Thee pleasures me. This Quaker phrase describes my enjoyment of your writing. You express my heart that you bring to life. I'm glad you are in my world.
It's how they get you. I had pretty serious crush on an evangelical girl in high school, and the next I knew I was squeezed between her and her father at their weekly worship.
When I was 9-years-old I misspelled Pontius Pilate as “Punches Pilot” in a dictation exercise. The nun circled it and told me that it read like a stage direction to a Vaudeville sketch.
Wonderful story. Especially the fine way you capture that teenage paralysis--when you're so overwhelmed by new feelings and desire and fear and ignorance--you float helpless in this bubble as the crazy world slaps you about. And I know very well the feeling of waiting for a father to appear.
Jun 2, 2023·edited Jun 2, 2023Liked by Sherman Alexie
A lovely and aching story about the unfulfilled desires of adolescence. I have more than my share. Here's one on Substack about the first time I got high with my high school crush, "Melody": https://trules.substack.com/p/santa-fe-walkabout
Such a fun, tender and thoughtful read. I really appreciate the immediate access to the experience and you’re unapologetic honesty. I felt that I was right there with you.
Reminds me a little of my weekend at a bible camp. Plenty of food, a fair amount of proselytizing, but what upset me was the kid putting lit firecrackers in frogs mouths. One of many reasons I walked away from the Christian church. Lots of rules and regs for people, but not much for the rest of creation. Oh, and "Ah Juicyfruit".
Your substack posts fill me with both regret that I’ve never read your books and anticipation about discovering a new (to me) author. Oh, I’d heard of you. I figured your books wouldn’t be my cup of tea, which I like sweet and milky. But the occasional herbal infusion sticks with me longer, and even if for some reason I don’t like what you say, I know I will love the way you say it. So I’m off to Amazon/Audible!
I'm grateful for your essays and poetry. It was a Lummi woman who was a Christian who helped me understand that I didn't have to be a Christian to thank God.
“And it wasn't until years later that I realized the lack of food and sleep was meant to make us new kids more vulnerable to the evangelical preaching.”
Well-spotted, Sherman. Sounds like cult techniques—including the honeypot to lure you there (although after reading the rest of the story, I realize she wasn’t intentionally playing that role).
“1979 one-hit wonder by Gary Numan”
I have to take you to task on this one, Sherman. “Films”? “M.E.”? And the rest of “The Pleasure Principle”? Plus “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”? Not a one-hit wonder :-)
Epic storytelling. The smell of juicy fruit mingling with wild flowers, well water, sweat. Delicious. I think of course she remembers you but she remembers the story as one of unrequited love with the sweet funny bright gifted Indian boy she liked to dance for and the violent fight with her bearded father who nixed any hope of kissing in the moonlight and she tells her seven grandchildren this was the beginning of her eventual escape from any kind of organized institutionalized religion. And why she decided to become an agnostic nutritionist. Or maybe a pole dancer. Who knows ? However her life unfolded she remembers. She remembers. Thank you as ever.
Thee pleasures me. This Quaker phrase describes my enjoyment of your writing. You express my heart that you bring to life. I'm glad you are in my world.
It's how they get you. I had pretty serious crush on an evangelical girl in high school, and the next I knew I was squeezed between her and her father at their weekly worship.
Hahahah! Or something that would get you tackled by Homeland Security.
When I was 9-years-old I misspelled Pontius Pilate as “Punches Pilot” in a dictation exercise. The nun circled it and told me that it read like a stage direction to a Vaudeville sketch.
You have such a gift. Wonderful. 🐦
Wonderful story. Especially the fine way you capture that teenage paralysis--when you're so overwhelmed by new feelings and desire and fear and ignorance--you float helpless in this bubble as the crazy world slaps you about. And I know very well the feeling of waiting for a father to appear.
A lovely and aching story about the unfulfilled desires of adolescence. I have more than my share. Here's one on Substack about the first time I got high with my high school crush, "Melody": https://trules.substack.com/p/santa-fe-walkabout
I'd be delighted if you read it.
ET
Such a fun, tender and thoughtful read. I really appreciate the immediate access to the experience and you’re unapologetic honesty. I felt that I was right there with you.
Such multifariously confusing years, each with its own particular setting, features, terrors, hopes. Thanks for so articulately reawakening it all!
Reminds me a little of my weekend at a bible camp. Plenty of food, a fair amount of proselytizing, but what upset me was the kid putting lit firecrackers in frogs mouths. One of many reasons I walked away from the Christian church. Lots of rules and regs for people, but not much for the rest of creation. Oh, and "Ah Juicyfruit".
Your substack posts fill me with both regret that I’ve never read your books and anticipation about discovering a new (to me) author. Oh, I’d heard of you. I figured your books wouldn’t be my cup of tea, which I like sweet and milky. But the occasional herbal infusion sticks with me longer, and even if for some reason I don’t like what you say, I know I will love the way you say it. So I’m off to Amazon/Audible!
I'm grateful for your essays and poetry. It was a Lummi woman who was a Christian who helped me understand that I didn't have to be a Christian to thank God.
That was a lark.
“And it wasn't until years later that I realized the lack of food and sleep was meant to make us new kids more vulnerable to the evangelical preaching.”
Well-spotted, Sherman. Sounds like cult techniques—including the honeypot to lure you there (although after reading the rest of the story, I realize she wasn’t intentionally playing that role).
“1979 one-hit wonder by Gary Numan”
I have to take you to task on this one, Sherman. “Films”? “M.E.”? And the rest of “The Pleasure Principle”? Plus “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”? Not a one-hit wonder :-)
“shouting prayers” and “blasphemous breakfast”
🤣🤣🤣
Typo alert: “a evangelical” :-)
Epic storytelling. The smell of juicy fruit mingling with wild flowers, well water, sweat. Delicious. I think of course she remembers you but she remembers the story as one of unrequited love with the sweet funny bright gifted Indian boy she liked to dance for and the violent fight with her bearded father who nixed any hope of kissing in the moonlight and she tells her seven grandchildren this was the beginning of her eventual escape from any kind of organized institutionalized religion. And why she decided to become an agnostic nutritionist. Or maybe a pole dancer. Who knows ? However her life unfolded she remembers. She remembers. Thank you as ever.
Thank you!
The beauty and power of a great story. Thanks.