18 Comments

What a great read. What a thrilling time was the 70's & 80'sThanks Eric. The photo of "Cumeezi" is so full of glee(wonderful word) and mischieviouness (LOVED the name), I would liked to have known him. Too bad - at one time we were living in New York at the same time and also in LA - as you know I lived a few blocks from Echo Park- but never crossed paths - que lastima! Is there anything about LA that you miss? For me it's the Eucalyptus trees, the Red Tail hawks and the burrito stand down the block. I see the comment before me is Virginia ( I shall be staying with her in a few weeks)

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Thanks, as always, Bambi. Gino was indeed, full of mischievous "glee". Whenever "I" get down, all I have to do is move my muscles to recreate "Gino", and there I am with the same devilish joy, ready to make trouble and mischief in the world. I don't miss LA much AT ALL! So cooool that you're good friends with Virginia!!!

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This on e was the right length! (got to finish it before starting the day- and have to say that this was an amazing amount of stuff you accomplished in the 70's and 80's- and kind of felt like a total whirlwind, Eric! Congratulations on surviving cancer!!

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Thanks for your "congratulations", Virginia! It didn't FEEL like a "whirlwind", just "life"!! So cooool that you're close friends with Miranda/Bambi!!

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At the age of 49, I'm strongly considering teaching a college class myself, with no formal qualifications but my life experience. Knowing you pulled it off as well as you did (I had you 3 times) gives me hope I can be decent as well.

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Glad to hear it, Luke. Let me know what you'll teach and where!!!

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Too early to say where before I've really approached them -- but some sort of film studies class, maybe multiple versions, is what I envision. Hoping 25 years as a professional critic are sufficient.

If someone wants me to teach English, though, years of being an editor have made me pretty good at that.

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Eric's writing is enjoyable and informative. He brings you in close to the events and interactions he retells in his tales. His sharp sense of history's most impactful events enmeshes you in your own past.

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Thanks, Ed. Glad my history is partially your own!!

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Another great post. But “Cumeezi?” Oh, brother.

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Thanks, O'Malley. What's wrong with "Cumeezi"? A gooood & notorious comic gangsta name from Corleone, Sicily!!!!

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Loved this and love the stories of those days. I don't know if the younger generations reading this will get the awareness that this creative force was like a free-flowing river that the world seemed to have privy to and we went here and there moved by that creative energy. We were in the video game not sitting and watching it. So wonderful. The length was good.

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Love your metaphors, Elizabeth. The "free-flowing river", and "We were IN the video game!" Do we know each other personally?

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Thank you Eric. No I don’t know him personally but could identify with the times.

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“Him” is me!

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Well then that is right...I don't know Him personally!!

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I love the story of your life next to the story of the world next to one another. Times were crazy. But a time for me anyway where the news was not so overpowering in my life! Gives me permission to go back to my self centered time of me. You tumbling though life devouring everything in your way! Including cancer! Thanks again for including us on your journey! You are always an inspiration! Your #1 fan Trisha

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Uh huh. Right.

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