“I don’t think there was a sober person in Sarasota,” Flamm cleverly writes. “My Saturday night observations led me to believe that the inhabitants of this city ... lived in a drunken stupor.”

What is he talking about? I’ve lived there for about 12 years, and the only group of people I’ve ever known to be in a drunken stupor are those who go to New College. Basically, Sarasota is like purgatory. In other words, you go there to die.

People there are too old to drink. If they seemed to be in a drunken stupor, they just must have been on a lot of medication.
Amy Burkdoll

Ron’s Last Hill
Editor’s note—The following two letters are in response to my story, “Ron’s Last Hill.” I received the first from Ron Yanchar’s mother after my mother found her address and mailed her several copies of the Spring ’97 issue.

I received the magazines, and my family will be happy to get them. I only wish my husband could have read it. He died March 17, 1971, of lung cancer at the age of 52. After Ron died, he started smoking more.

Ron always wanted to do good in anything he did. He was an excellent ball player. He always wanted to be where the action was, so he played shortstop and second base in Little League. We were at the ball field for every game. Between Ron and his brother, Rick, we were at the ball field almost every day. Those were nine happy years.

When Ron told us he wanted to join the Marines, my husband tried to talk him into going in the Navy like he did. But nothing would do but the Marines, because two of his friends were Marines.

The only thing that made it bearable for me when they brought his body home was the fact that we could see him under the glass, and it was my beautiful Ron. And I knew it was final. If it would have been a closed casket, I would never know if it were him.I don’t know if I ever thanked you for all the pictures you sent. I look at them from time to time, and I am so happy you were his friend.

Another thing. I know, if Ron would have come home a cripple in any way, I don’t think he would have accepted it, so maybe the Lord did the kindest thing by taking him. God bless you Al.
Mary (Mim) Yanchar

I would like to thank you for the contribution you made to Orange & Blue Magazine. Your personal perspective on the Vietnam War has helped me to better understand what American soldiers faced.

My father fought in the war, and I was lucky enough to have him come home safely. Still, he does not talk about the war, so I don’t ask him anymore. This was an important time in my father’s life, and I want to learn more. But I don’t want to force him to tell me about it, so I’ve had to study books about it.

Your article, however, has helped me understand him better. When I was eight, I asked him if he had ever killed anyone. All he said was ‘yes,’ but he said it in a way that gave me shivers. Since then, I have never mentioned the war to him. That was 11 years ago.

Your article was excellent, and I’m happy to have read it. In a way, I got to talk to my father. Thank you for giving me that opportunity.
Russell Stoewe

Procrastination
This letter is in response to Ammani Chandramohan’s article “The Art of Procrastination.” As a “master” procrastinator, I salute her eloquent exposition pointing out the finer side of being a slack. I would gladly elaborate on the beauties of procrastination that she failed to mention, but I have a five-page paper due in two hours, and I had better get started.
Jeff Gregory

What the devil?
The article, “A Fee For Your Future,” from the Spring 1997 edition of Orange and Blue was entertaining. I found Rebecca Rosas’ section, “Hotline Preacher Man,” quite accurate and of quality for those who know little about honest psychics—and yes, there are such people. The only problem I had with the layout of this article was the selection of art you used. Why the devil card? People are already filled with misconceptions about psychics and other-than-Christian practices. I found this choice inappropriate to pair up with an article about a spiritual man who is helping to heal others. There are over 50 other cards you could have used that would have been more appropriate.
Debra Donatto

Star Wars
I read your recent “Star Wars” article. It was good, though I was kind of disappointed  you didn’t use any photos. Not that I didn’t like the drawings, mind you. They were very well done. I just thought the article would benefit from some color photos. Did you not have access to them, or did you prefer drawings?
Thom Bell

My kids drew those pictures!Al Zehner, Editor