Tuesdays with Farrar
Years ago, I read Mitch Albom’s famed Tuesdays with Morrie, a nonfictional account of Albom’s conversations with an aging Morrie Schwartz. Through these conversations Albom was taught about life, love, and how to live.
Fast-forward to my Tuesdays, Wednesdays, late-night emails, and early-morning monologues with writer Jon Farrar. During one of our first conversations nearly five years ago when I joined the NEBRASKAland staff, I voiced an opinion. Then another. Then another. Abruptly, Farrar asked me how old I was. “30,” I answered.
“You’re only 30? Then why the hell am I listening to you?”
He is no Morrie Schwartz. If he had been, Albom would have sold a lot more than 14 million copies of his book.
What one does receive with Jon Farrar, however, is his opinions on a myriad of topics including, but not limited to, Damascus gun barrels, skinks, Joyce Carol Oates, button-down shirts, abridged versions of novels, the true size of Greenland, Michael Jackson, coots, 1920′s women’s lingerie, tennis shoes, microwaves, exercising, Peter Lik, and anything that has happened after 1950.
It is well worth spending a few minutes walking into his office, asking him an obscure question about, say, Bugs Bunny, and pressing Record on the audio device.
If only we could find a way to get more of his thoughts in NEBRASKAland. It may not make the world a better place, but definitely a more captivating one.
What’s obscure about Bugs Bunny?????????
Daryl B.
So Daryl, did you know that Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny for 48 years, attended Lincoln High School? That one would be in Portland, Oregon, though. I’m still impressed you fished for chubs when you were a kid. So why didn’t you eat them? Back in the good old days we used “sunfish” big enough to fillet for flathead bait on setlines. But you know all about that stuff. Still wanting to hear about carp teeth, too.
Tell me the one again about walking to school in barbed-wire pants because that’s how tough you were…
Sorry Jon. We did not eat the chubs because we used them as bait for even bigger and better fish.
Catching the chubs was a darned lot of fun though!
I did mention some things about carp teeth here, http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/blogs/2011/06/carp/ .
Mel Blanc was a great American!!!! Looney Tunes are still the best cartoons ever, and yes, I still watch ‘em every chance I get (even have some of them on DVD’s!)
Daryl B.
Daryl – Great photo of carp teeth. However, I’m a bit disappointed you used it on your blog rather than in the magazine as I think you sort of, maybe, promised, or I wanted to believe I heard you promise. We’ll give you another chance and more room for words. Interesting stuff. Also on the possible list is whatever those “ear bone” dealies are in drum.
I’ll do it Jon! Don’t be afraid to remind me.
Daryl B.
Jeff,
He’s our “monk” of Knowledge.
I am wondering how a conversation veers into 1920s women’s lingerie…
Hi Elizabeth – No veering. Was a straight line. Fascinating topic in any decade or century. If you ever get to the Garden County Historical Society Museum in Oshkosh ask to have a peak at the pioneer woman undies in the dresser drawers (pun intended). Practical stuff. Men are so slow to catch-up, as chest waders with front flies of recent times.