Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am writing this Newsletter from the Los Angeles International airport. It is Monday, January 30 at 7:30 in the morning. For the past two weeks I have been poked, prodded and pricked so many times I feel like a pinata. I've seen five doctors and have had many tests and scans and now the two surgery dates are set. On February 7, I will have long awaited cataract surgery, and on February 23, I will have my prostate gland carved out and then hope it has not spread its nasty business.

Although I have been home less than three weeks, I had the travel bug, and decided a little R&R would be very therapeutic. I will spend the next five days in the mountains of N. California and just read and write. No doctors, no tests, no needles, just some good clean mountain air.

I recall Dr. Pinto, the urologist in Santiago, Chile saying to me "Richard, your world is about to take some dramatic turns." I then knew the next sentence would confirm that the biopsy I had done was positive. Of course the first reaction is one of shock. I had thought all of the hard part was behind me. I first had this idea about ten years ago, and approached The Oprah Winfrey Show in January of 2004. I was called in January of 2005 to tape the segment, which was broadcast in late April and rerun last August. 2005 was a year of 70-80 hours of work, with Joe Franklin helping at least half of those hours. And now My Wildest Dream Was Coming True. Or so I thought. To quote Julian Lennon's words in Pop&Me "man plans and God laughs.” Right on, brother.

I am approaching the acceptance stage. I still forget I have the Big C. I wake up in the morning, and think about my day, and then it hits me like a ton of bricks. S__t, I have cancer!!! This happens at least once every hour, but slowly, and painfully, it is sinking in.

Darn, my flight is delayed and I may miss my connection. But you know what, I don't care. I love any kind of a terminal; plane, bus, train or boat. I love the hustle and bustle in these places. And the fact that people are going.....somewhere. And so am I. I feel like a shark, and always like to be on the move.

I cannot thank enough the more than 1,500 women and men who have e-mailed me with their support. Shoot, even some of my "not-so-great-fans" have sent nice messages. I must say this is where the women have it all over the men. I have answered about one-half of the messages, and will respond to all as soon as I can. Don't be afraid to e-mail me. I now have the time to read and respond!!

Princess Grace and the Oscar

The very yuppie photo of me below in my pink slacks and no socks was taken by Princess Grace in her private apartment in The Palace of Monaco in 1974. Grace won the Oscar in 1954 for her performance with Bing Crosby in "The Country Girl." I commented to Grace that I had never seen the movie, and in a flash she called her projectionist and we watched the film together. Mr. "Pop" Kelly, Grace's father, had given Grace and Rainier a wedding gift by refurbishing an old garage into a terrific theater with 35mm projection. This is a memory I will forever cherish. Princess Grace was a wonderful person and a great mother.

(Photo- Richard with Oscar given to Grace Kelly in "Country Girl." Monaco Palace, 1974)

The Christening

In 1967 my one year old son Richard had his christening. It was at St. Bridget's Church in East Falls, Pennsylvania, where I was married, and virtually all of the Kelly's were married, including Grace's mother and father. I was extremely nervous because Princess Caroline, who was ten at that time, was the Godmother and none other than my 6'5" leprechaun fraternity brother from the University of Maryland, one Patrick Joseph Rooney, was to be the Godfather. What was I thinking!! Pat is a great guy, but nothing, and I mean NOTHING goes according to plan when he is involved.

Now picture this. This big bear of a man, with a huge, oversized Jack Nicholson type smile, twinkling blue eyes, would do the most outrageous stunts, and then flash that big grin, and you had to smile!! I should not have been surprised when on the Thursday before the Sunday christening he called me with the following message. "Richenious (his nickname for me), this is Looney Tunes (my nickname for him), don't worry, no matter what you hear, I'll be there." BE THERE!!!! What do you mean, you'll be there. Again, the Governor of the state, mayor, and other so called dignitaries would be on hand, just like my wedding. Not to see me, of course, but to see "her," Princess Grace. And almost every media outlet would be covering the event. There were literally thousands of people lined up, outside the streets of the church, hoping to see that famous smile, and maybe take a picture.

Now I had arranged for Pat to spend the night before the christening with me to semi-ensure the fact that he would show up. But he insisted he would be at the church and on time. Well at the church and on time he was. His ENTIRE HEAD was swathed in a huge headdress of bandages. He looked just like the Indian guy in Orphan Annie!!! Worse yet, he walked down the street waving AND SMILING at the throng as if they were there to see him!! OMG. what was going on I wondered. It turned out earlier in the week Mr. Patrick Joseph Rooney had been involved in a very bad accident (no one else injured) and literally the top half of his scalp had to be stitched back to the other half. As if that wasn't bad enough, after the christening we went back to Meg's mother house for the reception and within fifteen minutes the numerous young kids were running around screaming. Mr. Patrick Joseph Rooney of course was on prescription medicine and not supposed to drink alcohol, but he is Irish and this was a party. Pat had declared himself 'THE SON OF FRANKENSTEIN" and had scared the bejeebers out of all of the kids there.

It gets worse!! He proceeded to unwrap all of his "turban" and ran around calling himself Zipperhead. Yet another indelible memory.

(Photo: L-R Meg Roe, Pat Rooney, Richard, Bill Cosby, Sally Rooney- Monaco circa 1975)

Postscript. Pat went on to be a very successful business man, great husband and father, and now has three grandchildren. Go figure!!!

We have experienced some problems with readers not being able to see the photos in last week's Newsletter. Please visit www.seniorbachelor.com and on the Newsletter Page you will be able to see the photos. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Richard Roe
Senior Bachelor

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