Letter Twenty Five, January 6, 1996

Wes Responds to Priscilla's Lawyer

Wes
Houston, TX

January 6, 1996

Mr. Kenneth Magnum
Magnum, Titan & Magnum
Dallas, Oregon 97338

Dear Mr. Magnum,

Thank you for your letter of December 27. I agree wholeheartedly with Priscilla's concern that my Web site not put Priscilla in a position where she might be identifiable and harassed. It will not.

When I wrote "If you're really interested in all the gory details, check out 'The Priscilla Letters' section of our Internet Web page" I was not intending to make her identifiable other than as my "Aunt Priscilla." Certainly her address and last name -- which has been ____ for a great while -- were not going to be listed. In response to her concerns and those voiced by other members of the family, I will yet go further and give people pseudonyms to additionally protect their privacy. My intent all along was to share with others what is the best-documented discussion I know of on an issue that consumed months of our family's time. I know many people who have gone through the same thing, and am sure others can learn from our experience. When I know the site's address, I will gladly give it to anyone who wants to verify its presentation and moderate tone for him/herself.

I understand how my family could misinterpret what little I wrote. By necessity, I do not have the space to include everything of importance to me. (This year, for example, I did not include that I had 23 friends and acquaintances die as of this counting. I didn't include that I hired a personal trainer -- at great expense -- to try and maintain my lean body mass. I also didn't have room to include that I started two experimental drugs, one of which got FDA approval in December.) By extension, I don't have space to fully explain everything that does make it onto the one-sided page.

I am sending copies of this letter to all of the immediate family who did or might have had the same concern that Priscilla expressed. Related, there are two other things I need to clarify.

First, I sent Priscilla her Christmas letter as I didn't want her to feel that I was excluding her as a result of this summer's happenings. I will respect her wishes to not send further correspondence. Conversely, anyone -- including her -- is still welcome to write me; but please don't bring up this summer's unfortunate happenings or homosexuality. I think we're probably all tired of it by now.

The second thing I need to clarify is about the Christmas card itself. This was the first year I tried to make it into a card-stock format, where it was stiff enough to stand up. I did not realize that what I thought was a happy and fairly innocuous picture would give offense to anyone, though I realize now that I should have. I do hear loud and clear the concerns voiced by some about their children seeing it. Unless I hear otherwise, I'll keep those people on the Christmas list and -- if there is another outside picture in future years -- will put their card in an envelope. This will give the adults the option of reading the letter's contents and then tossing it before their children see the picture.

Thanks again for your letter.

Wes

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