every three or four years.

Wow, you should see if you can come next year. Finding sponsorship is fairly easy if you can’t afford the $500 fee yourself. It’s not bad for all you get. And if you’ve never stayed up the hill in the adult camp, wow, you have to try that once or twice. All the cabins have heat and air conditioning now, and there’s lots of places to walk around on the 600 acres of land the camp owns. All sorts of trails and small roads. Plus, they have a ten-mile hike every year for us, and I never miss that.

Ask Helen if she remembers me. If not me, then she’s sure to remember Ron [...]. He had a big crush on her, as I recall, just like I had one on you. Often it was said to us, in order to motivate us to win the matches, “Guys, you need to go out there and win for the cheerleaders. They might give you a kiss if you do.” Actually, I ran into Helen’s brother, Chuck, last fall at the Alumni fun day. I’d never met him before that, but had heard his name mentioned frequently among friends. He was very warm and friendly and loved sharing his memories of what the school was like, back in 1967, the year he graduated (I think). He mentioned Helen and said that she was living in CA. They both seem like they were cut from the same friendly mold. It must run in the family, ‘eh?

That’s cool that you still talk with Helen. I don’t know how I remember things. It’s like watching a moving in my mind. When I think of a person’s name or voice, the pictures start flashing. I used to get teased about how much I remembered and it used to make some of my lovers uncomfortable that I could remember things so well. But it is what it is. It just happens like that. I don’t really try to remember. I just do.

Good luck on your painful foot today. I’ll massage it for you sometime.

On the alumni banquet: If money’s the only thing holding you back, let me help you out. I’d really like to have you there for the whole weekend. If you really want to go, just let me know, and I’ll send the money to Joann B. Let me know how much you’d like me to pay. Don’t worry. I have lots of money. Remember I used to be a software engineer for fifteen years.

Yes, Ellen has related some of your tragedies to me and all the people you’ve lost. Wow.

On John and [Rose]: I haven’t talked with them in a while. But [Tad] and his wife [Morra] live near them, also in McKees Rocks. Perhaps one day, when I’m visiting [Them], I can see John and [Rose] too.

John was such a funny guy. Last I saw him was in 1989 when I came to visit [Z] about a year after I had moved to Dayton, OH. John was pretty good at imitating some of the sound effects in the popular music that was out around then, and he kept us in stitches for hours. I’ve heard that he’s battling high blood pressure. How’s he doing on that?

Well, I have to head outside and get a bit more yard work done. In about an hour, we should be finished with the power washing and I can return the machine to my friend.

Take care, and it’s your turn now.

Tom Hesley

[Ann],

Sorry to hear about your sinus infection. And I hope your ankle heals. Too bad I’m not there to massage it for you. I love giving foot massages.

That is so cool that you’ll be there Saturday too. I was hoping we’d get to spend more time together than just Friday night. May I push my luck a bit and invite you to stay for the Saturday night banquet?

Yes, we probably should talk about our philosophies a bit when there’s time. Some people like to separate a person’s outside from their inside, then say that it’s the inside that’s the real indicator of the quality of the person, and they insist that the outside should be ignored. I dispute this. But perhaps, over mint tea some evening, we can discuss it at length. I agree that a person is much more than just their looks. But I also feel that the looks are, nonetheless, an important part of the person, just as flour is an important ingredient in cake. Understand?

I truly cannot say if the weight will be a problem or not. I need to see you, spend some time with you, holding your hand, and talking for some hours. But I’ll let you know, when I know. Okay?

I’m glad you like to walk, because walking is what you and me did lots of, in my dreams, in the early 70s. As a little boy, I had a very big crush on you.

Didn’t you use to be a cheer leader for the wrestling team? As I run your name through my mind, these visions emerge of you in a red and white dress with white bobby socks and spiffy white shoes. But I can’t remember if that was in a dream or for real.

The first time I wrestled in 1972, I was pinned in the first period. I seem to remember that incident okay, looking up into the lights from the mat. But as I got up after the referee slapped the mat twice and hard to let the score keeper know that I’d been pinned, I slowly rose and turned toward the back of the gym, where the cheerleaders were. And this is the part I’m not sure of. I think I saw you standing with Helen [...]. Were you indeed there?

Today, I had a funeral for an in law to attend. It was a warm, sunny day. The burial took place around 11:00, then we had lunch at noon at the church.

Then this afternoon, I was writing another poem.

Also, I’m adding a new batch of songs to the DJ computer. There are 430 songs in this batch so far and about a thousand songs can fit into a single batch. I want to get this batch done before I head off to camp Beacon Lodge on July 17th. That will take the grand total of songs to well over 31,000.

Tonight, I plan on working more on that and there’s some power washing of the house and porch to do outside. I want to get a start on that work too. Finally, the gang [our phone conference friends] are meeting on the chat line tonight at 8:30 and I hope to duck in for that.

I’m picky about my house too, when someone is coming to visit. But if no one will be around for a while, I tend to let the dust accumulate a bit. Now I’m good at keeping the kitchen and bathrooms clean. But dust. I can live with it if there won’t be any visitors around to see it.

We have two cats here. Called tuxedo cats, they both have black and white colorations. They’re soft and friendly and vocal. They purr a lot and meow when they want something. They’re impatient but wonderful. They were born four years ago in August.

Our cats love it outside too. But there’s a busy road in front of the house. In fact, their mother was killed on that road as soon as she finished nursing these kitties. So we don’t let them outside, except onto our back porch, which is screened in.

