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Nightlife in the Rearview Mirror
Oh, and reading RFG's comment, I was reminded of what you used to tell me about the television industry, Mr. Brizzolara. "I got three words for ya: Cops...with hats!" That was the pitch session. Is it any wonder that extraterrestrials don't visit us? The Galactic Good Taste Police have reviewed our transmissions and interdicted us.— August 18, 2010 10:02 p.m.
Nightlife in the Rearview Mirror
Dear John: you *must* post photographs of the crew in "Faith." I remember the Buddy Guy story, though you tell it better than it happened, I suspect. What's next? The "Guy in the Tertiary Stages of Stevie Ray Vaughn Syndrome with a Stunt Chest" story? Those were the days.— August 18, 2010 10 p.m.
Get Married (At Least Once)
Mr. Gringo...I think that there *was* something there by John that was removed. Doing a Google search yielded this: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/aug/11/tg… But when you click on it, there is nothing on the Reader's website.— August 16, 2010 11:53 p.m.
Get Married (At Least Once)
Odd. I seem to have found another post by JB on one day, and then it was taken down. Did I dream it? This post is the most current one up, but I swear to you that there was another one on Wednesday for a few hours. Oh well.— August 15, 2010 2:59 p.m.
Get Married (At Least Once)
Dear John: great to see your writing. Greater to read that you are trying to work your way out of the dark places. Thinking of you, remembering happier times, and much laughter. We all become prisoners of our own paradigms: how we want to be perceived becomes a walled moat. You have experienced people putting you into their vision of who you are supposed to be (according to them). Like Howard Waldrop wrote of Hemingway---the style became first a selling point, then a crutch, and finally a prison. But me, I always liked John Brizzolara as he was. Funny fellow, with a lot of heart. It sounds like he is coming back.— August 4, 2010 4:08 p.m.
Heaven Is a Library
Also, John, remember your Jung: you are what you do, not what you say you'll do. If you strive to be a good man and father, that is what you will be. Is it a struggle? It is for everyone. But the good and honorable things in life are seldom easy. Good luck!— July 8, 2010 7 a.m.
Heaven Is a Library
I liked this essay very much, John. I hope that you continue the long climb back up. You are worth it.— July 8, 2010 6:55 a.m.
It All Comes Back with Yes and Frampton
All I can say, John, as the years pass we create a schema of how we view others, and how we view the world. The assumptions and conveniences become more and more rigid, slowing us down until we stop. There, in our shell of assumptions, we quiver with irritation at the Way Things Change. We all become prisoners of our paradigms. As for the 60s, those people weren't all that different than their parents, deep inside. They just used a different dictionary. "Do your own thing," they would say, smug with their lack of conventionality. But what they really meant was, "Do your own thing, so long as it is my kind of thing you do." Too often as we grow older, we become the very agents we disliked in our youth! But that is a good thing, a sign of the passing seasons. This too, shall pass. Thanks for another essay.— June 30, 2010 1:12 p.m.
Dream a Little Dream of Fear
Mr. Bowes, I went looking for your e-mail address to write to you directly, and was unsuccessful. Thus, sorry for the note here. JB has spoken admiringly of you for the couple of decades that I have known him. Not just because of your fine fiction (and having read it, such is my opinion as well), but because of your kindnesses toward John as the Pinball Machine of Life batted him around. Like me, you have tried to help John out monetarily from time to time. I never thought of that making loans; I thought of it as an investment in getting more writing from John. And so we were both successful, here and now. I don't know how often JB has thanked you for being a colleague and friend. I know that he was grateful, and is so still. And JB, sorry if I am speaking for you, but that is how you described things to me years ago, and I have no way of contacting you now.— June 24, 2010 10 a.m.
Elusive Salvation
"But don't you find yourself angry at John, ever?" writes MsGrant. Oh, my yes. But I also love him like a brother. I am reminded a little of the five stages of death meme. The order runs: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Just because I am moving from depression to acceptance over John's choices does not mean that I haven't been angry.— June 23, 2010 3:59 p.m.