Sputnik launch and Jack Kerouac's ON THE ROAD

both turned fifty this year along with a slew of people all around the world. Somehow sputnik into outer space never will replace spudnut donuts down gullet in my book.

In the tradition of Jack London, Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau, and all the writer's listed in Walter Rideout's THE RADICAL NOVEL IN THE UNITED STATES 1900 - 1954, Kerouac 's ON THE ROAD, takes its place among these literary American lights.

Jack and Neal poppin' bennies , burning high octane straight eight cylinder Detroit wheels , while doing backflips , new trips , occasional eclipse , no lulls , no dips , just zip , zip, zip , out for kicks cross country joyride. Their American highway documented prior to the interstate highway system . Romping about visiiting comrades , chicks , and beatnik pals from NYC to San Francisco. An existential journey of souls in search for their own. Happy and sad in the same sentence. Jack Kerouac a Mama's boy , failed athelete , and in many ways a very melancholy outsider , afraid of success , and unable to adapt to the cultural change of postwar American values.

Jack Kerouac

Sadly , Kerouac died a scant eleven years after the publication of this novel , a sad man with a bad liver , dead at the age of forty seven in the year 1969.

On a happier note I was fortunate to attend a birthday party for a legion of folk turning the half century mark a few days ago. A local poem was recited to honor the occasion and I believe that it went something like this

Ogden Nash would have been much quicker /
Likewise Dorthy Parker her host and his liquor /
These eccentric folks who live near the water /
Prefer self accolades as perhaps they oughter

Somehow this poem seemed to last the better part of ten minutes in its delivery? The poet reading was blocked from my view and was of an unspecific gender , and though possesing a simian face, announced self as Veeela BeAach.

A fine time was had by all the half centurians, with the host Rudy Shakes-Moore retiring early as is his custom. Stating a desire to purchase a ticket to a balloon ride to Canada the very next day. We can offer an antidote to rote poetry of suspicious nature in the form of a signed , limited copy of Dylan Thomas COLLECTED POEMS.

Hats off to all those born in the great year 1957 , My Dear Mother and two brothers, John, Kim , and their families , and of course King George Steinbrenner and his vassal of New York baseball knaves , with a mere two games remaining at best for their 2007 season.

Go Tribe!

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