There is no local bus service near the house. However, if I get a ride to Altoona (about ten minutes from here), there’s Greyhound and Amtrak, as well as US Airways. Getting to Pittsburgh is easy.

On your dinner, do you use white rice or brown rice? Brown rice is better to eat because it doesn’t convert as easily into weight.

Well there. I think I’ve addressed all the questions you had. Take care and I’ll look forward to your next email. So long for now.

Tom Hesley

[Ann],

I just read your latest letter, and wanted to address the comments you made about how you’ve gained weight since high school separately. I’ll respond to the rest of that letter a bit later.

Anyway, thanks for being so honest about it. The world needs many, many more people like you.

Now, let me be honest. I’ve always been attracted to thin women, just as I was to you in high school. Now I’ve been known to fall in love with heavier ladies. But that’s rare. Not impossible. Just rare.

[Nonetheless,] I can’t say how I’ll feel for you when we actually see each other. At times, people I found attractive in school, are still attractive to me, even with the intervening years and pounds.

But let me ask you. If we meet and feel romance, how would you feel about losing your extra weight? Would you consider allowing me to be your personal coach, and help you to change your diet for the better, forever? Could we walk and work out together?

I fully believe that you are still the same, beautiful   [Ann]   that stole my heart in 7th grade, even if your extra weight today hides that girl. I’d like to find a woman who will enjoy being health conscious with me, who wouldn’t mind learning to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, whole grains, and nuts, and wouldn’t mind giving up the refined carbs like flours and added sugars (eventually).

I realize that changing life-long eating habits involving sugar is no easy thing. Sugar is very addictive and difficult to get away from. Same with flour, which turns into sugar inside the body. So if you’re used to eating pizza several times a week, it’s difficult. That’s where I started some 18 years ago, and the journey has been long and painful to be sure. But if I had a woman to do it with, it would have been much more pleasurable.

[Ann],   the image of you I have is of a thin, beautiful lady, and I want to be honest about that. I’ll keep an open mind however. Let’s just meet in person at the alumni, and see what happens. In any case, I definitely want to remain your friend. Let’s play the rest by ear.

Later,
Tom Hesley

Hi there   [Ann].

Yesterday was nice. No rain. And the fireworks at the park were held at 10:00 PM. Mom and I went there to see them. Lots of people. Mobs and mobs.

In college, I drank a fair amount (a couple times a week). But I never got into anything heavier. No pot. No drugs. Alcohol was bad enough. I gave it up after making a fool of myself a few times.

I get to Pittsburgh a few times a year. Richard Parker has a Christmas party each December that I attend, and I get there for the alumni activities. Also, I visit [Tad] (remember him?) He and I graduated in 1979. We had lost touch then, but shortly after he returned to Pittsburgh in 1995, we renewed our friendship. He’s married to a nice lady named [Morra], who works at Pittsburgh Vision Services (used to be The Greater Pittsburgh Guild For The Blind). They have a nice home in McKees Rocks.

On the skates: Back in 1997 when I moved to Philadelphia, I purchased a pair of rollerblades and was really into doing that for a year or two. Haven’t been on them in about 5 years. But I could probably still do them.

The week after I bought them, I remember trying to stand up in them. A little harder than skates because of the way all four wheels are in a single line, as opposed to in two groups of two. The apartment complex where I lived at the time had a large cement court yard. Great place to practice. So I’d go down there and trip and stumble around every night after work, until I could finally stand without holding on to a lamp post. These ladies used to sunbathe there too and I think they got a big kick out of seeing me so wobbly but determined to learn to blade well. No, I don’t think I’ll bring them to alumni weekend, although those big long halls would make for a nice place to glide around in. They’re kind of heavy to carry around. Nope. I’ll leave them here at home.

It’s a very sunny, low-humidity day here today. I’m going to pay some bills and do some laundry. So take care and I’ll call you again soon. Your voice hasn’t changed much at all. Write when you can.

Tom Hesley

Hi   [Ann].

Sounds like you didn’t get as much rain as we did yesterday. It pored! We had gone to an Altoona Curve baseball game and made it to the 7th inning, when it began raining. They played another half-inning or so, then it started coming down in buckets. The game went into rain delay for an hour or so, upon which time, we decided to head home.

There were supposed to be fireworks afterward, but those were cancelled. They may shoot them off tonight, but the weather isn’t looking too good right now – dark gray clouds and distant thunder.

Yes, I remember Ray. Didn’t know him very well, as I was in 6th grade when he graduated.

So, you were a wild college girl. Curious. What are you like now?

Thanks for your cell phone number. I put it in my contacts list.

By the way, did you ever consider getting high-speed Internet through TV cable or the telephone? Not only is it faster, but it does not tie up your phone line. Even when you’re on the Internet, you can still use your phone. I have it here (cable modem) and it cost $34.95 per month.

I’m looking forward to seeing you again too. Bring your skates (just kidding).

Also, did you know Richard Parker? He graduated in 1977 [...]. He’s been battling terminal gastro-intestinal cancer now for almost two years. Seems to be holding his own. But he does have to get lots of kemo and radiation just to keep it at bay. He’s married and has two girls. Both are younger than ten years old but I don’t know their exact ages. I’ll have to ask Rich if he remembers you.

Well, I have to get back to work. There’s a book to finish reading then a little essay to knock out. I’ll talk to you later on. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Tom Hesley