My friend Emma in Tennessee is so sweet! Look at this little package she sent me. Inside was a letter that put a warmth in my heart, and a pin of Cabiria from NIGHTS OF CABIRIA, which is one of my favorite movies. And the pin is from a scene in the movie that, if I thought about it for a minute or two, would make me cry all over again.

TO WIT:

Emma had asked me some time ago for a good movie to watch, and so I told her Cabiria. She said she cried at the end and I told her I had too. So now we got that in common, along with a lot of other things.

And see! She even included a stamp of Dante, FOR WHOM my cat is named. And the stanza on the envelope is from PURGATORIO. Here’s a translation!

do you not know that we are worms and born to form the angelic butterfly that soars without defenses, to confront His judgment?

Damn!!

I am lucky to know someone like Emma. She’s top-shelf, for sure. We met through unusual circumstances. I’m glad we did. My life would be worse without her.

Also: She informed me that her Co – Star account is “bullying” me because it keeps pumping out strangely accurate assessments of me:

A week? Uhhh . . . more like eight years! And I gotta say . . . I love it.

Thanks Emma!!

Good-night!!! ☆彡