Comments on: In Search of J.D. Salinger, Part Two http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/ a literary project Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:59:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Peter Bowden http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8287 Peter Bowden Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:43:58 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8287 I just read the comments and have to ask Jeffery if he is Jeff C. who lived up the road from the Bakers. I recall one summer afternoon shooting arrows from Jeff's bow straight up into the air and then running like heck for the porch when we realized it would be coming down on us at any moment. Too bad my mom got MS and we had to move to Arizona in '58. I have fond memories of Cornish. I just read the comments and have to ask Jeffery if he is Jeff C. who lived up the road from the Bakers. I recall one summer afternoon shooting arrows from Jeff’s bow straight up into the air and then running like heck for the porch when we realized it would be coming down on us at any moment. Too bad my mom got MS and we had to move to Arizona in ‘58. I have fond memories of Cornish.

]]> By: Peter Bowden http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8286 Peter Bowden Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:55:04 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8286 I never knew until this day that I was a neighbor of J. D. Salinger. Your description of your drive from Windsor (where I was born in 1951) took me through the neighborhood I lived in for my first eight years. Our family lived in the small house just past the "three-story slat-shingled mansion". That road was part of our rural playground. I can only wonder if one of the cars that sent to the shoulder away from our games in the road was Salinger passing by. I know exactly where his driveway is from your description...it is one of the few places in or neighborhood that we were discouraged from exploring...perhaps now I know why. I never knew until this day that I was a neighbor of J. D. Salinger. Your description of your drive from Windsor (where I was born in 1951) took me through the neighborhood I lived in for my first eight years. Our family lived in the small house just past the “three-story slat-shingled mansion”. That road was part of our rural playground. I can only wonder if one of the cars that sent to the shoulder away from our games in the road was Salinger passing by. I know exactly where his driveway is from your description…it is one of the few places in or neighborhood that we were discouraged from exploring…perhaps now I know why.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8285 Kevin Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:13:35 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8285 That's just the way it is. Some things will never change. That's just the way it is. But don't you believe them. RIP JDS. As the great, daring US citizens die, so will this 'free' country... That’s just the way it is. Some things will never change. That’s just the way it is. But don’t you believe them. RIP JDS. As the great, daring US citizens die, so will this ‘free’ country…

]]> By: Jake http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8284 Jake Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:13:08 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8284 John, this is an impressively written entry. I am not a huge fan of Salinger and just happened to be curious about where he lived in seclusion and happened upon your post. Salinger's island in this world I guess. Not sure why am so touched by your experience but you are obviously a huge fan of Catcher in the Rye and there is something to be said when passion like that drives us to take such detours in life, intentional or not. If that is your Salinger story, its a good one that I am sure a lot of people would appreciate...and you didn't even meet the guy! Cheers, Jake John, this is an impressively written entry. I am not a huge fan of Salinger and just happened to be curious about where he lived in seclusion and happened upon your post.

Salinger’s island in this world I guess.

Not sure why am so touched by your experience but you are obviously a huge fan of Catcher in the Rye and there is something to be said when passion like that drives us to take such detours in life, intentional or not.

If that is your Salinger story, its a good one that I am sure a lot of people would appreciate…and you didn’t even meet the guy!

Cheers,

Jake

]]> By: butch huff http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8269 butch huff Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:32:57 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8269 I actually had a four letter correspondence with Mr. Salinger many years ago. I can tell you if you simply mail your letters to Cornish, NH and do not use a return address, he will get it. Whether you get an answer or not is up to you. If you interest him, you might get lucky. He told me in one of his letters that one of the most interesting letters he ever received was from someone working the midnight shift in a pickle factory while reading his work. I can tell you he is into Eastern religion; Buddhism and Hinduism in particular. An old yogi named Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is one of his favorites. Good luck, the letters and the copy of Catcher he signed for me are still my most prized possessions, and no, they're not for sale. I actually had a four letter correspondence with Mr. Salinger many years ago. I can tell you if you simply mail your letters to Cornish, NH and do not use a return address, he will get it. Whether you get an answer or not is up to you. If you interest him, you might get lucky. He told me in one of his letters that one of the most interesting letters he ever received was from someone working the midnight shift in a pickle factory while reading his work. I can tell you he is into Eastern religion; Buddhism and Hinduism in particular. An old yogi named Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj is one of his favorites. Good luck, the letters and the copy of Catcher he signed for me are still my most prized possessions, and no, they’re not for sale.

