I enjoyed this immensely, it was nice to peer inside your mind and learn how you’ve been doing these past few months. I really heard your personal voice throughout the essay as well as learned some new things (like that your son’s handwriting looks just like yours!). I hope you’ll share the piece from the magazine in Japan when it’s available. - Shazzy
Wait. So I really did feel someone peering inside my mind… Yipes! Hopefully my dirty laundry was locked in my cerebellum. The handwriting in my little book does not really reflect my true penmanship. I want you to know I wrote those notes under duress while jumping from a moving train. My normal handwriting is eggzellent. I got a proof from New Food Industry a few weeks ago but I haven't seen the finished product. We'll see. Thanks for your kind words!
Hey Rube...it's been a while, and over here too. Day before yesterday I was saying to myself, 'M'self, you havent heard hide nor hail from ole Rube. You should drop him a line.' The thing I was missing was your (to me) - these things are personal, I know - humour. I was to put some adjectives in there, but I can't think of the right ones right now. But I do remember something Laurie Anderson once said, 'If you can't talk about it, point to it.' So, here's the pointer:
"I [LRB reporter at the RNC in Milwaukee] spotted a man who was selling The Collected Poems of
Donald J. Trump. ‘It’s a breakthrough in literary development,’ he said, ‘and it’s fun to have out when
Funny, I keep thinking about writing to you too. The reasons for not getting around to it can possibly be gleaned from this little essay. I needed to google "LRB" in order to unravel your message. I had no idea you worked for the London Review of Books! I am very impressed, and would you mind doing a piece about the Ruben Bix's Substack please? "Obscure Literary Genius Finds a Home on the Internet," might be a headline worth contemplating. The Trump news... oh, man. I am just so tired of hearing about that guy no matter what form his visage takes. I guess his book must've been printed with metallic gold ink...?
After I'd sent the post I felt bad for not having asked about the K (and RB and T). Wanting to send you a linguistic bottle of Jim Beam Single Barrel, and a 'Courage!, my friend; spring cannot be cancelled'.
Ruben, this is a great piece. It was so good hearing your voice/prose in first person, relating stories and observations from your real life experience. Adding images of your journal entries was a brilliant touch. Loved your insights about your mother in law, and the way the piece came to a close, meeting the guy who publishes your impressions of Tokyo in the New Food Industry journal. Ha! There is wisdom , humor, pathos, humility, and it’s a delight to read!
I really appreciate hearing your kind words especially since this piece gave me a lot of trouble and took more hours to write than many of my stories. I'd burned through half a dozen false starts until, yesterday, I decided to go back to an earlier version I'd rejected and simply polish it a little. Anyway, thank you. Adding the scans of my notebook was pure desperation.
I have been receiving only a few of my substack emails these days, for unknown reasons, so I didn't see this until today when I visited the website. Oddly though, yesterday I was thinking that it had been a while since you posted anything. Also I thought about your wife though I know of her only from random references. I'm so sorry to hear about the cancer and I hope the therapy lives up to expectations. It's strange to read in the comments that this letter gave you trouble because it seems to flow so naturally. I enjoyed reading about your travels and everyday experiences. Even when describing such things your writing is captivating and your unique voice comes though. I think it's normal that you don't feel like writing considering all that's been going on. I haven't posted in several weeks but I really have no excuse besides laziness and lack of inspiration. Looking forward to your next piece, whatever form it takes, and I hope getting up early does the trick.
I can't find the typo, but thank you. My wife is doing better of late so I am optimistic. Wait, I think I see it. Goward is one of my favorite portmanteaus!
I enjoyed this immensely, it was nice to peer inside your mind and learn how you’ve been doing these past few months. I really heard your personal voice throughout the essay as well as learned some new things (like that your son’s handwriting looks just like yours!). I hope you’ll share the piece from the magazine in Japan when it’s available. - Shazzy
Wait. So I really did feel someone peering inside my mind… Yipes! Hopefully my dirty laundry was locked in my cerebellum. The handwriting in my little book does not really reflect my true penmanship. I want you to know I wrote those notes under duress while jumping from a moving train. My normal handwriting is eggzellent. I got a proof from New Food Industry a few weeks ago but I haven't seen the finished product. We'll see. Thanks for your kind words!
