The Living Rockumentary

Been absent from the Rockumentary awhile now, I realize. Many days went by where we just didn't bother to plug the computer back in after the party- and when we did, it was hard to find the time to do much more then just read all you guyz'es posts. Not much to report either. The new job takes me away from things for most of the day. It's going well and I'm enjoying it but I'm way out in South Deerfield all day, come home to sup with the fam, do the dishes, play with Hannah until her bedtime and then it's already 8 pm. That's early for a coke fiend like Henning but for a workin' stiff like yours truly who's getting up at 6:20, well, THAT IS ANOTHER MATTER ENTIRELY!

One tidbit to mention for anyone who might know her. Former Northamptonite Alison Smith (known to her friends as "Smitty,") just had her first book published this month, called "Name All The Animals." It's a "memoir" (sorry to get all Gallic on y'all but us insufferable English Major types have to be specific with these defining characteristics- just as a music snob wouldn't say "symphony" when they really mean "sonata") of three years of her adolescence in which she deals with the death of her older brother, her family's fervent Catholicism and her first true love (with- gasp!- ANOTHER GIRL).

Although I've grown accustomed to the experience of things like hearing breakup songs written by friends of mine that are rooted in truth, knowing so many artists, it is quite something else to read an acquaintance's memoir filled with details about their first period, sexual escapades, painfully personal ruminations on the loss of a close relative, etc. Maybe more so because Smitty and I weren't buddies when she lived here but merely share close friends in common. Either way, I especially enjoyed the "character" of her father.

Sorry to drop off a cliff at this very moment but must go. Bye.