There came whisperings in the winds: “Good-bye! good-bye!” Little voices called in the darkness: “Good-bye! good-bye!” Then I stretched forth my arms. “No—No—” There came whisperings in the wind: “Good-bye! good-bye!” Little voices called in the darkness: “Good-bye! good-bye!” —Stephen Crane
Why the Beard?
September 19, 2013
I’ve been asked again why I don’t shave off my beard so I can look younger. Well, looking younger isn’t important to me. I’m fifty-one. It’s okay for me to look fifty-one. Currently, shaving isn’t a priority. I always hated shaving. You women should try scraping your face every day with sharp metal. I was…
The Bird Stole Fruit
September 11, 2013
Twelve years ago I lived in Tim’s house. At about 7:30 on the morning of September 11, 2001, I suddenly heard, “Tom! Tom!” As a child I often heard my name called perfectly clearly, in a voice that was neither male nor female. I still remember the timbre. I’d go find Mom and ask her…
How could she do that?
September 9, 2013
It isn’t clear if Mom will be able to come home. Although she’s beaten lung and ovarian cancer—there are no tumor markers in her blood—she’s refusing to eat or exercise. This is making her weaker and weaker, of course. I understand why she’s doing this. She’s very angry at the loss of control. All she…
The darkest nights approach
September 6, 2013
The darkest nights of my life approach. We can’t do anything to stop them. What will be, will be. I stopped going to church when I was eighteen. I’ve since made my peace with Catholicism. People like to say that they’re “recovering Catholics.” It’s supposed to be funny, but I’ve experienced too much pain myself…
My first act of music journalism since 2002
September 6, 2013
My first act of music journalism since 2002 was completed with Scott Thunes, of course. I enjoyed it thoroughly. An excerpt: I used to be a music journalist. It was the best job I ever had, and I loved it. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t work out. A combination of factors—mainly my own problem with…