I suppose one could view these reminiscences as just a series of blog entries, but the Internet being what it is, there is often an audience for even the most esoteric and personal of subjects. I suspect that most of these entries will only have meaning for those who grew up with me, but I hope that certain themes will have a wider resonance, as American culture has changed so profoundly during my life time. Those who grew up contemporaneously with me might sympathize with certain themes. Before my memories are forgotten forever, I’d like to record them.
My great regret was not having taken photographs while growing up. I took a few black and white photos with a Polaroid Swinger camera, but the film was considered expensive by my mother, and I didn’t take that many pictures. I don’t think I ever kept any photos I took as a child or young adult.
And there is the problem with false and/or incomplete memory. I assure you, I feel very strongly about telling the truth, and try very hard to detail things as they really happened. But I know for a fact that this is virtually impossible to do. I recognize that certain stories may sound fanciful or ridiculous, but I assure you, I am telling the truth as best as I can remember it.
My basic background is this: I was born in Helena, Montana in 1962. Our family moved to Missoula in 1965 when my father took a teaching job at the law school at the University of Montana. I attended Paxson elementary school from 1968 to 1976, Hellgate High from 1976 to 1980, and the University of Montana from 1980 until 1987. I moved to Seattle later in 1987.
