I Bet You Say that to all the URLS,,,

SUBJECT: Radio Raheem Family Ties

Dear Rod: Ý

Without a doubt, one of Raheem's finest writings.Ý Simple,straighforward and very real life.Ý Sounds like his brother and sister-in-law are doing a great job. Ý

Thanks Raheem.

EC


From Margaret Carey, (No City Provided,) UK:

Kevin's mum has just been looking at his latest article - it's her first visit to any internet site and she thinks it's amazing. Especially seeing his photo on a computer screen. Just remember that for most of the world, it is still absolutely fantastic!

Margaret Carey


From Darhl S., Tampa Bay, FL, USA:

Subject: Things That Bother Me This Week

"1. Dealing with incompetence! As in finding out, after waiting two weeks, that the optometrist's office doesn't have my glasses because my Day Job insurance only covers exams! And ONLY FINDING OUT because I called in. No one made any effort to inform me."

Hope you had an I-to-I discussion with them about that. Not that it will do any good for any practioner that supports MisManaged Health Don't Care

"2. Budgetting. More money goes out, hither and yon, than comes in. What's wrong with this picture?

Sounds like you must still be making alimony payments to your ex "3. Unresponsive people who expect you to be the soul of courtesy, responsiveness and tact.

You??? You gotta be kidding! They obviously don't know you well. "4. Wanting to go out dancing."

So go. And have a picture taken for the g21. Label it "Rod, the dancing bear." Can't wait to see you in your tutu.

SUBJECT: The New Narrative

Spiralling in, closer to the truth....the truth will set you free?

You don't really qualify as a jaded dog;

a) you think too much;
b) you've achieved some standards, albiet YOU may think they are too low;
c) you're still receptive to learning some new tricks. IMHO. LOL

Maybe you're a cool cat? I submit:

a) cats bury(burn) their old shit;
b) cats are reclusive and wary of strangers;
c) uh, I wanted to say something smart about "pussy" here - use your imagination.

EC


From Virginia J., (No City Provided,) USA:

Dear Mr. Rod Amis

Thank you!

A web site for adults!!! I thought I'd never see it!

I've been on AOL for six months and yours is the first Web site I've seen that shoots straight! Keep it up, you dreamer!!!

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Virginia J.

From Darhl S, Tampa Bay, FL, USA:

Congrats Rod!

This week's issue of G21 is a real keeper. Even the Glass House was more up beat. :)

Methinks that instead of a class reunion, you ought to put together a non-class reunion. Then you and I and all those other weirdos you like could get together and have some fun.

I can understand the fear. I had it - even though my skin was the same color as everyone else's in high school. I didn't fit in. I was what is known today as a geek. (The writing muse didn't hit me until after high school.)

Take comfort: At least they remember you. I'm not sure anyone from my graduating class of 350 would remember me.

Bleh... my turn to be morbid. ROFLOL

dc


From Bruce H., San Antonia, TX, USA:

Rod,

I read the article http://www.generator21.net/mem40.html and though it might be written by the Bill Stevens with whom I once worked at Datapoint, and who later was involved in wireless networking at Apple. If you could be so kind, could you forward my query to him? I would like to reestablish contact with him. Regards, Bruce H.


ROD RESPONDS: Bruce, I'm sorry to inform you that it's not the same Bill Stevens. I hope you'll keep reading his articles here, though.


From Pam C., (No City Provided,) West Virginia, USA:

I certainly hope I have not become one of those "email address you dread to see" when you check your inbox. But did I ever mention that I carry the nickname "Pesky Pam" or is that "Persistent Pam"? I forget!

But you opened the door...

You were on my mind today as I continue my countdown to the Big R and I decided to check out your latest "Glass House", which by the way, has become an added favorite. I was equally shocked and surprised to discover your own personal note to me in your latest installment. Was that a test to see if I would still "read up on you"? Just kidding!

First, I want to thank you for the linear version that allowed for plainspeak. Had any of it been in your usual fashion, I probably would have finally "gotten it" six months from now. There's a lot to be said for simple.

