With great admiration

by Perry Bloomer Jr
(Bristol, RI, USA)

Hi Steven - Up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. Got my cellphone and started bopping around EBay. I tend to have a unique chain of thoughts and after seeing some books on Edgar Cayce, ended up checking out books on Egypt. The past fascinates me now.

I had no use for history in school. I wish I had. I’ve watched a lot of the archaeology shows on TV and have become rather obsessed with Egypt as well as all the mysterious places in the world, like Puma Punku and Tiwanaku.

I came across your book, The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. It sounded very informative and all-inclusive so thought it might be an interesting buy. It said I would get a signed copy by the author. That, of course, led me to find out who the author actually was.

Well, that led me to tons of pictures of you and your career and so much information. I have to say I am extremely impressed by all the incredible things you’ve achieved and all the places you’ve been! I’m only 2 years older than you but haven’t lived even a fraction of the life you have. You should be amazingly proud of all you’ve seen and done, and are doing.

I did read about you getting MS, like your wife who you are obviously quite in love with. I’m very sorry to hear of your diagnosis and all the difficulties it brings, but it sure doesn’t stop you. If anything, it looks like it made you more determined to do even more!

I’m going to think of you and your story and your amazing strength, fortitude and perseverance when I start sinking into depression about my own life. Just about all my family has passed away and grief is something I never planned on having to live with.

I also tend to get great jobs, then the business either closes or it turns out to be an awful place to work and have to leave. Life is way too short and precious to subject myself to a torturous career. I recently got laid off from an incredible job with my local school department working as

Census Clerk for Special Education. It was finally a job that I could say I loved and felt great about.

Then the town cut the school budget and I was out. No equivalent call-back available so back to square one. But I’m very lucky to have come across you and your story so that I can gain some honest perspective. We’re about the same age and, from what I read, have very similar personalities and life outlooks. If you can handle everything life is throwing at you and can still strive to achieve so many things, and somehow succeed, then there’s no reason I can’t have hope for a better future myself.

I know my life and situation can’t even compare to yours, but, in my little world, it’s still going to resonate with me as something to strive for and believe I can conquer my hills like you are conquering mountains!

I’m writing this in this comment section not knowing if it’s still valid for getting to you, and I hope it does, but, I guess if it doesn’t, it was at least a good way for me to process these thoughts and hope they stick. If this does get to you then I’ll be glad I took the time to reach out to a stranger to tell him how he changed my outlook in a very brief period of time.

You sound like the type of person that might appreciate what I felt like saying to you, and in the end, I think reaching out and honestly sharing feelings, emotions and admiration with people is what it’s all about. I like having someone new to admire and hopefully I’ll be able to start moving my life forward again.

I guess all we can really do is take one day at a time. What other option is there? Just know you’ve made a different in my life without even trying and I thank you for that. I’m on your side all the way and will think of you often and keep you and your family in my prayers. I look forward to reading your book and seeing what a major achievement I am sure that it is.

Be well!