I tell you - my travels, my life, my experiences, and loves, happiness and struggles and suffering, I wouldn’t swap it for anything else.

Hope Brazil wins the cup!

Dear Tom & Joan,

Your letter was great and came just in time for I am off to Rio in a couple of weeks. The big launch from Mexico to Miami by Aeromexico, between planes a few hours in Miami where I will check out Miami beach with all the fat slob Americans in their kiddy clothes and rhinestone glasses. And then the real big launch Brazilian airlines Varig to Rio de Janeiro with a stop in Caracas, Venezuela. I will leave here crack of dawn 26 March. I just hope there are no crazy hijackers aboard. I get kind of nervous, especially after reading about that tragedy plane crash outside of Paris. Poor souls.

Yes I did enjoy your letter and I am very happy to know that la familia Kimpton is well and fit, happy and that Leslie did it again with Barbara. Bravo, viva la familia Kimpton! Give them all my regards. And what’s all those crazy name foreign cars you are all driving. (By the way make sure the kids ride in the back!) Very important after I watch some of the lunatic people here riding with kids on their laps in the front. Anyhow keep turning out more kids so at least when we’re gone there will be someone left to pick up the pieces!

Right now I am very excited preparing last minute details for the great trip. So the next time you hear from me will be from Rio.

So you found out that I am forty, I see you’ve been checking up on me! Well I look like thirty. All that clean living you know. But mother always told me life begins at forty and I am inclined to believe her after all she was they only one in la familia that gave me any kind of encouragement when I decided to leave the old sod for the new world. But when I look around at the new world it seems to be coming apart at the seams. Anyhow forty it is and I look forward to the years ahead, and I value every bit of my precious life. The wine has aged and is now wine!

I agree with you that I should not try and put the worlds problems to rights. One wastes so much energy but at the same time one cannot simply ignore all the worlds problems, especially if they happen in ones own backyard. We must always try and organize ourselves into a just society and try to improve our lot. And not be so self satisfied and complacent when there is such a mess around us. You say everyone is driving cars, well thats not news anymore, even the scruffiest Mexican drives his Chevrolet or oldsmobile or whatever.

Most of my friends are interested what goes on because what goes on, whether its watergate, Britains economic crisis, the standard of living and our lives in general. Not forgetting the middle east thing which is at the bottom of the oil crisis.

I am sorry that I bore you when I talk about politics. I hope it was not that bit about old sour puss the Queen. I trust you all don’t go for that shit. I could and still can understand mothers interest in the old Kings and Queens for in those days of past it was the romantic period the fashion or whatever. But these modern times its passé and we leave that kind of stuff to people like lick and Diz I mean Dick and Liz.

life is too beautiful and too short for the multitude of things that I desire to do.

Mother always told me life begins at forty

I am not you and therefore cannot be judged by your standards of life.

Okay enough of that, but I do hope that we can write each other of more subjects other than how good young Diane is at her exams (due respects to young Diane god bless her) and the weather etc. And while we are on the subject, with your permission, it also bores me to hear, ‘Its about time I settled down! Settle down! What the hell does that mean? Maybe I should have stayed at 6 Rosslyn Mansions (where the hell did they ever get that mansion bit from) the flat, maybe then you would have been satisfied that I would have been settled down and grown. Stagnant and flabby and probably died of insanity. (Sorry about that).

Tom you must feel or understand what I mean. Your situation appeals to me and Leslie’s house etc. You seem to have it made. And the others too, all of you are doing your own thing. It's great, commendable for all of you. But I am not you and therefore cannot be judged by your standards of life. The statement that you often wished you were blessed with my talents. That sounds like an old record I heard way back at the mansion! You seem to think that it’s as easy as that, that one is blessed with a talent and strikes gold immediately never to struggle, makes lots of bread, travel like Onassis! Well, I got news for you, of all the thousands of artists in this world only very few make it rich. Most of the poor wretched should struggle. Haven’t you ever heard the expression 1% talent and the rest struggle and hard work (mentally the most forth giving and wearing especially on the nerves). Maybe thats why so many artists like boozing, whoring, drugs or what. But usually they are poets of some sort, trying to find or express some meaningful meaning of this beautiful life with which we are blessed. But alas for only a short time. I tell you - my travels, my life, my experiences, and loves, happiness and struggles and suffering, I wouldn’t swap it for anything else. I have reached the halfway mark and like the man who climbs the mountain and looks out over the Valley, I see the other half more clearly and look forward to an even better life. For as you say I do have more experience now.

If I for the sake of argument had stayed put and made some money and upon reaching middle age decided with my acquired lot to take a jet plane and travel in style as you say, maybe the plane would have crashed, just like being knocked down by an automobile and killed! No I couldn’t wait to do the things I wanted, I couldn’t wait and work in surroundings I did not agree with, I could not wait for the big win on the football pool. I went out into the world and worked (not very hard) for the things I wanted. I may not have achieved much in my life thus far but baby its been anything but boring!! Well there you are, thats me ‘crazy David’ as one of my chicks calls me. But I think I am lovable, people always call me on the telephone I am never short of friends. And I don’t think I will ever retire (I won’t be able to afford such luxury) And besides imagine the boredom, life is too beautiful and too short for the multitude of things that I desire to do.

And so we say farewell to Mexico a land that has been kind to me and its completely crazy but lovable people. Adios to life behind the cactus curtain and hello to the Cariocas!

Thank you again for your very nice letter and the news from - everyone

love to Joan and la familia, congrats to Barbara.

toodaloo David.