I love this so much! It gave me pause for thought, flashbacks to Japan, and story ideas...
I hate to think that my work causes flashbacks. Maybe I need a warning label. I hope I don't need a lawyer. (And thanks for the kind words.)
Hey Rube...it's been a while, and over here too. Day before yesterday I was saying to myself, 'M'self, you havent heard hide nor hail from ole Rube. You should drop him a line.' The thing I was missing was your (to me) - these things are personal, I know - humour. I was to put some adjectives in there, but I can't think of the right ones right now. But I do remember something Laurie Anderson once said, 'If you can't talk about it, point to it.' So, here's the pointer:
"I [LRB reporter at the RNC in Milwaukee] spotted a man who was selling The Collected Poems of
Donald J. Trump. ‘It’s a breakthrough in literary development,’ he said, ‘and it’s fun to have out when
people come over.’ I pondered on this.
Maybe I needed new friends."
Q: were you at the RNC in Milwaukee?
C-man
Funny, I keep thinking about writing to you too. The reasons for not getting around to it can possibly be gleaned from this little essay. I needed to google "LRB" in order to unravel your message. I had no idea you worked for the London Review of Books! I am very impressed, and would you mind doing a piece about the Ruben Bix's Substack please? "Obscure Literary Genius Finds a Home on the Internet," might be a headline worth contemplating. The Trump news... oh, man. I am just so tired of hearing about that guy no matter what form his visage takes. I guess his book must've been printed with metallic gold ink...?
After I'd sent the post I felt bad for not having asked about the K (and RB and T). Wanting to send you a linguistic bottle of Jim Beam Single Barrel, and a 'Courage!, my friend; spring cannot be cancelled'.
XC
I (Freudian?) slipped a 'the': should have said "I [the LRB reporter...]
I quit drinking whisky. I'm only drinking wine but getting bored of wine. I will write soon.
Ruben, this is a great piece. It was so good hearing your voice/prose in first person, relating stories and observations from your real life experience. Adding images of your journal entries was a brilliant touch. Loved your insights about your mother in law, and the way the piece came to a close, meeting the guy who publishes your impressions of Tokyo in the New Food Industry journal. Ha! There is wisdom , humor, pathos, humility, and it’s a delight to read!
I really appreciate hearing your kind words especially since this piece gave me a lot of trouble and took more hours to write than many of my stories. I'd burned through half a dozen false starts until, yesterday, I decided to go back to an earlier version I'd rejected and simply polish it a little. Anyway, thank you. Adding the scans of my notebook was pure desperation.
Hi Ruben, thank you for this letter from far away. I hope to read your ten impression from Japon soon! M. From Paris.
Merci bien. And I hope you survived the Olympics!
I have been receiving only a few of my substack emails these days, for unknown reasons, so I didn't see this until today when I visited the website. Oddly though, yesterday I was thinking that it had been a while since you posted anything. Also I thought about your wife though I know of her only from random references. I'm so sorry to hear about the cancer and I hope the therapy lives up to expectations. It's strange to read in the comments that this letter gave you trouble because it seems to flow so naturally. I enjoyed reading about your travels and everyday experiences. Even when describing such things your writing is captivating and your unique voice comes though. I think it's normal that you don't feel like writing considering all that's been going on. I haven't posted in several weeks but I really have no excuse besides laziness and lack of inspiration. Looking forward to your next piece, whatever form it takes, and I hope getting up early does the trick.
Such a super-kind comment. Thank you. I appreciate it a lot.
Really liked this. I am fond of memoir, “general musing”, essay. Look gorward to reading more of your words … and best wishes to your wife.
Sorry for the typo!
I can't find the typo, but thank you. My wife is doing better of late so I am optimistic. Wait, I think I see it. Goward is one of my favorite portmanteaus!