Dru, Steinbeck and the Book of Deer

Dear Juliet I'm navigating the fact that you're deeply upset about losing Tony and the realisation Buffy may terminally have been holed below the waterline, and part of me thought of a couple of Fix-It schemes. But I think maybe the last thing you want is someone cheerily to attempt the impossible on your behalf. So I thought what I might try to do at this, the midnight hour (and no, Drusilla is not nibbling on my earlobe), is say that even if Buffy , Dru and Hollywood itself had never existed, I'd feel the same way about you. That's because of your own innate worth. That je ne sais quoi which makes you stick out in the crowd and stay stuck in the mind. And as Elvis said, you were always on my mind . Pre-dawn in New York, with the Empire State Building solidifying from dawn's mists. On Washington's streets, surrounded by striking workers. Chicago, mid-morning, waiting on the bus to Amarillo. Oklahoma City, 4.30 am on a dark day... All night long in Vegas, at t...

Dear Juliet I'm pleased to say the church was open this Sunday, as I believe they usually are. I hope you like the photo of your light in the lady chapel. You are always first in my thoughts, I wanted to light the one candle for you and only belatedly thought of Anthony. I'll do one for him on Tuesday. I hope you're coping as well as you can. It gets a little easier every day: get up, grind through the jobs to get them out of the way, try and find something to brighten up your day. Sometimes this is all we can do. And then one day it's a little easier. Tom Hanks sums it up rather beautifully  near the end of this scene in   Sleepless in Seattle . I know Seattle quite well. I'd also mention that you're free to do as you please. I understand children of narcissists need to be reminded of this. The Hollywood bubble won't burst if you step out of it for a day or two, and I'm not talking about going to Point Lobos or Avalon. Just take your car and head out on...

Dear Juliet I hope you're coping. I also hope you're enjoying my blogs in the "wee small hours", as the old Scots phrase goes. I couldn't get into church to light a candle for you today but I'll have another go tomorrow. I believe they're open on Sundays. In the meantime, even in these circumstances, it's nice writing to you again. A bit like that time you were stranded in London with the riots going on. I sometimes think we nearly broke the Internet. I knew it was a very difficult time for you, but I can't deny that I liked talking with you more than I usually did. Bit of an inversion: I was safe and sound in Roberton, you were in a London which seemed like it was blowing up... Well, tonight I had too many mochas and too much chocolate. I caught a bit of The Glenn Miller Story with James Stewart and turned into the usual puddle of goo when I saw Frances Langford singing in front of a B-17. My father liked Glenn Miller. He was completely tone deaf...

Dear Juliet I had plenty to write about today, but all the subjects would send you straight into a tailspin... So I'm left with the stark and simple truth. You're really not perfect and I really do love you. I'm not going to leave you to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. You won't be abandoned. I loved getting you birthday and Christmas presents. You were worth every moment of all the trips I took to see you. I'm really looking forward to lighting a candle for you in Southwark Cathedral, getting photographs of the Globe and the Golden Hinde for you, and bringing down the British government on the side. Also, you're cute. Love, James

Dear Juliet You're on my mind, to put it mildly. Glad you've read a couple of my earlier blogs. Have a hug! 🤗 Just remember you're my dear Miss Landau, always and forever. Love, James P.S. My email address remains unchanged.

Dear Juliet I'm sorry, and I think I can only say that the best thing to do now is have a good cry. I think I once advised that the best thing is always to let the emotion out and not to bottle it up. That still stands. In the circumstances, I'm going to revive something I was originally going to let lie fallow. Namely, here are my phone numbers if you really need to talk: This is my smartphone number: 07572 889840 And from America: Either, it seems: +44 7572 889840 (holding the 0 on a mobile keypad apparently produces +) Or, from a landline: 011 44 7572 889840 My own landline number is: 01952 460825 And from America: 011 44 1952 460825 It's getting towards 11.00 pm here, so I don't think I'll be on Facebook much longer. However, I am a good listener. Anthony Head was a great actor and a good man. The world is the lesser for his loss. I wish I'd known him. I also said it jokingly earlier, but now I'm serious. I think you need to take a break and breathe eas...