When I made my trip to Russia in 2013, I wrote a novel. Yes, that was a very stupid way to pass my time when I had traveled to St. Petersburg with a beautiful young woman, but I had to deal with a severe moral crisis, and I did it in the way I know how.
My indecision about that relationship led me to examine the first 23 years of my life, and I suppose I learned a lot about why and how I trapped myself in a terrible situation. I had an unusual life between ages 3 and 23, I would say it was completely unique (as far as I know), and I suppose all of that may explain why I am always so timid about so many things. My mom and dad are gone, and I have never shared the details of my early childhood with anyone, not my best friends, not my ex-wives, not my children, so before I wrote this novella, none of the incidents existed except in my memory. Now at least they are on the record.
I will not claim to be James Joyce, but I can spin a yarn purty fair, and I have some pretty good ones to spin. I finished the work off in this week of illness by adding an epilogue.
There’s no Uncle Scoopy material except for my customary tip o’ the hat to Romy Schneider, so don’t expect any discussions of sex and nudity. It’s really kind of a sad story. There are also some laughs and there was a lot of fun in my life, but I always ended up getting humiliated in some way – physically, sexually, financially. After a few anecdotes, you’ll get the idea that they never seem to have a happy ending. I was like the Moll Flanders of Howdy Doody fans.
Anyway, those of you who basically know me because we’ve been sharing these blogs for decades may be interested to see what I was like in my years growing up in Catholic schools, which I never wanted to go to and my parents never wanted to send me to. I think you can guess that I have few kind words for the Catholic Church or its representatives.
Here is the link. (Blaise Sparrow is me.)
It’s a tight race for great event of the day between the Funhouse’s return or the Guardian’s first Spring Training game later today. Since it’s not 3:05 (gametime in Arizona) yet, I’ll go with the Funhouse.
Welcome back to proper Scoophood.
Sounds interesting! It’s certainly different than my public-school upbringing, and I’m always fascinated to hear of different lives and experiences. I just purchased it, from Amazon.ca (if you care to track stuff like that)
Nonsense indeed …
+1
You just got a sale from Spain! (or Germany, technically, but anyway…)
I’m a slow reader, though. Or, I should say, I’m a hard worker and I don’t have time for books until I get sick myself, but I’ll try to find some free time in my crazy 16-hour work days calendar to take a look at it. I love barely-disguised memoirs.
I am not sure I want to read it, but that’s just me. I think it is good you have done this. More people should set their stories out, even if they are not as unusual as yours is. It is good to know what real people were, and are, like.
As for me, I don’t have the energy or the organizational or storytelling talents.
I cannot do Kindle but would gladly purchase a different version. Please let me know when available!
I can read it for free with kindle unlimited. I will gladly purchase one if you decide to go the print on demand route through Amazon. I’m one of those who find ebooks a most unpleasant experience. I’ve been aware of Uncle Scoopy since ‘96 when I was eighteen.
Purchased. I need stuff to read on a 12 hour plane trip.
looking forward to comparing and contrasting my 13 years in Catholic School
I too will read it. I feel brave after watching 1923. I thought the nuns targeted some individuals for sport or because they didn’t conform fast enough. Once you were under the spotlight it was hard to exist. Others got special treatment for reasons they didn’t understand. A sort of grooming I guess.
Been following this blog for a long time. I was a member for a few early years and then CCC or whatever credit card co you were using would not let me renew. There was a way to sneak in the back door thru Dudes and Organs ,or something like that , but alas I didn’t do that. I appreciate your work and would miss it as part of my morning. I hope you enjoy your remaining trips around the sun and I know you don’t take them for granted .
Just purchased it. I will let you know what I think as if you really care!
BTW I have been with you so long that you were the one to invite me to invite only Gmail when it was just gearing up.