This is a memoir of sorts. Or for my safety, think of it as a Roman à clef, just to keep the libel police at bay.
I am weak-willed, no doubt about it. An addiction to addictions is also my curse; is meta-addiction even a word? If not, it ought to be. What you'll find here comes from one addicted to scribbling, while often scribbling about scribbling as some sort of justification.
It's reported that the following conversation once took place between Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley:
Shelley: "What makes you write?"And then there's that wonderful speech from Oscar Wilde to the audience of the opening night performance of his Lady Windermere's Fan,
Byron: "My inability to prevent it."
"Ladies and gentlemen: I have enjoyed this evening immensely. The actors have given us a charming rendering of a delightful play, and your appreciation has been most intelligent. I congratulate you on the great success of your performance, which persuades me that you think almost as highly of the play as I do myself."Anyone who reads hubris into Oscar's comment is missing the point. And that takes us back to Byron again.
This is an accounting of the life of an Iowa rebel. It seeks neither to defend nor explain but merely to describe. If it leaves you shaking your head, then its purpose has been served. If it makes you want to read Babbitt, then again its purpose has been served. But most especially, if titters come on from time to time for no apparent reason, then its purpose has indeed been served.
I suppose I should offer a few words concerning the authenticity of what follows. These events, yet to be described, really did happen and to real people. But, sensitive person that I am, various names, places and times have been slightly disguised.
But then again, none of it is true, if that makes any never-mind to you. Don’t come knocking at my door if you think you recognize yourself in the following tales. I’ll just pretend you’re a Jehovah’s Witness and turn you away like all other cutpurse peddlers loitering on the stoop.
I am, like Shakespeare's Glendower, still raising spirits from the vasty deep. I hope you enjoy these tales as much as I've had spinning them. Or living them!
Happy reading...
Next episode: First Steps
