What's been going on around here lately

The Swedish Academy’s decision to not award the Nobel Prize in Literature this spring hit me hard, of course. I figured this would be my year and was counting on the cash prize of a cool million bucks. A man needs a little boost now and then. I know I do. People associate me with radio but I was also a Novelist — okay? Novels. With characters and dialogue. Lonely guys looking out rain-spattered windows at bare trees and wondering, “Who am I anyway?”

I did some of that last Saturday morning. I am married to a perfectionist, and so my faults are more clear to me than necessary. I am 75 years old, people. How many men of 75 are actively engaged in self-improvement? Are there rehab programs for us? Inspirational books aimed at us? No.

I was looking out a rain-spattered window, thinking long thoughts, when a wild turkey strolled into our backyard and onto the terrace as if he owned the place. My love and I live in the middle of a big city, but on the steep wooded slope behind us, raccoons live, and a fox, and wild turkeys who roost in the trees and grow very large because we’re all liberals around here and nobody has a shotgun to shoot them with.

The turkey stood preening himself ten feet away from me, unconcerned about trespassing, and it made me think about freedom, which I experienced for a few years in my childhood. We lived in the country where a boy could disappear into the woods and run around without adult supervision for most of the day. Believe it or not, we had no pagers or cellphones on us to allow our parents to keep close tabs. Kidnappers could’ve descended and taken us away, bound and gagged, in souped-up roadsters and demanded a ransom of a million in nonconsecutive bills. They didn’t because our parents didn’t have the dough. And my parents had other children. Spares. So we were safe, tearing around shooting cap pistols, waving our cowboy hats, and re-enacting white racist violence against native peoples in a way children would not be allowed to do today. When I see a pickup truck with NRA and Confederate flag bumper stickers on it, I see myself when I was eight. Been there.

And in this moment of reverie, my true love said to me, “You really need to do something about your desk.”

I don’t run a perfectionist desk. Like our president, I believe in the creative power of chaos. I thrive on confusion. And my wife is sort of the Washington Post in my life. I come out with a big pronouncement and she says, “But yesterday you told me —” etc.

Marriage to a perfectionist offers many benefits, don’t get me wrong. The kitchen is tidy, the rugs harmonize with the furniture, tools and other necessities are well organized so you don’t run around looking for toilet paper and find it stashed in the china closet.

On the other hand, there are moments when I realize I’m being observed as I perform some simple task such as pouring water out of a boot — she is watching to make sure I do it correctly. She goes through my wastebasket and extracts tiny recyclable things and shows them to me. She has carried on a long-running campaign to get me to take a daily walk at a brisk pace and thereby live longer so she can go on perfecting me into my eighties and nineties.

What I need at this point is a big burst of self-esteem and so I imagined the phone ringing and a Swede announcing that I — me — yours truly — not Philip Roth, not some unknown Lithuanian poet — had won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

And I would walk into the kitchen where the love of my life is standing by the refrigerator, and she’d say, “You left a full carton of milk sitting out on the counter and I don’t know how long it’s been sitting here, do you?” And I’d say, “We’re going to Stockholm this fall. We’ll fly first class. We need to buy some dress-up clothes. I won the Nobel Prize in Literature, Babe.”

This column is a mess and I know it. Very poorly organized. But if I were a Nobel laureate, you’d think it were a work of genius. You wouldn’t think, “Should that be ‘were’ or should it be ‘was?’” You’d think, “He won the Nobel, it must be ‘were.’” And so it is.


927 comments

  • Good day viewers, I wish to share my testimony with all of you. I have daily 9 to 5 jobs, but while I work, I try my luck at playing instant Lotto. On this particular day, I decided to seek help online regarding tips for winning the lottery and I saw many individuals testifying about Priest Meduza spells. I reached out to him and informed him that I needed help to win the lottery, and he clarified the process to me stating that after he casts the spell, it will take 48 hours for him to provide me the winning numbers which I accepted. I followed all his instructions, and he provided me with the numbers to enter the Lottery. After the draw the following morning, I received a notification on the Lottery app on my phone indicating that I was the lucky winner of $273 million on the New Jersey Lottery and I’m here to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Priest Meduza. If you seek help in your life, Whats_App +1 807- 798-3042 or Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com or visit: lordmeduzatemple.com

    Michael J Weirsky
  • I am writing to wholeheartedly recommend the services of JHADDIX ETHICAL HACKER’S, a team of expert cybersecurity professionals who recently assisted me in recovering $50,000 worth of stolen Bitcoin. As a cryptocurrency investor, I had been careful to safeguard my digital assets, but unfortunately, I fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam that resulted in the theft of my Bitcoin.

