Conrad the Cartoonist, Conrad the Balloonist

Egad! If you must allow Paul Conrad to dangle himself under a balloon at 14,000 feet while ricocheting off mountain tops, for Pete’s sake don’t tell us about it.

I always thought Conrad, like the President, probably lived his life behind reinforced concrete, surrounded by armed guards. The vision of him crash-landing in a snake-infested desert in the dark of night just doesn’t make my day.

I wish someone down there at The Times would pay more attention to what he is doing on his days off. Paul Conrads don’t grow on trees, you know!

MARY WESTMAN

Mojave