Hello Sweet Guen, Well here it is! The long overdue letter! I know you have been wondering "What ever happened to Don?" and the other night I received your phone call. Wow it was really great to hear you on the phone. Well everything is ok here but I must admit it has been just too busy. The very day after I returned home I received a phone call from friends in Germany that they and their friends were coming to visit. So I have been playing host myself for several weeks and there are still more visitors to come. My home serves as an alternative to their staying in hotels. I have an extra room that I let them have. But you know something? I can't wait until all the visitors have gone and I can have my regular life back; just me and kitty and my studio. Any way-HELLO AGAIN FROM CROCKETT, CALIFORNIA! I want to thank you all very much for the wonderful hospitality you showed me while I was there. It was very nice to be back in your home to see you, your family and friends. I even made a new friend while I was there-Peppita! I think she likes me very much. I must admit that the T.V. set has really added a nice new dimension to your home. It must really keep you all up to date on what's happening around the world as well as providing some good entertainment for the family. Good luck to Manny in his business ventures. ("Manny's house of Video-Open 24 Hours!") I was real pleased and surprised to see the little store. It was real cute. I must apologise for getting a bit ill while I was there. You know it's funny, but last year I didn't notice the smoke in the air so much. But then again, last year I didn't spend as much time in Cebu City so maybe that was the difference. And way Guen, it sure was nice to go to Bohol! Wow what a nice adventure even though it was very short. You are a very brave woman. You even rode on an airplane! Of course, the fact that you kept your eyes closed and your hands clenched to the seat the whole time is only minor. You are still very very brave. Well Guen, now that I am back in Crockett I have very warm memories of being with you and your family there in Cebu. I think we both accomplished something great. I guess you know what I'm talking about. It gives me great pleasure to know that you would like to return to school and pursue your four year college degree. And of course I will be more than happy to fund it for you. So don't forget to send me the EXACT NAME, ADDRESS, and ACCOUNT number of the bank where you have your savings.(I just received these in your most recent letter.Thank you very much.) That way, previous to each semester, I will furnish the appropriate amount to your account. There should be enough there to provide for each semester. If you could send me a list of all the itemised expenses that would be wonderful. I may be able to deduct the expenses for tax purposes at the end of each year. You know Guen, after all our time writing to each other and getting to know each other I really believe that the most important thing right now is for you to get a really good college education. Yes Guen, I think it is even more important than marriage right now. Well, you may disagree with me on this because we both had talked about marriage so much. But think about it Guen. A four year college degree is something that is so precious and so valuable. It will be a tremendous benefit for you for the rest of your life. It will be of great value to you personally by enriching your life and giving you many more opportunities in the future. And it will also be of benefit for those around you, your family and your future husband. Guen Darling I know that it will take a lot of time. But believe me it is worth the sacrifice of time and effort. The opportunity for your college education is here and now. So take this opportunity while it is here and hold on to it. A four year degree in Computer Science is a skill that will benefit you in ways that you may never even imagine at this time. It will provide more than just the ability to make more money in your future. It will give you many more opportunities in the future than you could ever realise without a degree. A good solid education is something you will always be proud of and no one can ever take it away from you. You and I are both aware that four years is a long time. And I stress the four year aspect of this because I really hope that you pass the N.C.E. exam on the next try. A four year degree is far more powerful than a two year course of study. As I recall, from the list of courses at U.V., the really powerful courses were in the second two years of study. So I suggest that you really set your mind on completing the four year degree. Wow, I can just picture you in a high paying professional position with everyone so proud of you! Wouldn't that be great! We are also both aware that during the next four years things may change between you and I. You or I may find another path and many things may happen. Yet I am just being practical based on how I see the situation for the two us at this time and during your school years. As I have mentioned before, my financial situation does allow me the room to enter into a marriage unless my partner is fully able to work in a good paying job. All my thoughts of marriage and future return to this issue. And even if I had less responsibility at this time the advantage of having a spouse that is gainfully employed is something I must really consider at this time. You know Darling Guen, the year that the two of us have been writing to each other and the times we have been together have really been a learning process for both of us. From the time I received your first wonderful letter until now I had no idea that I would learn so much. So even if marriage is not in the cards for us at this time, I count