A Letter to Nancy

My assignment for a meeting of the Las Olas Club of international training in communication was to read an inspiration on the theme, “Discoveries.” Nothing I found in my research seemed to embody the idea I wanted to present, until I opened The Times to the Travel Section and, under Jerry’s byline was not only the perfect message for my purpose, but a beautiful piece of writing, right up there with Francis P. Church’s answer to the young Virginia.

At the meeting I paraphrased Nancy’s inquiry, then quoted the first three paragraphs of Jerry’s response. There was a collective intake of breath as I concluded. Jerry had significantly redifined the word “discovery” for them.

Yes, Virginia (and Nancy), there is a Jerry Hulse, and He’s a poet.

MARGARET U. ALLEN Huntington Beach