Write Now The Tales That Should Be Told

Editor’s Note: I don’t know why there are strikethroughs on some of the names and links here. I didn’t set it up that way. Will try to figure that out, but don’t have time to sift through now.

Several hours ago I asked a question on Facebook:

Reader feedback time. Are there any topics that you would like to see covered on the blog?

To which I received the following responses:

Stan Faryna Los Angeles, your favorite places, old haunts, what it’s like…

Gini Dietrich Who you are in real life?

Alan Kercinik Stuff you HAVE to read. I’m always looking to be exposed to writing people I like are reading.

I have answers for all of you but I am pressed for time and even though brevity and I are often at odds this will be short. However you can expect to see more posts about these topics coming down the pike.

Stan, I am a native of Los Angeles. Been living in the City of Angels for 43 years now in both the Valley and the West side. Some of my favorite places can be found up at the top of Reseda Boulevard, Griffith Park,  The Hollywood Bowl and Zuma Beach.

Sometimes you can find me eating at Nat’s Early Bite, Salsa and Beer or a number of the Sushi bars throughout the Valley. I love Trader Joes and Costco. When I am not working or with the family you can find me playing ball, hiking or hanging out with friends.

Gini, I am not really Dear Abby nor am I  Tom Friedman. I went to school with David Gregory, junior high and high school. If he saw me in person he would know me, but that is as close as I come to television journalism.

I really am a 43 year-old man who has beautiful children. I have hung out with Shonali, Soulati, Bill, Lori and Kaarina among others. If I had a hammer I would hammer in the morning, I would hammer in the evening and I would hammer out danger, but probably not warning. Some people just have to learn to look out.

I don’t believe in leaving the toilet seat down and think that the D.H. is an abomination. I still dream of playing center field for the Dodgers and power forward for the Lakers. I have a relative who works for an NFL team and have asked to be granted approval to play at least one down. I’ll go special teams, offense or defense. I just don’t care. How cool would it be to say that I played once.

Yes, I know that sounds crazy but you only live once. There was a time when I could bench 330…23 years ago. I am dumb enough to think that I can pull him out of the woodwork for one play and survive. If not I can still run like hell and if you put me on special teams I can still look good trying to tackle a guy, at least I think I can.

If you are going to dream, then dream big.

Alan, I read a ton of books. At the moment I am reading Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom and The Affair by Lee Child. Earlier this year I read all of The Hunger Games Trilogy. I’ll probably read The Hobbit again for no other reason than just because. I have read most of Malcom Gladwell’s books. I like finding books about words to read, something like Words That Make a Difference.

I read The Week, Newsweek and Time on a regular basis and a slew of other odds and ends.

My friend Jason wrote a post today that I will probably read and think about a few more times. Danny, Margie, The Rebbetzin’s Husband, Jens, Craig and a bunch of other bloggers will get tossed into the mix as will Letters of Note.

Write Now The Tales That Should Be Told

My time is almost up but before I go let me touch upon the headline. I am doing my best to write the tales that should be told now as well as those that must be told. Someone once said that I write like I am being chased by the hounds of hell and there is some truth to it.

I write at a fast and furious pace because these are the tales that should be told and who knows how much time I have got. My heart and my gut tell me at least another 60 years, but they have sometimes played me false.

All I know is that when you get as much pleasure out of this wacky writing gig as I do there is no reason not to do it as often as you can. Have fun. Sustain your effort. Just write. Stop thinking about it and just write.