Dear Pearl,

I can't say whether Melba will send the old photo to Thelda or not, Pearl.  It was a lovely suggestion on your part, but Melba has been known to hold a grudge for decades.  She is still not talking to the third grade classmate who cut fringe into her oil cloth.  I think her name was Frieda something or other. At the time, my sympathies were more with Frieda - she was a delicate, sensitive, child who absolutely worshipped Melba and who only cut the fringe because she believed it improved the aggressively mundane oil cloth underlying Melba's papier mache project. Melba was an awful sport about the episode and never spoke to Frieda again.  Frieda was quite morose about Melba's cruel rejection until she found religion in her teens and joined a nunnery.  

You are so right about the beauty of the season. Not only the beautiful lights, but the whole spirit of giving that comes upon us. Why, Louise is having Fanny and Scout make holiday sandwiches for the men lined up outside Our Lady of Perpetual Virtue.  Today it is beef tongue and onions.  What charity!

I Remain as Always, Your Devoted Miss Blue