Someone asked me about humor, and how do you learn to be funny. I said I don’t think you can learn to be funny. Either you are, or you aren’t. I told her I thought humor is often closely related to pain, that it arises... Continue
Rude Awakenings
Why bother? I mean, really. They’re dead. Who cares about the past, and what difference does it make? However, there are occasions when we do something for its own sake, simply because it’s interesting or satisfying, or it feels worthwhile. For several years I’ve researched... Continue
“We’ve been brought here for a very short time, against our will, and we don’t know why.” I love that line. What is the point of our birth and life and death? Why are we here? What is our true purpose? These thoughts keep some... Continue
I’m hard-wired for formal prayer. I find myself reciting the Our Father when an earthquake hits, and oftentimes at night as I go to sleep. “How weird,” I think, stopping in the middle, but then a Hail Mary (a woman about whom I hold equally... Continue
Why write? It’s complicated. I never had any intention of becoming a writer, to externalize my life and expose it on paper. But as life would have it, I had a meltdown as the result of a course I was taking, and out of that... Continue
In 1943, my father exchanged his iceman’s uniform for a suit and tie. Union Ice Company was having financial difficulties, and Dad had enough sense to get out of the cold. Offered a management position with Sprouse Reitz, he had the option of running a... Continue
Chapter 69: November 1950 • Sonora Larry’s diary (age 16) Nov 1 New springs for horn. Got up at 3:30. Cop stopped me in Escalon, front light out. Nov 2 Played solo for Tuolumne County Education Association, all of the teachers. Nov 3 Lost 2nd game of... Continue
Chapter 68: 1950 • Sonora ~ Larry’s diary (age 16) Oct 1 Saw Father of the Bride with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. Oct 2 Mom at hospital for operation. Carried horn home. Oct 3 40 seniors and I went to Sacramento to see Sutters... Continue
Chapter 67: 1950 • Sonora ~ Larry’s diary (age 16) My brother wrote daily about the usual. A few highlights: Sep 3 Cleaned up room it needed it. Stayed open by myself all day. Heat wave finally broke a little. Sep 4 Copied Wildcat book. Dad... Continue
Chapter 66: Summer 1950 • Sonora ~ The family met Jay Bruce and his wife in the summer of 1950 when their car broke down and was being repaired across the way at Kelley’s. Betty was amazed; they were the oldest people Betty had ever... Continue