That's delightful.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kenneth Wolman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 10:28 AM
Subject: At Harvey Matusow's, Christmas 1965
> Christmas Party
> --------------------
>
> My friend is screwing Matusow's babysitter,
> so we all get invited to the Christmas party.
>
> Lily Tomlin, a few years from fame,
> does living-room standup.
>
> Everyone gets real drunk on some of
> the best alcohol you'll never drink.
>
> The catered food is stupendous but
> by then who is sober enough to remember?
>
> Late at night, I go into the bedroom to
> retrieve my coat, and there sits
> Matusow sharing a joint with Norman Mailer.
>
> Mailer looks up at me and glares.
> Looks but doesn't have to say
> "Knock before you walk in, schmuck."
> Excuse me, gentlemen, I say,
> grab my coat, leave.
> Mailer's pot-fueled stare has burned a hole
> in the back.
> Which way is the IRT Express
> back to the Bronx and the usual oblivion?
>
> KTW/11-10-07
>
> (Harvey Matusow was a former Communist, later known to have been in the
> employ of the FBI. He was an informer to HUAC, and attempted to sell
> out Pete Seeger among others. Seeger, a better man than I am, forgave
> Matusow. Wikipedia has a full bio which may even be accurate. Even in
> 1965 when I met Matusow I knew his reputation as a dirtbag but he was a
> nice guy in person and gave a great party. Norman Mailer we know about.)
>
> --
> ------------------
> Kenneth Wolman rainermaria.typepad.com
>
> "I agree with the Chekhov character who, when in a crisis, he is
> reminded that 'this, too, shall pass,' responds 'Nothing
> passes.'"--Philip Roth
>
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