Letter from Ray James
Modern Life – November 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
Dear Martha and Ed:
Thank you for using my essay in the October issue. I wanted to assure you that it’s extremely unlikely that its publication will prove to be an embarrassment to y’all because of current or future behavior on my part.
I wanted to update you on what is happening with me. The School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin accepted me as a conditional candidate for a master of science degree in information studies.
I’m on probation again! Actually it just means if my grades aren’t “B” or higher then I get the boot. After the first 10 hours successfully completed then I can make a “C” for every “A.” I should be graduated with an MSIS–which in olden days was issued as an MLS or Master of Library Science–in May 2007 and hit the job market that summer.
The school work is difficult because it focuses so much on computer knowledge. For example, this semester I have to build a website. I am doing it on the Dr. Doom bus and its peace organization. Imagine the expressions on the faces of two fellow students (from India and Taiwan) when I explained to them the subject of my project during the first stage of design. Try to explain Mayor R.T., the bus, peace movements, and Salida in two minutes and you get the idea.
My brother objected to his description in the essay as “rich, Republican.” My response pointed out that “moderately well-to-do and social- and fiscal-policy conservative who more often than not votes for Republican candidates” doesn’t glide off the tongue quite as easily. He accepted that I had taken a little poetic latitude. He wasn’t too miffed since he still offered me a healthy taste of an exquisite single malt he just picked up in Scotland while on tour.
By the way I would have added “trail ride cook” and “Cranberry Kitchen helper” to the description of who I am at the end of the essay. Cranberry Kitchen. Was that really this lifetime?
Congratulations on another terrific issue assembled despite your time constraints. Joy to Columbine and her husband. Thanks for keeping me connected to a place that will always be “home.”
Ray James
Austin,Texas