]]> By: steve http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8256 steve Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:03:44 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8256 Your wife was right; you are a dumbass. If you respect Salinger's writing, respect his wishes and stay off his lawn. It is private property! Looking in someone's mailbox is a federal offense, and an digusting invasion of privacy. Did you ever think that maybe Salinger became a recluse to escape the soul-sullying gazes of slack-jawed gawkers and picknicking tourists like yourself. The man is ninety years old and doesn't give a rip who you are or how much you liked Catcher;he doesn't want or need any new disciples. Leave him in peace. Your wife was right; you are a dumbass. If you respect Salinger’s writing, respect his wishes and stay off his lawn. It is private property! Looking in someone’s mailbox is a federal offense, and an digusting invasion of privacy. Did you ever think that maybe Salinger became a recluse to escape the soul-sullying gazes of slack-jawed gawkers and picknicking tourists like yourself. The man is ninety years old and doesn’t give a rip who you are or how much you liked Catcher;he doesn’t want or need any new disciples. Leave him in peace.

]]> By: Mikel http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8251 Mikel Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:51:50 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8251 Too bad Salinger is such a recluse. In the 90's I painted a copy of the Nine Stories edition that had the nine story titles set inside nine squares like a tic-tac-toe grid. If anyone wants to see it they can write me at the above website. It shows the highpoint or climactic moment of each story in each respective square. ~Mikel Too bad Salinger is such a recluse. In the 90’s I painted a copy of the Nine Stories edition that had the nine story titles set inside nine squares like a tic-tac-toe grid. If anyone wants to see it they can write me at the above website. It shows the highpoint or climactic moment of each story in each respective square. ~Mikel

]]> By: K U http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8237 K U Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:28:55 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8237 almost everyone in this great land of ours is obsessed with posession, including a degree of posession of your heroes. That is, this person obviously sought out privacy, and yet you felt obliged to go and intrude on it. Now everyone wants to own a piece of Michael Jackson's "memory". Enjoy the creative works that you like and try not to stalk people who make them. Remember the quote from Oscar Wilde that great works are created by boring people, because everything interesting goes into their art. He wasn't very consistent though, but that's another story. almost everyone in this great land of ours is obsessed with posession, including a degree of posession of your heroes. That is, this person obviously sought out privacy, and yet you felt obliged to go and intrude on it. Now everyone wants to own a piece of Michael Jackson’s “memory”. Enjoy the creative works that you like and try not to stalk people who make them. Remember the quote from Oscar Wilde that great works are created by boring people, because everything interesting goes into their art. He wasn’t very consistent though, but that’s another story.

]]> By: frank http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8235 frank Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:58:16 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8235 Very cool, John. Thanks for sharing this. Very cool, John. Thanks for sharing this.

]]> By: John http://www.absolutegentleman.com/2008/08/27/in-search-of-jd-salinger-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8234 John Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:21:49 +0000 http://www.absolutegentleman.com/?p=161#comment-8234 I recently went on MY voyage for "Jerry" and walked all the way up that driveway. I was standing in his front yard for about a half hour debating whether it was his house or not. Where was the huge fence, where was the mailbox with the name, almost too commonly printed on it, 'SALINGER'? I wasn't sure until a woman drove up the driveway. I said, "i'm sorry i'm lost. do you know what house number this is?" Bare in mind i asked this knowing his house number to be 301. She responded, "Well.. what are you looking for?" To which i admitted to her, "3-0-1." A smile crept across her face and said i needed to leave or she would have to call the police. I complied and left never knowing for sure if this was his house. But now after seeing these photos, I know that i was, indeed, standing not more than 20 yards from those windows, staring, waiting for his face to glare out at me. Waiting for him to yell at me to leave. But i guess why would he - he had a housekeeper to do it for him. A true recluse. I recently went on MY voyage for “Jerry” and walked all the way up that driveway. I was standing in his front yard for about a half hour debating whether it was his house or not. Where was the huge fence, where was the mailbox with the name, almost too commonly printed on it, ‘SALINGER’? I wasn’t sure until a woman drove up the driveway. I said, “i’m sorry i’m lost. do you know what house number this is?” Bare in mind i asked this knowing his house number to be 301. She responded, “Well.. what are you looking for?” To which i admitted to her, “3-0-1.” A smile crept across her face and said i needed to leave or she would have to call the police. I complied and left never knowing for sure if this was his house. But now after seeing these photos, I know that i was, indeed, standing not more than 20 yards from those windows, staring, waiting for his face to glare out at me. Waiting for him to yell at me to leave. But i guess why would he – he had a housekeeper to do it for him. A true recluse.

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