I’ve just received a letter that has touched me deeply
& I’d like to share it with you.
It’s from a man who’s spent the last ten of his 29 years
behind bars in a New Mexico prison.
After a troubled childhood & stints in juvenile detention, he was
convicted of armed robbery & sentenced to fifteen years.
About two years ago, as a reward for good behavior, he
was granted access to the Internet where he discovered “The Saint” series & me.
He writes, modesty aside, that I became his “pinup”, a
role-model for the woman he might one day meet & have a loving &
lasting relationship with – something that he’s never had in his life.
Recently, he’s joined a creative writing programme at the
prison, in the hope of becoming a professional TV writer, a goal he attributes
to “The Saint” series & his respect for my work & what he has come to
realize is the result of hard work & self-respect, something he’s lacked
until now.
He ends the letter with a request for a signed photo of
Sir Roger & me with the following dedication: “There’s always a second act!”
I know I’ve said it before but it’s a constant source of
wonder & gratification that the work Sir Roger, I & many others did
those years ago still matters to fans the world over, & can even motivate a
change in one’s future. There is indeed,
a second act in everyone’s life, & I’m happy that this man seems to have
found his. I wish him every success..
The orders for co-signed photos from our episodes in “The
Saint” continue to grow. And most
amazing of all are the numbers of young people who’ve discovered the series via the Internet.
All I can say is, “I’m blown away!”
Be happy in your life & work.
Annette