our time together through letters and visits as a true true blessing in my life. And of course my Sweet Darling Guen, I consider you very close to me and that is why I am making this offer. Nevertheless we must reconsider marriage at this time ok? So I ask you Guen to not let your heart be sad about this. We may not have marriage at this time but we have both learned much and you now have a better future ahead of you with a excellent education available. You know Darling Guen this was something that I tossed and turned about many nights before I came to visit you a second time. I realised how strong our feelings are for each other. Yet I also realised how vulnerable our future will be if we are not prepared in the practical matters. We can't pay bills with feelings of love. And after much thought I realised that there was really only one solution; for you to obtain a good education and for me to lower my debt level. Both of these things will take time. And I also understand how time can bring changes in our lives which cannot be foreseen. So we must prepare ourselves for the possibility of change over time. I can certainly tell you how one thing has changed since I have visited the Philippines for the second time. When I was there this time it was with the more practical view of having been there before. The excitement of the newness was replaced with a practical sense of seeing from both sides more as they actually are. And you know what has changed? My views on having children. While I was there I really noticed how many children there were everywhere I went. I realised that I really like children, yet there are so many in the world that I really don't need to have any myself. Well maybe one child would be ok. But I realised upon my return that returning to school for a masters degree is actually more important to me than having children. Isn't that something? I really like children a lot but I don't mind at all if someone else has them. Isn't that something? Again I think one child would be fine. But now I think that even two children might be a bit much. I mean there are so many fun and exciting things to do in the world; travel, go to school, produce fine music, work towards a good financial future, or even to have lots of free time to just enjoy life as a whole. Children are wonderful, yet they are only one aspect of living a full and happy life. And the more children a couple has the less I think they may be able to enjoy life. Again, I think it is a matter of balance. I know that sounds a bit selfish. But it is also true that I have heard so many older couples say that they are glad when their children are grown and on their own so they, as elderly people, can finally enjoy life. Well I think each couple has to make up their own mind. For me at this time, I think that one child would be ok. That way, we could travel as a family of two or three to places around the world and still enjoy ourselves. I here that traveling will several children is really hard. So most people with children spend their vacation time at home as a result. Another thing that is really becoming important to me is the ability to retire early. If the opportunity comes along to retire, say in ten years or so, and live rather well at the same time, that is something that I would really like to do. I know for myself that I can be very happy and well occupied with lots of things without having to work eight to tens hours a day. The trick is to be financially independent. And the best way to retire early is to pay off the house. How nice it would be to retire at, say, fifty years of age instead of working every day until I am seventy. How fun it would be to live a decent life with my wife and never have to work. Now that is what I call success. And something like that is totally possible with proper planning. Again, limiting the amount of children in the future is a key element in this. So it's a matter of balance. I enjoy children very much, yet I also enjoy life. So balance is the key. And here again, having a well educated spouse, who is able to work independently, is one key to a happy married future. Though love, of course, is the primary element. We must not forget that! Well as you can see Guen this past year has really been a nice period of growing and learning as we have become closer to each other. I am ever so glad that we have met and have become this close over this past year. We have both benefitted from our time together through letters and visits. So be glad in your heart also Sweet Guen that this opportunity to obtain a fine four year education has come along. And if our year together has brought these good things to the both of us than we both have something very special to be cheerful about. You know Guen, as I look back on my own life, if I had the personal choice between getting married at twenty years of age and carrying all that responsibility, or going to college, going to college is by for the wiser choice. I am quite sure that I would never be as free in life as I am now, even with all my bills, had I been married at such an early age. And believe me, freedom to choose and to live as we wish is something worth a whole lot. So for now Guen Darling I will close this lengthy but long overdue letter. You are always in my heart and mind. You are a wonderful, dear and loving woman. And I really really enjoyed the time that we were able to spend with each other, just you and I (in fact, that time was the VERY BEST!).So with true sincerity from deep with in my heart I want to wish you the very very best of everything in life from this day forward. And may God bless you in everything that you do. Forever and Always, Donald. P.S. Thank You for the wonderful little birthday card and letter! it was very very nice. Donald.