The Writer's Life 4/27

Mother Nature seems confused. We had May-like weather in March, and now March-like weather in April. Today's stiff breeze was a nuisance to the floating book shop. I hadn't felt as cold since February. Fortunately, a few people stopped to either chat or make a purchase. Jack came limping along on his arthritic knee. He was forgoing his Occupy Wall Street T-shirt business in deference to the wind, which is brutal in lower Manhattan. He had an eight-and-a-half by eleven yellow envelope with him, which he opened to reveal two drawings, one bearing his image. He made them on his computer. They were really nice. He plans to make 2x3 posters out of them to sell for ten bucks a pop. He was all smiles minutes later upon his return from the print shop across the street. The charge would be a $1.50 per, a profit of 85%. I teased him that he was, deep down, a capitalist, just as I've teased Bob Rubenstein, author of the anti-capitalist novel The White Bridge, who had the students of his course on racism buy each of his novels. Maybe they, like Hollywood leftists, believe that art is superior and therefore more worthy of the public's hard earned money than big businesses. Jack has been dubbed Mr. Glass-Steagall by his occupy comrades for his constant citing of the 1999 repeal of the depression era act, which he blames for the financial crisis. The law was put in place in 1933 to prevent banks from engaging in risky investments with depositors' funds. It's pros and cons have been debated for decades. I don't know what to make of it, although I always tilt toward deregulation. I believe in capitalism, not crony capitalism where certain firms are bailed out by government, but pure capitalism where those who are successful - and legal - stay in business, those who fail do not, and those who break the law are jailed or fined heavily.

Speaking of capitalists, one of the world's favorites is having a tough time in the sport in which he excelled as a player. Michael Jordan owns the Charlotte Bobcats, which finished with the worst record in NBA history, 7-59 (strike-shortened season, remember), a winning percentage of .106. The team lost its last 23 straight. Jordan won six championships as the driving force of the Chicago Bulls. All together now: "What goes around comes around." Life has a unique way of balancing the ledger. I've always loved that saying, maybe because I hope all the work I put in on my literary quest will one day pay off. It became popular at the same time as one I hate: "Not for nothin'."

Also on the money front: there is a website where the public can make donations to George Zimmerman's legal obligations. Although my instincts tell me he is guilty of nothing more than self defense, this adds another ugly layer to an issue that is going to end badly no matter the outcome. To date, $200,000 has been raised.

My thanks to the kind folks who braved the wind to buy books today, and to Marie, who said she was deeply affected by The Power of Prayer, a story in A Hitch in Twilight. It is the favorite of my niece Isabel, who said: "That one really got to me for some reason." Hearing things like that makes all the frustration worth it - at least for a few minutes.

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