2002-10-04 - 3:44 p.m.

Today I grabbed Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters off the bookshelf for some subway reading. I'm not sure why, but I really haven't re-read much Salinger since I first discovered the stuff when I was 15-16. I think I took another look at Catcher in the Rye around my sophomore year of college, but that, of course, is still a while ago.

Anyway, I'm glad I took this book back with me when I visited my childhood bedroom over Labor Day weekend. Sure was getting sick of Professor Einstein Q. Boring, otherwise known as Tommy Pynchon and his flashy yet empty V. At least now I know whose style to copy. To say that I didn't appreciate Salinger fully when I was in high school, that’s quite possibly the understatement of the fortnight.

Speaking of good writing, I've really been enjoying the entries of yesterday evening. As a public service, I'll point you to him, her, this, him, and this guy.

Larry's entry especially struck a chord, west side of Detroit in the early ’90s and all that. Without getting to nostalgic (not that I’m opposed to that), I will say that that moment near the end of sixth grade when I realized I could pretty much take care of myself was pretty memorable. Before that, the limits of my exploration were four streets that formed a rhombus around me: Evergreen, Grand River, Southfield Fwy., and McNichols (much better known as Six Mile). Now, If some kids from school showed up at my house, we’d go ride bikes and I’d get to see the other neighborhoods I never ventured into. Play a little basketball (but not much for me, thanks, I have an excuse that sidesteps a reference to my total lack of experience and ability), play some Nintendo games that none of my friends had. That was the summer of Frumpy’s co-ed birthday party that scarred me for life. I think I was wearing shorts and white socks hitched almost up to my knees. I think a couple times during that summer my mom took me out to the burbs to hang out with her coworker’s son Dan who’d be in my class at U of D the upcoming fall. Same stuff was going on out there – kids were doing their own thing and loving it.

Then I get to junior high and I’ve got three hours of homework a night plus soccer. Larry’s in 7A and I’m in 7B. Lost track of all the old school friends and even got lazy about hanging out with the neighborhood kids who didn’t go to school on Seven Mile with me. That also took girls out of the equation (at least regular exposure to females) for six long years, stunting me beautifully. But it all turned out OK. And hey, at least I quit playing Dungeons & Dragons.