My Fondest Memories Never Happened

I've never had what I personally value as a big enough idea--a powerful enough insight or a stunning metaphor-that would let me cross over to literature or fiction. I can paint you a fun picture, provide an ornate frame, and mix colorful and promising images. I can tell stories. I have stories to tell--interesting,sometimes amusing stories-buried in opinions and not always dependably certain details. This I can write... and so I did. Lesser goals may be different, but not necessarily less satisfying for the author or the reader.

I've never had what I personally value as a big enough idea-a powerful enough insight or a stunning metaphor-that would let me cross over to literature or fiction. I can paint you a fun picture, provide an ornate frame, and mix colorful images, but after that I tend to edit myself down to the truth. Nonetheless, I can tell stories. I have stories to tell--interesting, sometimes amusing stories-buried in opinions and not always dependably certain details. This I can write...and so I did. Lesser goals may be different but not necessarily less satisfying for the author or the reader.

Jay E. Raphael has been a professional actor, director, teacher and university administrator. If the AARP is not just selling memberships it may not be too late to add "writer" to the list. He was born and raised in New York City and while he has not been a resident for some time, as his wife has often observed, he has never been certain how to find his way home in any other part of the country. His fondness for the city soot, his willingness to be abused by the old ladies stampeding down the aisles at Fairway, and a long held belief that academia breeds pernicious anemia define his world view.