Secondly, I have no delusions of the Rod then and the Rod now, even the jaded dog. I've always known that at the heart of both people is The Writer. I kept a particular poem you wrote because it spoke to me and touched me very deeply.

I'm not real sure I understand the fear aspect of your dialogue. What (or who) exactly were you afraid of back then? If I take the time to think about it, I can come up with a few ideas of my own. Or I can think back to some of the fears I had and wonder if you were experiencing the same. But I would like to hear what they were--pointblank--from you.

I'd like to go back to the part about "you and he". Quite frankly, I do not see much difference between the two of you. From where I stand, both are still the deep, dark, complex thinkers. You have always allowed people to see only what you wanted them to see. I think there were probably one handful of folks who really had any insight to the person within, and I'm sure, again, that amount was closely regulated by you. I think, on one hand, you felt like to had to be like everyone else in order to be accepted, and on the other hand, you were trying to be the individual that you were, and still are. That was quite a tightrope, under any circumstances.

Rod, it's been 30 years and a lot of time has passed for all of us. But the bottom line is that we all were shaped by our high school days. If you could go back and change one thing about that time, what would it be? And if you had the power then to change whatever you think needed to be different, how would that have impacted your life now? Would the course of your life be truly changed? I'm not so sure.

I think if you took a poll, you would find that all of us were afraid on a daily basis. Afraid that we wouldn't measure up. Afraid that our true feelings would be discovered. Afraid to be different from the pack. Afraid that one day we would wake up and everyone around us would realize that we were really frauds. Afraid that your best friend today wouldn't be your best friend tomorrow. Afraid that we would have to grow up to be responsible people with direction and purpose, and we had no clue how to get from where we were to where we were going.

Life has shaped and changed us all. Hopefully we are all a little older and wiser and truer to ourselves. Hopefully, we have all seen that our actions have consequences, that words can hurt and scar, and that it's really necessary that we don't take ourselves so seriously.

The reunion is nothing more than two days in the life. A time to get together with old friends and talk about old times, good and/or bad. A person has the opportunity to haul all the old baggage with them when they go, or they can go empty handed and maybe be amazed with what they bring back.

I just wish you didn't have any preconceived scenarios about what will or won't happen. I can't stand in your shoes and know what it felt like to be slighted as a black person in a primarily white school. But I have had my own ghosts and people that hurt me and faced with these reunions, I always had the choice to talk with them or not. Some I did and some I didn't. Some of the people didn't bother to go and that was just fine with me.

I am very interested in hearing your specific fears. But if I have given you the impression that I expect the exact Rod Amis I remember to come walking through the door, I certainly didn't mean to. I just don't think anyone has that expectation, and if they do, they definitely need a reality check. I was just hoping for the opportunity to see you again and learn a little more about you. And maybe the opportunity to have you fill in some of those "missing pages"...

Pam


From Ed C., Pontiac, MI, USA:

Dear Rod:

Hate to pick at Rakesh, but Basmati is a variety of rice, much as "Kentucky" bluegrass and "Illinois" fescue are varieties of grass(actually rice IS a grass) - but a lot of both those seed types are grown in other states.

So, if farmers in Louisiana and Texas grow Basmati rice seed and sell it as Basmati, I don't see how they are "pirating", unless they are selling it as Indian Basmati. Can "Concord" grapes can only be grown in Concord, New York(where the variety was developed) or can "Valencia" oranges only be grown in Valencia, California? Was the Neem being patented by WC GRACE? Or was it a man-made copy, like say Vanillin(artificial vanilla), or pyrethrins(naturally in certain flowers, now man-made as a safe,organic insecticide for houseplants and home gardens). Just my thoughts.

EC

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From Vivian L., (No City or Country Provided):

Hi,

I discovered a cool Web Site : " http://www.playigames.com ", Wow !! The idea is very good, I like it very much ! You must go and have a look there if you have time !

Best Regards,
Vivian Li

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