Monday, August 16, 2004

A "Sincere" Letter of Apology

Steve, my old friend,

“To hearken to evil conversation is the road to wickedness.” Have I inadvertently said some evil thing?

I am rank with remorse upon learning that I may have caused you any physical or emotional anguish as a result of any feckless comment I might have made. Any tittle-tattle in the community regarding the alleged purchase of your company ... by your competitor ... is, as far as I am concerned, baseless and unfounded.

I share your outrage that this sort of common talk should be disseminated so widely to vendor, competitor and client alike. Further, I am sickened and dismayed that my name should be attached to this wretched and shameful canard.

As sorrowful as this affair has been, I believe there is a lesson to be learned from it: We must refuse to pander to morbid interest in our neighbors’ fortunes. Now we must pick ourselves up, be sorry, shake ourselves, and go on again.

To borrow a bit of wisdom from Wall Street, “Buy on the rumor; sell on the news.” I’ll wait for the news. And, whatever the outcome, I want to see you basking in the glory of your success.

If I’ve done anything I’m sorry for, I’m willing to be forgiven.

Yours,

S—
Executive Producer