I’ve been working on a short story this week (and doing lots of spring farm chores, like garden prep and cutting grass), so the following will be brief. I’m hoping Esquire will not sue me for ripping off their format. I steal with love, guys.
JOHN HICKS
PILGRIM AND WAYFARER, 49, TUSCUMBIA, ALABAMA
>It’s never too late.
>When you get the message, hang up the phone.
>If you offer Bob Johnson a french fry, he will eat it.
>Few things are more fun than playing in a band with people you like and respect.
>Writing is time travel.
>I wanted to be a writer because I was lucky enough to have teachers who made it seem like an honorable, interesting vocation.
>The first thing I ever read that marked me was Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener.” It was a high-school English assignment.
>You can’t learn anything you don’t want to know.
>Fear is a killer. So is despair.
>You can be dead and not know it.
>The human capacity for self-delusion is staggering.
>I’m never the smartest one in the room. But that’s the person I
want to meet.
>Upon leaving this relatively brief existence, we should all be able
to say, “I had a good time.” And mean it.
>You think you’ve got it tough? Wrong. There are billions of
people on this planet who would trade places with you in a second.
>Andy Warhol said the most important thing is work. He was
correct.
>I personally know many people I think are geniuses. Some of
them are happy, and some of them are not.
>Nobody likes a suck-up. But you should never be afraid to offer
praise and encouragement.
>Love is composed of about a million different things.
>Most people will forgive you for hurting them if you sincerely
ask for forgiveness and change your behavior.
>Cruelty is a sure sign of fear, ignorance or both.
>The other night I dreamed about someone I haven’t seen in 25
years. I love it when that happens.
>There is always enough time to do everything you really need to
do. Calm down.
>People who assume I share their beliefs or prejudices annoy the
hell out of me.
>Older isn’t necessarily wiser. It works both ways.
>Be lucky. If you can’t be lucky, be someone else. Reinvent,
reboot. Whatever it takes.
>Don’t be a jerk.
Well said Bro…give Bob a french fry for me. Wish I was there.
John Hicks knocks another one out of the park. And that Bob Johnson sure has “french fry eyes.”
f course, my favorite is “the human capacity for self-delusion is staggering.” Hey, I didn’t know you had met my sister-in-law.
Sophia Sekhon Fugate
Book writer, 6 1/4
It’s never too late to play.
When you get up, play.
If you offer to love on my cat Sadie, she will purr.
Few things there are to do that will make you crazy happy.
I wanted to do everything because I wanted to.
You can’t learn how to fly. I tried.
Fear is never gone.
You can be dead in a battle and that’s sad.
The human capacity for fun is the smartest thing.
I’m never scared of anything except thunder.
Upon leaving, we will move to a house with a screened-in porch.
You think I’m great to have around. I am.
Andy Warhol. Who is that?
I personally know how to jump 201 times on the pogostick.
Nobody likes dirty jobs like handling poop.
Love is always in the air.
Most people think I’m crazy.
Cruelty is not nice.
The other night we had hail.
There is always love in the air. I already told you this.
People who assume I’m great definitely love me.
Older ladies are the best because they’re smart
Be lucky about what you can do.
Don’t worry if you can’t do something the first time.
These are my answers, Mr. John. Thank you for listening.
Yes, Sophia, you are great to have around!
Sophia, I’ve added you to the “happy genius” list.
Brilliant, both of you–John and Sophia. There’s a big smile on my face right now.
>Fear is a killer. So is despair.
My milieu.
>I’m never the smartest one in the room. But that’s the person I
want to meet.
You have. (And the hungriest.)
OK, John. At the risk of tearing a hole in the time-space continuum, I’m going to paste my reply-to your reply-to my piece right here, where it belongs:
Thanks, John. Back at you — I really enjoyed the “learnings” in your latest piece. (This will have to stand in for the comment I was going to make there.)
By the way — cool dog. His eyes seem to give off a vibe that’s a mix of quiet dignity and outlaw-hellion.
“It’s never too late.” Unless it is.