Dear Aunt Paula,


I'm sure you know the story of the Prodigal Son.  Heck, who am I kidding, you probably can recite that story word for word.  Well right now I feel like that son who was lost and returns to his father for fogiveness.  Only in my particular case, I'm not returning for forgiveness but to ask a favor.

Let me explain further.  Someone we both know and love is in a bit of a pickle.  I don't want to tell you his name right now.  I know you used to worry about the least little thing.  Besides, if I gave you his name, like always you would get it mixed up with me L.O.L. (that's Laugh Out Loud in computer talk.)  What I can do is give you a hint.  He is someone I looked up to most of my life (he's taller.)

I figured that you have some great connections where you are right now and maybe you could ask  the person who's in charge to pull some strings.

Crap (excuse my French), who am I kidding, you know as well as I that keeping secrets is not one of my strong points. The person who is in a jam is Jackie.  And it's more than a jam or a pickle; it's a serious health problem.

He told me about it two days ago, and I have been walking around with my stomach in knots, not knowing how to help.  Billie is great with moral support and helping me to understand medical jargon.  She spent hours and hours crying for her favorite brother-in-law.  What a gal.

I thought I was going to keep Jackie's name out of this request but I can't.  He's too important to all of us to be referred as just "someone."

So, please do whatever you can for Jackie.  And please help Joanne, Danny, Stephanie and the rest of his family during this time.  I will be forever in your debt.  Before I end this, give my love to my mom and dad and Uncle Eddie.

Tell them I'll give them a big hug in about 35 or so years.


Love,
Jimmy