I'm starting to get excited about my career again.




Thank God.

A tribute to J.D. Salinger...two months too late

I know at this point it might be ancient history, but the great J.D. Salinger died on January 27th. Although he was 91, I have to say that I never would have expected this. Some people seem to hold a certain fascination, a sense that they a super-human and untouchable. For me, Salinger was definitely one of those people.

Since his death, I've thought about him often. The man who created the world of Catcher in the Rye and 'A Perfect Day for Bananafish' always seemed so unlike other authors because the stories he wrote were so incredibly real. While most people use writing to escape from the realities of their life, Salinger seemed to use his writings to embrace reality. And while his comments about the world are far from warm and fuzzy, he understood the point of writing them.

And I think the worst part was that his writing drove him into becoming a recluse. His writing led to discovery that forced him to realize that he did not want to be apart of the world about which he wrote. I have always heard that intelligence accompanies unhappiness, and I think that Salinger's life was the perfect example.

So long, Salinger. You taught me more about humanity than anyone else ever has. I hope there is more to come.