Dru, Steinbeck and the Book of Deer

Dear Juliet Another thoughtful one (different subject). I've been treating this correspondence with great discretion, of course, but at the same time I stayed in touch with Rena Lou, a fan of yours, all these years. She's the one for whom I had our photo taken at Earl's Court in 2014 , and I'm sorry to say she's battling breast cancer. I didn't want to say anything to you before as I was concentrating entirely on you, and I felt and feel you're in a delicate state. Nor did I want to ask you for any favours, however small. But it bugged me. I think it's okay now to suggest you might like to send her a Get Well Soon card, though? She doesn't know about the blog either. I've been sending her supportive Facebook messages daily and I think she's on her last eight rounds of chemotherapy (thirty-two altogether). Some days are good. Some days are not so good. So if you'd like to do so, here's her address: Rena Lou Short Box 1801 Lafayette Geo...

Dear Juliet Today, a thoughtful thought. Don't read too much into this, but just in case you really need a break from it all, you can have sanctuary here. I'll put a camp bed in the front room for me, you can stay here for up to six months with an ETA and bring up to £9,999 without any need for paperwork at customs. I thought I'd better just make the offer so you know it's there, so that's all I'm going to say. Mind you, you might rather enjoy Open Door... Love, James

Dear Juliet Thanks for reading Flesh/Blood and taking an interest. Actually, I finished the pills (Dabrafenib and Trametinib) about the end of July and things seem to be winding down. I am a little more tired than usual, but I've got a last appointment with Dr. Iqbal at New Cross on 20th October and that should be that. I'll do one last walk, take another picture of the ducks for you and probably see if I can find somewhere warm to go between 4th-22nd January. I think Los Angeles/Catalina is very nice that time of year but that probably wouldn't be too bright an idea... Pity, have I ever told you I like seeing you? Anyway, four calls tonight and it'll be an exercise in energy conservation. Might do a bit of crying in the layby out of habit or take to the rooftops and nab a few evildoers... More likely, dole out a few pills and drive home in the dark. But I'll think of you as I gad about with grace and lark. Love, James

Dear Juliet I'm worried... Should I be more assertive, should I be more pious and ethical, should I be more kind? I think kind wins it. I can't go around telling you what to do, but on the other hand it's all relatively simple. And if I don't you may end up stuck like Norma Desmond in some sordid mansion just off Sunset Boulevard... And yet I can't just tell you to call me so we can discuss it... It's a real Catch-22 situation. To be, or not to be, that is the question...  All right, all right... I don't think you should suffer many more of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, though letting them instead whistle  like the forlorn wind  past your cheek and by such opposition ending them may seem harder than scaling the world's highest, harshest peak. Will's going to have my guts for garters for that one... Well, I'll give voice to a little risk: you can call me if you like, but not if you don't want to. And no, the shoe won't dro...

Dear Juliet I think something's bugging you, but I'm not sure what. So, basics: You're fine and safe, even if you fuck up. Translation: I like you just the way you are, even if you can on occasion be a bit of a noodle. I don't sum up your value as a human being based on your most recent review. There's no catch, the shoe won't drop. That's why I used the Rocky II analogy. "If you wanna blow this thing, dammit I'm gonna blow it with you. You wanna stay here, I'll stay with you." That's all there is to it. You don't have to explain or justify yourself. I'm not your judge and no one has the right to be. I know a lot about you and I like you for yourself, good and bad. Take all the time you need. Now, I don't know if the thought of Dear Miss Landau /Dru Quartet-related possibilities are tearing you to pieces. I wrote them, so I'll tell you: don't worry about it. Take forever if you'd like. Incidentally, as a matter...

Dear Juliet I was just thinking of you, Vegas, the night, the music and the thousands upon thousands of Star Trek fans; and found myself a bit amused to remember that way back near the start of the blogs, I mentioned that I hoped "you weren't finding all the Star Trek analogies a little confusing..." I suppose all my references were only a drop in the ocean compared to five rumbustious nights trekkin' 'cross the Vegasverse...   Must have been a veritable forest of Spock ears... Sorry, this is bringing out my British tendency to take the piss but I suppose there's a serious subject lurking up my Jeffries tubes. I don't tend to talk politics much on here, but I just picked up that Las Vegas, pound for pound, has had some of the biggest losses in tourist revenue in America . And it looks like L.A. has had it nearly as bad . I do keep an eye on these things. I hope you'll be okay. And Trump's also pissed off Canada again... Perhaps one should ask whe...