Bobby's Letter to George Herms

If you have not read this letter yet on the Bobby Driscoll website (www.bobbydriscoll.net), you absolutely must.  I am choosing this to be our focus this week because I love delving into how Bobby thought and felt about things as an adult.  This particular letter is rich with mysticism (which he turned to for a time) and art discussion.  It’s definitely clear to see that his artistic pursuits were of paramount importance to him at this point in his life.

I also love to see what a loyal and loving friend he was through his writing – specifically, the kind things he said in encouragement to George Herms regarding his friend’s own art and his family.  It was absolutely precious to see his fond remarks regarding Nalota, George Herms’ two-year-old daughter, whom he asked George to give “big smacks on the nose – kiss smacks” to, as well as his declarations that she was “a fine, pretty girl, even while splotched” after he had been sent a picture of her with the measles.  If he was this affectionate toward his friend’s child, we can only imagine the affection he was full of for his own daughters, with whom his contact was probably limited at this point.  A little part of me wonders if that’s why Nalota was possibly so special to him?  
Bobby’s heart was full of affection, depth, sensitivity, and beauty.  There is nothing truer than a letter to make alot of things about a person’s soul evident.