Sept. 16
Dear Geomancer of Griffins,
I do like Matron of the Moose. Have not seen any yet, but saw something on
TV to the effect that autumn is the season when the bulls fight and that
is a good time not to go around asking them if they’d like a nice,
shiny apple.
(so, in short, I haven’t really looked)
I have hung off writing because I have been meaning to make
some reservations and tell you what they are, but with one thing
and another did not get around to it until today. As of now,
I am booked to come on a Continental flight from Colorado Springs
which leaves at 1:25 pip emma on October 7 (Monday) and after
I change at Denver and cross the international dateline and whatnot,
I get in at 6:05.
I have told Laura that you will be
meeting me but you are not obliged to do so. I have also told
Stephan and Betsy that I will
take them out to dinner that night, after a somewhat pointedly
wistful letter from S’s mother saying how eagerly they are looking
forward to seeing me. I have also suggested they might call you
for particulars of my arrival or whatever... come to think of
it, I have not told
Laura any of this, I don’t think, as I wrote to her yesterday
out of a feeling of shame and desperation so you are herewith
appointed Plenipotentiary and General Emissary. You are, of course,
invited to dine with Stefan and Betsy and me, and Uncle Tom Cobleigh
and all... and Ro and Laura, too I guess, if they want to come.
I told S. in the letter that if Monday was not good for them
I would come to the university and have lunch with them... or
him... or whoever shows up... on Tuesday or Wednesday. My thought
was to get S. & B. tucked away and then get on with whatever
we are going to get on with. Laura said she was going to try
to take a couple of days off so we could get on with it. Have
just realized with a sickening thud that I told the people at
Colorado Springs I would stay till 1 PM signing books... I hope
the bookstore is next to the airport. If not, we’re in
trouble. Oh, heck!
Well, it will straighten itself out one way or another. This
may turn out to be a very late dinner (no doubt they have a
Midnight Special on the bread tray, so it may workout best,
after all).
Just reread the letter from the Colorady Springs people and
it turns out they are only an hour’s drive from Denver so
it would probably be faster if somebody drove me to Denver airport
anyway.
I’m glad your photography is coming along so well...
I am minded to ask you (for money, natch) to take some shots
of
me while I’m there... so you can get the credit line
on the next book jacket and show Grace what ought to be done.
You will be getting a large earful about Maine when I get
to Minn. So will only tell you the really tragic news.
As Grace
and her mother were arriving here after attending a particularly
harrowing funeral of a dear friend up in Farmington,
Alfred, who has become deaf and blind in recent months, wandered
up a long driveway into the road, and was killed. So
we
had to
hold
another harrowing funeral forthwith. Then we all had
some bourbon. Mollie and I are now two lonely females by
ourselves,
and how
she will manage when I go away, I do not know. The various
people I thought were all lined up to stay here while
I’m gone
have pooped out for one valid reason or another, and I am alternatively
praying for a miracle and considering boarding her with a vet...
she would hate it, and would make darn sure he hated it, too.
A kind neighbor has offered to come in and feed her, but I don’t
think that would be enough to keep her happy... she is used to
constant companionship, and lots of love. Alfred was a dear,
kind, responsible cat even in his dotage... I knew something
would have happened to him soon one way or another, as he had
so many physical problems and was of course a very old cat, and
I’m only grateful that he stuck around, like the true gentleman
he was, to help us through the period of adjustment. He loved
it here, and his last days were happy ones. I don’t suppose
he suffered at all, and it was probably the best thing that could
have happened, but... one finds it hard to be sensible about
these things. If I were not going away so soon, I’d get
a kitten for Mollie to fuss over and take her mind off her bereavement,
but then there’d be two I wouldn’t know what
to do with. Life is difficult.
Well, enough of this... I look forward to seeing Arwyn
and Lady Wink and getting their sympathy. Oh yes, and
you, too.
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I do like Sarah Caudwell, by the way, and shall look up
THE SHORTEST WAY TO HADES... lovely title.
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I wrote
Jeff
that
I was coming
to do a thing at Odegard’s and asked if he wanted me at
Uncle Edgar’s too, but haven’t heard from him. Perhaps
he is letting the fox of envy gnaw at his vitals, or perhaps
he just doesn’t care very much. It did not seem kind to
let him hear the news second-hand, and I would have been glad
to make time for him, too, but it’s too late now.
See you soon, Charlotte.
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