You do such a good job of interweaving your narratives. I am not a writer of fiction, just a curious lover of literature. No secrets will be disclosed. How do you decide what the right point is? You have fantastic things that happen to you, so your Senegalese friend must keep reappearing, and Suzy is an important connector. Are you going for what was a’ surprise effect when you were stronger than your mugger, or again when the little guy only wanted your wallet?
I think I am always too busy making a point to write fiction well or autobiography. I do enjoy wordplay. And make jokes all the time. And I like sarcasm—can’t help it. But neither of those things translate into prose.
Basically, I'm trying to figure out how my own experience fits together — or doesn't. I try to weave themes, incidents, etc such that each essay is interesting without going too far in the direction of 'cute' or 'manipulative.' Sometimes I get it right, I think. Other times, not so much.
In the very first SFIO essay 'Figuring it out,' I state my intentions:
"Ben" means "one". Bennen means, more or less, "one more" or "next" "yoan" (no idea how one would spell it) means road. So it means literally, something like "until next road" but colloquially it means "until next time" or "catch ya later, needle-nits!". Sometime you hear people say just "Ba bennen" or even "bennen" by way of saying cheerio. See email to follow.
Kindly remember, the last time I spoke Wolof with any regularity was in 1978. You'l pardon my rust, I trust.
I always spot a typo 10 seconds after I post one of these things. What I missed this time is that I left out that Jainaba was in second grade when Betty & I decided to check out the Applewild School. She began attending in third grade.
Sundman figures it out should be required reading (in fact, I just made it so) for the the insights and the life lessons. I highly recommend the works of John Sundman but in particular, this substack is the real deal. True story, not a day goes by that I don’t say to myself, “they like it loud you know.”
You do such a good job of interweaving your narratives. I am not a writer of fiction, just a curious lover of literature. No secrets will be disclosed. How do you decide what the right point is? You have fantastic things that happen to you, so your Senegalese friend must keep reappearing, and Suzy is an important connector. Are you going for what was a’ surprise effect when you were stronger than your mugger, or again when the little guy only wanted your wallet?
I think I am always too busy making a point to write fiction well or autobiography. I do enjoy wordplay. And make jokes all the time. And I like sarcasm—can’t help it. But neither of those things translate into prose.
Just love your writing!
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.
Basically, I'm trying to figure out how my own experience fits together — or doesn't. I try to weave themes, incidents, etc such that each essay is interesting without going too far in the direction of 'cute' or 'manipulative.' Sometimes I get it right, I think. Other times, not so much.
In the very first SFIO essay 'Figuring it out,' I state my intentions:
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnsundman/p/figuring-it-out?r=38b5x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
The 3rd essay, 'Easy Was,' contains a discussion of how the musical philosophy of Keith Richards, John Henry Newan's spirtitual autobiography 'Apologia pro vita sua,' and a stunning photo of a desolate laundromat all inform my writing: https://open.substack.com/pub/johnsundman/p/easy-was?r=38b5x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
And in "The Lord Hates a Coward" I again discuss interleaving, interweaving, and the tick-tock of time. https://open.substack.com/pub/johnsundman/p/the-lord-hates-a-coward?r=38b5x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Happy reading! Cheerio!
Ak ab baax bés ci yow, Mr. Sundman! Ab géniale tale, for war damay ne tales?
Suma xarit, maima jahm, wai. Lol. (Seriously, how did you do that?)
Years de practice ak self denial. Laa fexe ci conduct yepp sunju future conversations ci W
Wolof.
Jerre diuff! Ba bennen yoan.
“It was always early in the morning“???
"Ben" means "one". Bennen means, more or less, "one more" or "next" "yoan" (no idea how one would spell it) means road. So it means literally, something like "until next road" but colloquially it means "until next time" or "catch ya later, needle-nits!". Sometime you hear people say just "Ba bennen" or even "bennen" by way of saying cheerio. See email to follow.
Kindly remember, the last time I spoke Wolof with any regularity was in 1978. You'l pardon my rust, I trust.
Rust never sleeps.
Came for the curlicue memories, stayed for the serendipity. Love hearing from you.
Glad to hear from you, old friend. I'm glad you subscribed. Let's stay in touch.
It’s like there’s a lattice of coincidence that underlies the universe.
Seems that way. I've got some other even more amazing coincidences to relate at some point in the future. Saving them up for the right moment.
This is sooooo good!
Think yew! Think yew ferry much!!
I always spot a typo 10 seconds after I post one of these things. What I missed this time is that I left out that Jainaba was in second grade when Betty & I decided to check out the Applewild School. She began attending in third grade.
Sundman figures it out should be required reading (in fact, I just made it so) for the the insights and the life lessons. I highly recommend the works of John Sundman but in particular, this substack is the real deal. True story, not a day goes by that I don’t say to myself, “they like it loud you know.”