Ok, Richert, it's up to you to post some pictures!!

Hey there. I hope you don't mind that I added Hilda to your email reply. Just keeps the typing to a minimum. And Hilda it's nice to hear from you too. Interesting how deep those ties to where we grew up go isn't it. I noticed tonight that next week Access Hollywood is going to be broadcasting from Kentwood. I wonder if they will show the down town. Last time I was in Kentwood was several years ago when Mother died. The down town was so shocking I took pictures of it to put next to some of the pictures I have of the "golden" days. Ella Joy, I did get that last email of yours and I think I wrote back to you. But I go through periods when I travel a lot so it's possible that the road to hell was paved with good intentions and I didn't. However I did know about the loss of your home, and I think that I knew from Margaret that you were now in Hammond. Margaret sent me some great pictures of the last reunion. It was one I had hoped to attend but I was working. I had even asked Fran Walker if I could stay with her as I have no family left in Kentwood. It sounds as if you have had quite a saga. It's not something I would ever want to go though. The closest of course to any thing like that in NYC in recent years is 9/11, and I missed being here for that by a week. The aftermath went on forever of course but nothing like the massive problems caused by Katrina. I'm glad you are finding life to be good. In some ways I'm still living the gypsy life. I have a great little studio apartment on the 34th floor 2 blocks from Times Square. I guess you could say I'm really in thick of it but sometimes I do long for the quiet country side. I'm blessed to be living in a very expensive town in an apartment that is based on my income from year to year or even month to month. It's housing for people who make their living in the performing arts. And for me it's the smartest thing I've done in terms of retirement. I work mostly in regional theatres...last year I was in St Louis, Cincinnati, and Dayton. Lately I've been doing the play version of Tuesdays With Morrie....Can't believe I'm old enough to do that. I pretty much go where the work is. And I guess I'll continue to try to find work as long as I still can remember or learn my lines. Sometime in the future I'll send a few pics so you can see some of what I've been doing lately. And I would certainly let you know if I was going to be anywhere near where you are. Hilda it's great to hear from you too. Would love to be able to make one of the all-class reunions in Kentwood sometime before I go senile! And by all means let me know if you are coming to NYC. Well that's a brief catch-up on me. I think this little group is a great idea. Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might be curious about what's happening with Richert. Keep me posted.

Love>Richert