Dear Pop,

Thank you for your letter. You and mom will be happy to know that I’m all settled in here. California is such a beautiful state. The weather is amazing, and I’ve never seen clear blue skies so frequently. And the air from the Pacific is clean and soothing. San Francisco is an interesting city. If you and mom get the chance, please do visit, you’ll both enjoy it here. The other day I visited the Golden Gate Bridge, and of course, there was early morning fog. Sure enough, it cleared out leaving a nice blue sky and scenery right for photographs. You can see Alcatraz in the distance, and it is clear why it’s called the rock. I’m sure Al Capone found the place to be less inviting than his residence in Chicago.

The new apartment is coming along nicely. It could use some more decoration and at some point, a woman’s touch, I’m sure. But for now, the bachelor pad is exactly right. And before you ask, yes, I am making sure to keep the fridge fully stocked.  And yes, I have canned goods in case of emergencies. Speaking of which, don’t worry about earthquakes. Of course, they are a threat but there isn’t anything I can do about it except think and act fast should one occur.

You might be wondering about the stories you’ve heard about California. Well, some things are true. The homeless issue is serious here and the cost of living is high. It’s quite weird as the city is not struggling financially. There is wealth, plenty of it and there is plenty of poverty. It’s like two worlds in one. At times, I’m shocked to see this in a city in America. I’ve traveled to other countries and have not seen some of the things I’ve seen right here in the United States. I don’t know if there’s an easy answer to what we see but it speaks volumes about equality.

I’m glad to hear everyone is doing well. Cats are something, and their peculiar nature is also what makes them beloved. I thought about getting a pet at some point but right now, I’m not home enough for the responsibility.  You’ll be happy to know that I’ve made a friend, another customer at the nearby coffee shop. He’s also in information technology and has put me in touch with other technicians in the area. The IT world is a unique one. But for the life of me, I still can’t figure out Snap Chat. You might not have the faintest idea what it is but don’t worry, you’re not missing anything. You know pop, sometimes I wonder if all this technology helps or hinders us. The other day I saw two people in the same room sitting next to each other and not even speaking! But they were sending text messages to each other. Grandma would be beside herself if she were alive to see this. I suggested we write because we cannot forget the things that make us human. And there’s something special about letters.

Well pop, I’m going to stop here as I need to get to the gym which I just joined. Later, I’ll take a walk and figure out dinner. I think I’ll stop by Fisherman’s Wharf and grab something there. Tonight, I need to set up the network at home and organize my books. Give everyone my love and enjoy listening to War. I have that album on my phone because of you and the other night I played another tune of theirs, Slipping into Darkness. You don’t hear music like that anymore. Write soon, love you all,

Junior