Hello Christine and Howard,

It's been long since we spoke on the phone. Perhaps a year or so? Anyway all that you shared with me is still with me and shall remain that way. Showing out one's soul is the most difficult part of nudity, and the only real part that gets better with age.
For some reason our paths were not to cross just yet. And I'm glad that you understood my problems with the new people in Power. If I were at the Foundation I'm sure the Festival would have gone as planned... I know you understand there were plenty of setbacks, from a 2.5 million budget to a 28.000 budget for one performance by Rick Barrett, including the construction of a forge.
One thing I know for sure, is that you know that each person is unique and irreplaceable. Then, again, your place was unreachable to me at that moment, and when Christine replied with the budget it was really too late. I felt the need to clarify this because my conscience and sense of justice and fairness compels me to clear this.

The L-6 for a couple of lines.
Concerning the EMS, I don’t know what happened, but Chuck told me the following:
I spoke on the phone with a representative of the Post office here...for a while longer and they said that this EMS should* show up by next week. If it does not...THEN you should proceed to run a trace. But give it a few more days. They mentioned that there is a backlog at customs.
In all likelihood, your EMS is in customs right now...*it will not show up in the system until it clears customs*.
Anyway I have sent you today a new check of US$540 with a new set of Ukyio-e prints by FEDEX and it is all viewable at this link I hope both packages will show up. Anyway, I have already trace FEDEX waybill 817399996995 and it is already in the air flying to your side.
This issue was making me nervous because I am pretty meticulous and obsessed with my commitments and the honor I put on them, plus the pleasure and anticipation of owning a super katana by you.
In my specifications to you I mentioned the blade's sori to be of 3/4 inch, but I would rather prefer that it could go as curved as 6/8 or 7/8 of an inch. After owning two great blades from you, this one I do intend to ask you for a sori this deep. It looks very harmonious for a cutter. I call it a cutter because I will not cut with the other two which are the flagships of my modest collection that is being upgraded.

Talking to the Person that happens to be a Blade smith.
I believe by now that you know I miss our exchange of emails or our conversations over the phone. Things have changed in my life, and you don't answer the phone that much, which is a wise measure. As for me, the handover of Macau has not been that good. So our communication flow ended because of our individual tasks.
But most of all, what attracts me about people is that they are unique human beings and that is the reason why I am so interested in the man, or Mr. and Mrs. Howard Clark as a team, than the well known blade smith. People, while human beings, is what give life a flavor, is the spiritual nutrition for me. I grow with people that are in the arts and crafts and, being a free mason, I seek to learn from others. The blade smith that you so humorously described as I'm just the labor, sells blades. But what has always attracted me is the man that is a blade smith.
And since you stated that you're the labor you empowered Christine with another task: run the business for you, which broadened my humanistic curiosity towards Christine.
I've always felt that women are far stronger than men. They are pillars of the family. My wife is very much the same, and after all these years, I find I am deeply in love with her.
I have had my share of shallow social relationships and though they are a part of my life that is not public, I'm willing to reveal it to you. Here are some pictures from a recent International Seminar gathering. 
I have become since January 1998 more of an hermit, renouncing to all the white collar stuff whenever possible, but I felt I should go back and make a statement of my thoughts on Intermediation and Creativity. It turned out very well as it became the best paper of the meeting, and the most sought after copy. But perhaps that was mainly due to the fact that it was written on a unattached way, and though the looks may be misleading, I'm a self-imposed outsider. Most people here did not realize that the essence of life if not in the social gatherings...or looking for the limelight. It may seem strange to you these pictures, and why I chose to share with you and with Chuck only. Well the reason is that we, as people, have many sides. This is what I call my darker side. I prefer my shorts in the hot summer.
There is a strange feeling of not having accomplished the task of meeting you. But I'm waiting for a better chance to come up. I'm not giving it up, but waiting. There will be a time for this to happen. When it does, I'll grab the opportunity and hope you will allow me to visit you and then you to visit me. My Festival project is in my mind and is laying there for the opportunity to show up. Now that China has been chosen for the 2008 Olympics it can be a good moment.
Am I a Iaido or Kenjutsu obsessed person? No, by all means. But I have found that swords are something close to Alchemy and that is what drives me more. Obviously I train now and then, but what I try to train most is my mind. I stopped seeking, just let things happen. Yet my strive for my own perfection path still gives me some unbalanced feeling when I don't see harmony, such as in the case of the still lost EMS package to you. I'm obsessed with my word, my commitments, and so forth. With swords I interact with blade smiths and with Fred Lohman who has become a friend. We actually met in Hong Kong.I believe I have given you the link for Fred Lohman about what this L-6 is going to be dressed. I feel, in my meticulous way, that you should know.
I have created Bladesign not looking for profit, but as another area of interest for me. There's no money worth the enjoyment of having something materialized from one's concept. I'm not a handy man, I'm more in the conceptual area, that is why I admire what others can do, while I have discovered that the more I don't take myself seriously, the freer I am.
If by any chance you are able to communicate with me, you are most welcome as I do feel a lot of pleasure in exchanging views with you. I sense that you are working very hard and have little time left. Which is most natural.
By the way, I am making a list of links instead of this page. Do you allow me to link your site?
I wonder if by your side you would allow me to use your photograph that is in SFI magazine before I ask Adrian. Or perhaps you could email me a picture of yourself.

I meant to thank you and Christine very much for your trust on me, and for moving me upfront the line. It does mean a lot to me. I am not someone who praises to take advantages. Actually, in my life I received many set backs because I was and still am unable to bow or to lick anyone's boots Yet I feel that spontaneous words come to my mouth for something that you may consider of no great importance. Just a kind act from you, but which touches me deeply. I can understand that as I myself have given and found that to be natural and oddly enough I could not understand the reason for thanking me. But I am what I am, and there you go figure.

I won't take much of your time. I wonder if I could make you an interview by email. I'd like to write about you. Or should I wait for a day that will bring us to meet each other? Let me know please. 

Well, I guess this is getting longuish and you have better things to do.

Meantime I wish Christine and you all the best, hoping that everything goes well with you and your children. 
Just before I forget: my out of the country email is acj98@hotmail.com in case EMS does not arrive before I leave.

Kindest regards,

Antonio