Thomas
                         P.O. Box 27217
                    Washington, D.C.    20038
                         (202) 462-0757

                                             January 24, 1992

Dear David,

Howdy.

I would like it if someday we had an opportunity to get to know one
another better.  I have only pleasant memories, a serious young man
with balanced humor, a Bible and a Mad Magazine, an enjoyable salad
in Burlington.  Given the opportunity, I think we might discover we
have a lot in common, except I don't have any sense of humor.  

The specific event which impels me to write at this moment is: your
mama's birthday.  We talk once in awhile, your ma and I, and I get
the distinct impression that she would be very pleased to get a
letter from you once in awhile.  She sometimes wishes that she'd
done more to make your childhood smoother, and thinks the reason
that you don't contact her is that you may be unhappy with her
parentage too.  

Probably the one thing that all human beings share in common is
that we've all made mistakes.  Nobody's perfect.  Personally, you
don't give me the impression of being so unforgiving as not to
forgive your mother for errors she may have made years ago.  I'd
rather believe that, like me, you're simply a less than ideal
correspondent. 

I hope I'm correct and that you won't resist establishing contact
with her.  There's no reason for you to assume that I'm any
credible judge of character, but in my experience your mother is a
every well-intentioned person who makes extraordinary efforts to
live as honestly as her ability permits.  Perhaps you could benefit
from communicating with her.  I wish you'd try.

                           Sincerely,



                             Thomas