Moments ago I learned Kurt Vonnegut passed.
I don't read much fiction, but I loved Vonnegut. I even picked up his more recent stuff... Like Dylan, even when he was not at his peak, he was still worthwhile.
Sometime around 1986 he did a lecture at the University of Michigan. I somehow weaseled my way into the post-event reception. There was a receiving line to shake Vonnegut's hand. What was outta whack was how formal everyone was... the entire affair was stiff and from another century. But I knew that Vonnegut was insane. So I got in the receiving line, and when I got to him I took his hand and dramatically dropped to one knee... Looked him in the eye, and said something like "You're ideas have moved me profoundly..." It was silly, adolescent and absurd... but somehow true to what I was feeling. Without missing a beat he squeezed my hand and said, "I'm so glad." We had a moment.
Bye bye sir. Your peephole has closed.
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4 comments:
Goodbye Blue Monday
Lucky, lucky mud. I love this KV story, Bradely. Thanks for sharing it.
A tribute befitting this roguish prince of letters.
I caught a lecture of his in college, and, though I didn't get the chance to meet him, one piece of advice he gave the audience of aspiring writers has stuck with me: "When in doubt, add a villain."
I saw him speak at Cornell once (where he attended, but went of to enlist for WWII) and he started off his talk with: "Wherever I go, people keep asking me this question - "Does size matter?" - which got a big laugh. He was pretty funny from what I recall.
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