Pace the dolce far niente and Paul Lafargue (who, as I have just learned, was born in wealth on a coffee plantation in Santiago de Cuba) we will ask the question: do you think anyone has the right to desire or to aspire to inspiring work? Or, should people simply be grateful for “the opportunity to … More And another public opinion poll
Z: Did you enjoy Madison? Person from Houston: Yes, but it was really hard. Z: How so? Is it really as cutthroat as one sometimes hears? Person from Houston: No. It was that I had to learn how not to defer to men. You are not expected to do that there, and doing it does … More Another dialogue, another fact
Person: This is like being in Mexico in the 1820s. Z (laughs): Perhaps it is really about 1830 (if this is Mexico). There has been a post-Independence civil struggle. Only the winning leaders were not killed. Of the peons and civilians, I am the only one left standing, although I am wounded. All the other … More A dialogue, and one fact
This went medium well. I am glad I was as prepared as I was, down to the last drop. What I want to say is that as I train myself to be as obsequious as is considered meet, I train myself out of the authority to finish any writing project, too. I first noticed this … More Event, part 1
My accomplishments for today include seeing that I must move myself from the space of conquered person to the space of equal. The first step up was prisoner of war, as opposed to conquered person. Then I thought, what about free soldier from the other side. Then I thought I might go the whole way, … More Review session
“Qui vous donne envie de vivre, qui donne envie de la suivre, jusqu’au bout, juqu’au bout.” I am looking for a Moustaki song from the same era which ends, but does not begin in Greek. It is a happy song, not a solemn song. If you know it, I want it. Axé.
ALGUIEN, 1888-1973 She paid for us to go to college, not having been able herself. She says of her parents: They were both very good people who brought out what was most futile in the other, which is quite a tragic situation. If you have a good person and a bad person, that is one … More Des femmes
“Sandinista” is the word they used to use here for people who wanted progress and disagreed with the old President. One could not afford to voice such disagreement but “Sandinistas” could be identified if one looked closely. They would flash covert signs of comprehension. As you will remember, sandinistas were clandestine. I learned from the … More “Sandinista”
That was Shenandoah, whose smiling valley I long to see. Now, as promised, we will talk briefly about this piece, by a valuable person but one more conservative than I. 1/- My general complaint about all columns like this is that people keep explaining how to write and exhorting to move “anywhere,” but evade the … More Shenandoah
Here is a bronze statue of one of my ancestors. I could visit it in Vicksburg. That is one of those places where, when I go through, I can hardly believe I am there. It serves espresso now but Mark Twain would recognize it. Like Natchez it stands on bluffs above the Mississippi, on U.S. … More Vicksburg Blues
