Great Expectations

I don't recall if we "winked" or sent each other the "ice breaker" or a "shout out," first. But everytime I asked the computer to match me, the tiny black and white photo and profile of "malibunewsman" would come up as an 85% match. It's hard to ignore that number, and like I already said, he could write, which is a huge turn on to me. Guess it has to do with that first junior high school love affair. No, not the one with my first love Steve who now lives in the south of France. No. The first and foremost loves were Samuel Clemens, J.D. Salinger and Camus. Show me a man who can write, and I'll show you a man who can ponder the birds, bees, and yes, birdseed. Nothing to sneeze at, 85%. Yup. It turned out that neither one of us preferred cobras over collies or gerbils over German shepherds. We both would have rather spent a night curled up with "Great Expectations" than jumping naked off the side of a cliff overlooking rocks with nothing on but a harness painfully jammed up into body parts that only specialists get to really take a close look at and even probe. Go figure. And so here's how it started:


Dear Twilightime:
What a pleasure to read about you. I would love to know more. May I give you a call?
Sincerely,
Jerry (malibunewsman)



Dear Jerry:
Sure. Why not. Catch me on the cell during the day. Feel free to leave a message if I'm not able to pick up. I'm in the middle of shooting a kids' show this week and often have the phone turned off. Here's my number _____________.
Sincerely,
Mary

He called and I picked up. It was a pleasant conversation. My heart was not racing, nor did I feel the gushing girl in me awaken. But I gave him points for using the words petulant and tautegorical in the same conversation. Like I said, it was a pleasant conversation. I responded.



Hi Jerry:

Just a note to tell you how nice it was speaking to you the other night.

So, tell me, are you still in Colorado and having a great time? I'd
love to hear all about it.

We wrapped last night for a week of hiatus, but before leaving the
studio got to see the very first unofficial episode of the show! Now, I
am thrilled to be a part of the project. It's so well done and the
humor is both subtle and outlandish. Something for everyone. I'm very excited.

I have many errands to catch up on today, so I'm going to have to run.
Have an incredible week and enjoy the life out of your family time!

Warm regards,
Mary



Dear Mary,
It was great speaking with you as well, and I'm looking forward to meeting you when I get back to L.A.

Colorado is great. Colorado Springs is at the foot of Pikes Peak, and we've had spectacular vistas of the mountain almost every day. Blue skies and L.A.-like temperatures have predominated, although it's a little chilly at night. Home for the kids is a turn-of-the-century log cabin in a highly-forested part of town. (It is so forested that bears are problem in the early fall.)
I know I may be sounding like a tourist brochure, so be assured that most of my "adventures" with the kids have been highly pedestrian. Today we went shopping, and I was razzing my daughter mercilessly about how she was chipping away at Daddy's wallet. We had a great time. Tomorrow I'm taking her brother and a kid down the block fishing.

Happy to hear that the show is going so well. It sounds as if you have some good chemistry going among cast, crew and writers.

I plan to be back in L.A. next Sunday, but let's keep in touch in the meantime.
Sincerely,
Jerry

Kids? As in plural? Yikes. Now what do I do?