After a week-long, 2,700-mile drive from Arizona, we arrived back in Connecticut last Tuesday, on time to mark my 80th birthday on Thursday, the 10th. Considering that 600,000 Americans, most in my age-demographic, have died of Covid19 in the past eighteen months, this birthday really was one to celebrate — though I’m struggling to think of myself as an octogenarian. Exactly forty years ago, on the occasion of another milestone, I took a test to determine how long I was likely to live. It determined that my departure would occur at 77; so I’ve beat that forecast. Quitting cigarettes 25 years ago most likely helped.
During the drive, we stopped off for a day to see my sister in Cave Creek, Arizona, then pressed on to the San Luis valley in Colorado to overnight with an old friend and colleague, Tony Oswald, and his wife, Jan. Oswald had been a free-lance photographer who joined me on an assignment in Mexico in 1993 and another in 1996 — a five-week journey through the Alaskan wilderness. From his place, we drove to Denver to see Leslie’s cousin, and then spent three days crossing the Great Plains, the Midwest, and the Pennsylvania hills before finally pulling into our driveway in the early evening of the 8th. I mention this brief, unremarkable travelogue because it was unremarkable. Masks were required in some places, but for the most part life felt much as it did in the Before Time, which is to say, almost normal. We are in the final weeks of the pandemic, at least in this country. (Inshallah, as is is said in the Middle East — Allah willing). Sometimes i feel as I imagine GIs in World War Two must have right after Germany’s surrender and just before Japan’s: All over but the shouting.
Normal is a relative term. Political conditions in the U.S. are anything but, what with millions still believing that the 2020 election was stolen, that the insurrection of Jan. 6 was really a patriotic rally, that QAnon is a Delphic oracle of truth. We seem to be living through another kind of pandemic of irrationality. And still another — a surge in gun violence. I don’t see a vaccine for either one. Facts cannot cure people who insist on believing outrageous lies and conspiracy theories; nor will state and federal legislators pass meaningful controls on firearms (And even if they did, we would have to contend with a society in which drug gangs, extremist militias, and psychopaths view shooting people as the solution to their various problems).
And yet…And yet, I’m glad to be here, upright and breathing and looking forward to however many weeks, months, or years I have left.
I am reading your book, Hunter’s Moon and it is destroying me in the best way possible. Thank you for writing such layered and nuanced and sensitive characters. The stories stay with me, and I’m having that reading experience in which my real life is between the covers of the book. My sincere thanks.
Glad you made it through your eighth decade! 80 is the new 60, so you’re good to go. If you and Leslie happen to feel like a brief visit on Cape Cod, I’m here (except Tuesday and Wednesday).
Best,
John
It is a honor to know you
and Leslie
Happy Birthday
and we look forward
to your visit to our
book club next year
Your Friend from Tucson
Tom Barker
Just so enjoy your writing
skills
Congrats and best wishes,LT.
I find your observations puzzling. I know many conservatives, none of whom support Qanon, in any way. I know many liberals who support the Antifa and BLM radical movements, that resulted in the more 4 billion dollar damages, many lives lost and businesses and livelihoods destroyed. Many lives mainly black were lost in these peaceful gatherings aka riots.
While many of the Jan 6 th rioters are still held in jails, without bond, very few of the leftists rioter have been arrested or prosecuted.
I support an investigation into Jan 6 th but also one into who supported and bankrolled the Antifa BLM. Rioters.
One man arrested in one of the 3 riots in Chicago put a grenade in a cop car and blew it up.His charge was not even a felony.
No one has been arrested in the death of 2 young black men in Portland while police and fire were banned from the occupied zone.
I support more police in major cities to stop the 972 murders and 3510 shootings in Chicago. This is where the National Guard should be instead of 6 months awaiting a mythical insurrection in Washington. I think there was less than 3 guns found in the first “ insurrection” what happened Jan 6 th was awful and misguided, but lest we forget, the capital in Madison was occupied for a month, the federal buildings in Portland and Seattle and police stations were burned and many died nationwide.
Blacks are being killed at a rate of 2.3 per day in Chicago, while a silly mayor does nothing and her prosecutor refuses to prosecute.
The number 35 is the estimated death toll of children under 18 in Chicago last year.
It’s worse in Baltimore and other Dem run cities..
So let’s stop the killing.
Seal the border.
Stop pretending boys with penises should be in bathrooms and sports with women.
Spend money on veterans and clean up homeless drug havens of filth, by saving the mentally ill and forcing the rest out.
Arrest people with illegal guns, especially felons and put them n jail.
Let’s admit Trump was a little crazy but did not collude with Russia.
Let’s admit Joe has serious memory and decision making problems and Kamala is the answer to no one questions.
Critical race theory on 1619 project are intellectual garbage.
We destroyed ISIS, made NATO pay more, got peace deals with 3 nations and Israel, got many vets out of VA healthcare, called out China and Russia, achieved energy independence and reduced illegal migration
Let’s be honest.
Hating conservatives is no solution.
And cutting off Canadian and Alaskan oil and gas here while approving Russian North Sea pipeline is incomprehensible.
Peace
I am puzzled by your puzzlement. I, too, know conservatives who do not support Qanon or believe that the 2020 election was stolen. Likewise, I know liberals/progressives who do not agree that the police should be defunded, or who defend the people who trashed downtown Portland and other places. As for firearms violence, consider that up to 20 states with conservative governors or legislatures have passed or are considering passage of open carry laws that would allow anyone to walk around with a gun without having to undergo training, or to pass a gun safety test. Seems to me that this kind of irresponsible governing is more responsible for the rising number of gun deaths than Democrat politicians.
Thanks for this. Always welcome your comments on the state of things. I sent my album CD, Holy the Sound, to Patagonia. It will be tagging along in due course, I hope. So glad for your visits and safe return.
Hi Mr. Caputo,
Wishing you many future happy b-days. Back in the ’80s, I lived with your family while attending nursing school. Wonderful journeys and books. Say hello to Jeff/Marc for me. I have a story that Marc may have an interest in now or in the future, see below contact. I would look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Best, Christine