To the editor:

On Aug. 7 I received, to my surprise, a card in the mail from Steve Mosley with some wonderful words of encouragement. To receive such encouragement from a writer whom I have so much respect for certainly made my day.

On Aug. 8 a friend gave me the May 1998 issue of Guideposts magazine to read. To my delight I found an article by Jean Bell Mosley, "More Than I Bargained for." It is a wonderful story about her childhood when she was in the fifth grade. We are so fortunate to have an author such as Jean Bell Mosley as a resident of our city.

The on Aug. 9, while still in a state of euphoria from these two past events, I read Jean Bell Mosley's "For most of the century" serialization in the Southeast Missourian. What a thrill it was to read about her invitation to the annual Guideposts workshop at Rye, N.Y. I felt like I was there with her as I read her wonderful account of the trip and the workshop.

Thinking life could not get better than this, toward the end of her column I was thunderstruck upon reading her story about her encounter with my dear friend, Marjorie Holmes. Jean had related the story to me once before in a letter she sent me. In fact, I think I'm going to stop writing now and see if I can find that letter. It certainly was one of the most treasured things I ever received.

RON FARROW

Cape Girardeau