    Devastated and feeling hopeless, I scoured the internet for a solution, only to come across numerous fake recovery services that promised the world but delivered nothing. It was then that I stumbled upon Solace Cyber Workstations, a reputable and trustworthy firm that specializes in cryptocurrency recovery. From the initial consultation, I was impressed by their professionalism, expertise, and willingness to help.

    The team at HADDIX ETHICAL HACKER’S worked tirelessly to track down the perpetrators and recover my stolen Bitcoin. Their advanced technology and cutting-edge methods allowed them to navigate the complex world of cryptocurrency and stay one step ahead of the scammers. Throughout the process, they kept me informed and updated on their progress, providing me with a sense of hope and reassurance that I had not felt in weeks.

    Thanks to the diligent efforts of JHADDIX ETHICAL HACKER’S,I was able to recover my entire $50,000 worth of Bitcoin. I am forever grateful for their assistance and would highly recommend their services to anyone who has fallen victim to cryptocurrency theft. Their expertise, dedication, and commitment to helping others are truly commendable, and I do not doubt that they will continue to make a positive impact in the lives of those they serve.

    In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to JHADDIX ETHICAL HACKER’S for their outstanding work in recovering my stolen Bitcoin. Their services are a beacon of hope for those affected by cryptocurrency theft, and I am confident that they will continue to provide exemplary support to their clients. If you or someone you know has been a victim of cryptocurrency theft, I strongly advise you to reach out to JHADDIX ETHICAL HACKER’S – you will not be disappointed.
    Website: http s : / / jhaddixethicalhacker-crypto-recovery.my.canva.site

    Email: jhaddixethicalhacker@gmail.com
    WhatsApp:+1 8706657110‬

    Johnson Bill
  • How Marv Web Can Assist in Cryptocurrency Recovery

    The recovery of cryptocurrencies has been revolutionized by MARV Web. They are incredibly quick and effective, making sure that every procedure goes without a hitch. Their customer support is always accessible and friendly, and their service is unmatched in terms of dependability. I’ve never felt more confident or comfortable about my ability to properly recover my cryptocurrency holdings. Because of their exceptional quickness, dependability, and effectiveness in bitcoin recovery, MARV Web stands out in the industry and is highly recommended!
    They can be reached at:

    Email address: marv.web@mail.com
    WhatsApp;+601126730582
    Web;https://marvweb9.wixsite.com/marv-web-crypto-expe

    Karl
  • This professional hacker is absolutely reliable and I strongly recommend him for any type of hack you require. I know this because I have hired him severally for various hacks and he has never disappointed me nor any of my friends who have hired him too, he can help you with any of the following hacks:

    -Funds recovery (wrong investment platform)
    -Phone hacks (remotely)
    -Credit repair
    -Bitcoin recovery (any cryptocurrency)
    -Make money from home (USA only)
    -Social media hacks
    -Website hacks
    -Erase criminal records (USA & Canada only)
    -Grade change
    -Email hacks
    -Mobile spy ( cloning )
    Kindly contact the details below for swift respond

    E-MAIL: (professionalwizardrecovery@programmer.net)

    VERIFIED WEBSITE:(https://professionalwizard.wixsite.com )

    WHATSAPP (+44 7442 684963)

    Amanda Richardson
  • This professional hacker is absolutely reliable and I strongly recommend him for any type of hack you require. I know this because I have hired him severally for various hacks and he has never disappointed me nor any of my friends who have hired him too, he can help you with any of the following hacks:

    -Funds recovery (wrong investment platform)
    -Phone hacks (remotely)
    -Credit repair
    -Bitcoin recovery (any cryptocurrency)
    -Make money from home (USA only)
    -Social media hacks
    -Website hacks
    -Erase criminal records (USA & Canada only)
    -Grade change
    -Email hacks
    -Mobile spy ( cloning )
    Kindly contact the details below for swift respond

    E-MAIL: (professionalwizardrecovery@programmer.net)

    VERIFIED WEBSITE:(https://professionalwizard.wixsite.com )

    WHATSAPP (+44 7442 684963)

    Amanda Richardson

Leave a comment