no infant
as I sit on my couch this morning reading, I hear the sound of a light rain dropping onto my roof. Though brief, I stood at the window watching. At long last the skies have begun to change, and the air has shifted into the brisk seducer of scarves that she is. Yesterday, I received in the mail my “Nielsen TV ratings viewing diary” along with five crisp, new, one dollar bills. I’m not sure how they found my name, but I find this quite humorous as I’ve not owned or watched a television {aside from film rental} on purpose for over ten years. One would think that in the efforts of spending their five dollars wisely, they might first ask if I own a television, then go from there. I haven’t yet decided quite what I will write in my diary, but I rather like the possibilities.
Spoke to the wildly busy christian kiefer yesterday, primarily about how one deals emotionally and physically with the maddening blur of rearing his infant, and found that I indeed have more time than I allow myself to believe. I like the fact that nearly every time I speak to this dear friend of mine, we discuss what books we are both currently reading or have just completed. He just worked his way through some science fiction epic {the name of which I forget} and I told of “and now you can go” by vendela vida which reminded me somehow of Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey.” i wrote vendela a letter a while back, and sent her a copy of 'i am not in spain' as she discussed several things in an interview that i identified with. ie: riding her bike to hemingway's grave, middlebury college etc... i've not heard back yet, but figure i should write again to say that i enjoyed her novel. it made me think of an old friend from college named Maggie Clinton who moved to brooklyn and more or less disappeared from my skies.
oh but i have so many letters to write. mike and i are embroiled in the planning of this bike trip, and trying rather incessantly to gain sponsoship, so my mornings before work have become rigidly structured into guitar, voice, letter writing, and training. no infant though. my love to you dear christian and macie. my love to you.
Posted by jeff pitcher at October 31, 2003 09:27 AM
....................................
Rather quite perhaps. your brain is rotten. you have no humility. you need to wash a lot of feet.
And You people that support this should be ashamed. Ashamed! This is all escapism. No reality here. This is as bad as a Star Trek convention. Just more literate. And I'm pretty sure Hemingway would have called you 'Nancy' pitcher.
Firmly rooted in reality, like a mighty oak, John
Posted by: John Rensing at November 2, 2003 09:42 AM
That comment has summoned a very heart-felt yawn from my lungs.
Posted by: summer at November 3, 2003 10:27 AM
Glad you noted that book title as I did not write it down when we last spoke.
I'm thinking of structuing my next English 1A class around the idea of utopia/dystopia, affording me (I hope) the possibility of assigning all manner of crackpot literature and essays to my fragile young students.
Perhaps it's a tired subject though. I mean, haven't they all already read 1984 and Brave New World? I mean to augment it, though, with some contemporary nonfiction (Into the Wild, for one, and Fast Food Nation, for another). In this way I hope to make it, er, less tired (more awake?).
What do you think of this idea, readers? Why am I asking you Above the Orange Trees fans and friends? Because you're smart and I'd value your opinions and ideas. & because you can't leave comments on my own board.
Posted by: Christian Kiefer at November 3, 2003 01:01 PM
Oh! And most importantly, I send my love (of course) in return. A silly structure as love is more than a transaction isn't it? There you have it, and always will.
Posted by: Christian Kiefer at November 3, 2003 01:02 PM
christian: my friend michael just taught a freshman seminar at berkeley, using only 1984. he said you'd be surprised at how many of the students hadn't read it. so...
Posted by: irene at November 4, 2003 10:27 AM
Wow! I'm surprised! I'll have to do a survey in my classes tomorrow. It'll be a welcome distraction from Fast Food Nation.
Posted by: Christian Kiefer at November 4, 2003 10:31 PM
hi. got here from some crazy superhero column about your wildass new haircut. intriguing.
the vendala vida sounds interesting, i'll have to check it out. i watch TV constantly why doesn't neilsen send me $5. man i could really use $5. :) cheers.
Posted by: carolyn at November 7, 2003 08:09 AM
