He was almost young enough to be my son in this photo. He joined the army to pay for his college education because there was no money in the family. They sent him down South — Biloxi, I think? — to learn the soldier stuff.
It was weird being a Jew in the South. Most of those people had never seen a Jew before. Some of them actually expected him to have horns and a tail. Anyway — according to legend — his job was to drive trucks carrying explosive nitroglycerine through bumpy mountain roads.
Strange to think of him like that. He was the most un-militaristic person I knew. So transparent, emotional and kid-like. But he did it to pay for law school. He became one of Milwaukee’s most well-liked lawyers… if you can imagine such a thing.
We found this photo together, on my penultimate visit to Milwaukee a couple years ago. We were in his dusty storage room and I kept sneezing. I spotted this picture, in the original wooden frame, and he let me have it. I never knew which visit to him would be my last, so I was always taking pictures and videos.
We took a picture together, holding up this photo. I’m glad we did. I still remember that moment.
Hi Rachel, I have so many things to tell you…let me put in order all…First, you may remember that I told you that I have an aunt in Seattle…So,two weeks ago I found out that she first moved to Wisconsin and spent seven years in Milwaukee with her first husband ( who was in the army ). She became a teacher at the university and moved to Seattle where she found another love…a lawyer that later became judge. I like to think that maybe my aunt and your uncle got to know each other…I will ask her in Christmas ( I will go to visit her).Here she is on a TV show:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsnML_m4qZw
I also would like to talk about how your ex become a writer…did he took any classes? What I love from the United States is that you can major in Writing…that is not going to happen in Spain in my whole life. I would like to write you more but now I am very busy with my finals… I will keep on reading your writings…HUGS!!!
Hola mi amigo de polvorosa California central! Eso sería interesante si se conocieran tu tía y mi tío. Why am I writing to you in Spanish? I will watch the YT video. Sounds fun!
As far as my ex-husband, he did study writing in University (one of the best – NYU), from one of the best: T.C. Boyle. If you don’t know who that is, look him up. But he has always written, ever since he was a child. He was fortunate to have that guidance, but really, anyone who wants to write just needs to keep writing, and sharing their writing with someone, and reading other people’s writing. We can talk about this A LOT, apart from this space here, but I recommend the following books, which have helped me: “Writing Down the Bones” and “Long Quiet Highway”, both by Natalie Goldberg. Also, a favorite book of mine, which I re-read all the time: “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”, by Shunryu Suzuki. A beautiful book! – and a great help for writing and performing, in my case.
My friend John Skipp (noted author and founder of “splatterpunk”) used to collaborate with this website, which is like an online writing school: http://storytellersunplugged.com/
Also, check out the blog by Derek Sivers (listed in my “Links”). I don’t know if you’ll find it helpful, but I love it, it always gets my mind going.
Do you like to perform? You could also find open mics where you can read your poetry or stories and get feedback from a live audience. Plus, it’s a lot of fun. That’s how I met my ex… ha ha.
Wow Rachel, what a bunch of information!!! I really appreciate all the books and links that you pass me. In my case, I love writing. I write since ever, but I am not a lonely writer, I need the feedback of other readers to keep on going.What you tell me confirm my suspects, the American system of Education is much better than Spanish, or at least, the American system works for me, what an incredible and interesting amount of majors and minors: gender, writing…I hope to stay here enough time to get advantage of this system.the only thing is the price for international students that is crazy but nevertheless I love this system…I hope to have time to read on of those books this Christmas,,,thank you very much again!!!!!!