[at-l] First draft, please critique

[thatguy.fehchet at gmail.com (that guy)]

Richard, Sounds great to me. Ever think of running for President or 
ambassador to China or becoming a spin doctor on Capital Hill? Timothy.

On 6/5/05, Richard C Evans <optimyst@gmail.com> wrote: 
> 
> Dear Mr. Bryson:
> 
> As an avid Appalachian Trail hiker and volunteer, I'd like to engage
> your memory on an event back in 1999 with which you were associated
> and which has resulted in an unsolved mystery in our hiking community.
> And now that the identity of Deep Throat has been resolved, some of
> us feel it is time to come to grips with our own mystery, though not
> nearly as fraught with national implications.
> 
> First, a slight digression. I don't know if you are keeping up with
> the happenings on the Trail, but a major milestone is upon us. I've
> been honored to have served on the most recent ATC Board of Managers
> that voted to implement a bold, strategic plan which included a name
> change from the Appalachian Trail Conference to the Appalachian Trail
> Conservancy. As we celebrate the 229th birthday of America and the
> 80th birthday of the ATC on July 4, 2005, we will be gathered in
> Johnson City, TN to celebrate the birth of the new ATC which will be a
> more committed fundraiser and protector of the AT as it faces the
> challenges of the 21st century.
> 
> It is also exciting to read current news developments of the
> possibility that a movie based on your "A Walk in the Woods" will
> serve as a screen farewell for that great acting duo of Redford and
> Newman. We sincerely hope that the negotiations will conclude
> successfully and that people around the world will be able to enjoy
> what should prove to be a great movie. We in ATC naturally hope it
> will include real backdrops shot on the AT. Thank you so much for
> creating a work that can make a project like this possible.
> 
> Now, back to our mystery. As you may recall, you were scheduled as a
> keynote speaker on the Saturday evening of the 1999 ALDHA Gathering at
> Dartmouth College and did not show to give your presentation. I am
> not aware of any explanation ever having been given for your absence.
> I'm not suggesting you didn't give an explanation, just that it has
> never filtered down to the rank and file hikers, and in the absence of
> an explanation, all types of theories have abounded, formed out of
> idle speculation.
> 
> As one who would like to see this pointless conjecture and source of
> irritation among some otherwise exemplary folks, I'd be so pleased if
> you could respond with a brief, but frank explanation of the situation
> from your perspective. Be advised that I would share it within the AT
> hiking community via the at-l internet mailing list and possibly in
> the ALDHA newsletter in order to resolve our little mystery.
> 
> Thanks for your consideration. I've had the pleasure of reading most
> of your work, as far back as the exquisite "The Mother Tongue."
> Thanks for the education, the entertainment and the belly laughs!
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