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Hobnobbing at the Hob Nob
And at this point, we can only hope that John is warm and dry and not alone. I miss my friend. So take a moment, right now, and tell one person who is dear to you that you value them. That they matter.— February 14, 2010 3:57 p.m.
Hobnobbing at the Hob Nob
...and I guess it is time to start worrying about Mr. Brizzolara again. I just hope he is well and as happy as he can manage.— February 2, 2010 9:12 a.m.
Hobnobbing at the Hob Nob
On the other hand, JB does bring up his own politics in his columns from time to time. Maybe the lady was a devoted reader of JB's columns. Sort of like Kathy Bates in "Misery"?— January 10, 2010 9:57 a.m.
Hobnobbing at the Hob Nob
Well, I would have enjoyed hearing Mr. Brizzolara muse on how the food tastes, then and now. "Time is the fire in which we burn" and all that. As for politics in a public place, boy have I seen people be braying jackasses on both sides of the Divide. And usually the intensity of the argument is proportional to a lack of knowledge of the subject matter---again, on all sides. I am reminded of the old Victorian story that follows. It seems that a number of Victorian fellows were in their gentlemen's club one evening, enjoying port and cigars. Soon, the men began arguing about religion. One gentleman, however, said nothing. Finally, one of the debaters turned to his silent colleague, and asked "Why are you not engaged in this debate?" After a pause, the quiet gentleman said "Mine is the gentleman's religion." "And what, pray tell, is that?" asked the first man. "Gentlemen do not discuss religion," came the calm reply, punctuated by a puff on a fine cigar. The woman was rude to JB, no question. I'm with SDaniels, and I hope that John is doing well.— January 7, 2010 2:02 p.m.
Loosening Family Ties
Nicely said, RFG. Indeed I skipped a word. Sorry about that. As for RAH, the new biography (approved by Ginny Heinlein, RIP) will be coming out this year. At last. I was fortunate enough to correspond with Ginny Heinlein before she passed away. I loved how gently reminded me that RAH was very special to her, but a regular person. And VERY gently prepared me for some of the more unusual parts of his early life that were not apparent from his YA novels. Funny lady, and pretty nice to this particular fanboy correspondent.— November 18, 2009 1:02 a.m.
Loosening Family Ties
Um. For what it is worth, Heinlein died childless. Not that it matters. Why not just JB well and move on? That isn't so difficult, is it?— November 16, 2009 6:37 p.m.
Loosening Family Ties
You know, as I read the posts here, I see different kinds of people. Mostly, they are people who enjoy John's writing (as I do). Some of us know John personally. But when someone *repeatedly* shows mean-spiritedness about someone else's problems, why, that says a great deal about them. I could understand sneering and moving on. What I find curious is the necessity to repeatedly defend mean-spiritedness. There is a great deal going on there more than disapproval of John's writing or choices in life. The other comments were quite moving. "Maudlin" is one of those descriptors that is infinitely elastic. What I read were posts by people trying to help. Perhaps they can, perhaps they cannot. But the offer matters. Sneering bile helps no one. Least of all the person with sneering case of the biles.— November 14, 2009 11:07 a.m.
Loosening Family Ties
You know, monaghan, my late grandfather used to tell me that there was a world of difference between "honesty" and "tactlessness." I have known John Brizzolara for over twenty years. I can call him a "good and decent" man because I know him. He has stood by me in bad times when I lived in San Diego, and I him. On the other hand, I could look at your posts and wonder if you are a good and decent person. Perhaps you are. But the way one treats people who are having difficulties and trials (even when they do not improve their own situation) says nearly *everything* important about a person. Don't you think?— November 12, 2009 9:09 p.m.
Loosening Family Ties
I second the feelings directed toward you. You are on a difficult path. I wish you every bit of health and happiness possible. I know you pretty well, though not so well since alcohol took over your life. The stuff killed my grandfather and uncle, but I always tried to be supportive. I don't think you have issues of emotional claustrophobia. I think that you have issues with drinking, and a cycle of shame and self justification and despair. In other words, another facet of the human condition. Robert Frost wrote: "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." And that neatly describes the antinomy of family issues. I am fortunate with the family I have now, but it was not always that way. I remember the loneliness very well. We used to talk about those feelings, you and I. As for what would be said at a memorial for you, hopefully a long, long time for now, would be this: "John was, at his heart, a good and decent man who struggled with demons. Some were of his own making. Some were not. But he always believed in things better and more noble than we could hope of experiencing, and judged himself far more harshly by that criterion than he ever judged another human being. The world is poorer without him. I know I am." As for "Farnham's Freehold," no, the father didn't pull a gun on his son to force him to say the Pledge of Allegiance. He did so in a fallout shelter, when radiation levels were sky high, and the pampered son wouldn't shut up, and was questioning the father's authority under conditions where everyone's lives were at stake (while the son had done nothing to help with the shelter, and had denigrated and questioned the father at every turn). Did that make it okay? Not at all. 1. It's fiction. 2. It was intended to upset readers. 3. It is hard for any male to read that scene without being angry at the father, but it is also hard for any father to read the sections leading up to that point in the novel without becoming extremely irritated with Duke, who was a cardboard cutout of the Rebellious and Foolish Son. 4. RAH was a former Navy officer (invalided out because of TB), and military discipline was never far from him. 5. RAH never had any children. I think that you projected your own love of independence and natural distrust of authority into that book. No reason to throw it. Just shake your head at the scene. And there were far more disturbing scenes in the book than that!— November 12, 2009 4:40 p.m.
Friday Night Frights Part II
So I am guessing that the news continues badly for Mr. Brizzolara. I wish him well, but the signs are not good. John, if you read this, you should let people know how you are doing.— October 22, 2009 1:03 p.m.