mra

January 1, 1997

In my youth, I was a graduate student in literature, and assumed that my path in life would be profoundly influenced by Henry James, Charles Dickens, Walt Whitman, and Herman Melville. And others.

So now I am a whole lot older. My 13 year old son spends hours writing Kevin Shapiro stories and my cat is named Borgel, causing a rift in our previously warm relationship with the veterinarian. I just thought you should know.

With affection, JR and family

Borgel is a traditional name for cats, like Puss, Tom, Moggy, and Shlomo or Shloime. I submit it has nothing to do with me, or my work. Probably your kid is heavy into Joseph Conrad, and you do him an injustice.