I say write away. That's what my folks did. Here let me give you the best one...
First some background... My dad works as a truckdriver for the motion picture industry. When I first signed up for the Nuke program he was filming in Cincinatti, OH. I was supposed to go in August '88. In early May I received a phone call from the recruiter saying I could go in early. When asked how early, I was told in two weeks. I figured what the heck?? I'm just cooling my jets now.
My dad called a week after the recruiters did. He told me that he was going to buy a plane ticket for me to fly out there. You see, he gotten me a job on the movie as a gopher. I'd be making 22/hr plus mileage. Oh and the room and board was free (nice hotels and great food) plus a weekly per diem of about 300 bucks. Now comes the hard part, I have to tell my dad what I did...silence on the phone...not a good thing...sigh. I tell my old man that I can tell them no and still fly out BUT, he's the one who taught us boys that your word is your bond. Man that must of stung him bad!
So on to the letter. I'm in boot camp, Orlando Florida. It's FREAKING HOT AND MUGGY! I hear my name called by the mail po. I received a large envelope filled with pictures. Inside is a letter from my Mum. Ah I can still remember the wording... Dear #1 (I'm the Oldest), your Dad's movie moved to Las Vegas. I took your brothers to go visit. We took some pictures and sent them to you. The information for each picture is on the back of it. Love ya Mom...
I look at the first picture, staring back at me is my younger brother (#2), his arm is wrapped around Tom Cruise! My mom writes on the back, your brother had a great time riding up and down the strip on the back of Tom's motorcycle. Lucky little...@##$$(*#@(*&$!!!
I threw that picture out into the space. Saw the second picture, it's of Dustin Hoffman giving the thumbs up. Mom writes Dustin says Go Navy...I say go to @#%&**!!! Mr. Hoffman!! Another picture goes flying into space.
The next ones were just down right MEAN of my mother. One was of a bed on a pedestal with ceiling to wall windows behind it overlooking the strip. The other was of a jacuzzi bath tub big enough to fit 4 adults. Mom writes on the back of these saying, this is the room you Dad has with the movie. He (dad) says you could've had one JUST LIKE IT!! And here I am in boot camp in a big room with 80 snoring guys!! AAGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!
Oh but wait....it gets better (or is it worse?). Did I mention my Mother is a VERY EVIL Woman? ELO wrote a song titled that, I think if it was around it would of been playing when she was born. (I do love her though). Anyways, the very LAST picture was with my Dad, and two brothers each sitting on the hood of a Lamborgini, three of 'em, red, black and white. On the back my LOVING mother writes, Your Dad says you could've helped DRIVE these ON and OFF the SET!!!!!!!!!!!
Now when it's all said and done. I can laugh about it and share with everyone. Then...well then I was really pissed off at my mom for being so bloody ruthless. But, hey time heals all wounds so on and so forth.
So yeah, write 'em a letter. Put interesting newspaper clippings in it of home. Heck in a few weeks you can send a 'care package', make sure you send enough that he can 'share' though.
good luck
dave
Oh and the name of the movie...Rain Man...
