Category Archives: Lessons

Utopolis

Posted on February 25, 2011 by sputterpub

  When I was 15 I spent some time with the school debate team. I wasn’t a member but my friends Jim and Tim were, and I helped them prepare for the competitions. The subject that year was nuclear power. It … Continue reading →

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Stupid Pets

Posted on February 24, 2011 by sputterpub

   When I was 5 they gave me the turtle. I don’t remember asking for one. I didn’t name it Myrtle (that was Mom: “Here. Meet Myrtle the Turtle”). I associate the creature’s presence with my terrible tonsillectomy but I also … Continue reading →

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Fruit Cocktail

Posted on February 22, 2011 by sputterpub

     When I was 20 I knew a guy with a weird job. He was a year ahead of me at Cal, part of the group of people I was most likely to socialize with, often around but not an … Continue reading →

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The Best Revenge

Posted on February 18, 2011 by sputterpub

     When I was 54 I was the object of an attempted assassination. It was an attack against my character and it failed, but it rocked me with confusion and pain. I was betrayed by an individual I trusted. Actually … Continue reading →

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Stinson 1966

Posted on February 14, 2011 by sputterpub

   When I was 16 I spent the first most uncomfortable night of my life. I went casual camping with Ellen and two other friends and got caught in the rain. My parents’ house in Larkspur was on the very lowest … Continue reading →

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Quicksilver

Posted on February 11, 2011 by sputterpub

    When I was 50 I concluded that I was on extra credit time. That was the year Danny graduated from high school and left home. The nest was empty except for me and the elderly dog (who would continue … Continue reading →

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S.I.R.

Posted on February 10, 2011 by sputterpub

 When I was 21 I got to experience perverse sexual jealousy. Nick’s band (not a serious band, but able then to pick up occasional gigs at high school dances and small venues) had a series of performances at the S.I.R. … Continue reading →

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Symptoms

Posted on February 9, 2011 by sputterpub

 When I was 43 I developed an eye twitch. It was a right eye problem, and the jumpy muscle was in the upper outside lid. It was an irregular irregularity, not occurring often and probably seldom noticed by others, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Lessons, Poetry | 1 Comment

Post College Tour

Posted on February 8, 2011 by sputterpub

  When I was 21 I went to Israel. I didn’t really mean to go, and I never meant to stay so long, but that’s how it is sometimes, especially right after college. I was traveling on a strict budget … Continue reading →

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Footlocker

Posted on February 7, 2011 by sputterpub

   When I was 17 my father gave me his footlocker. I’ve treasured it ever since. I took it with me to college, where it occasionally contained contraband but usually just my stuff. I stored it with my folks that year … Continue reading →

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