(no subject)

[thehefner]

Against my better judgement, I told my father the Hefner Monologue about My Grandfather's Last Words. I didn't think he'd find any humor in it. I thought he was shake his head, smile humorlessly, and remark on how nasty and sad and pathetic the whole situation was.

Instead, he laughed. He laughed and laughed and laughed harder and longer than I'd ever seen him laugh before. He laughed joyously, as if it was the first truly wonderful thing to happen to him in years. There were tears coming to his eyes, and I realized, watching this, that there were tears coming to mine too.

I cannot yet put into words the weight, the importance of what happened. Maybe some of who who have known about his history can understand what I mean, but I'm not sure of even that. All I know is that in that moment, my father and I shared one of the most beautiful, tender moments of our lives together. I am fairly certain nothing like that will ever happen again, nor shall I ever forget it.

I think when I do The Hefner Monologues, I'll tell My Grandfather's Last Words in the context of this day. After I write the essays about him, in the hopes of conveying finally what it really is like to live with this man.

I still don't know what to think. I just know I am moved beyond what words can say. For now.

Comments

[interdisciple.livejournal.com]

it's great when the context of an idea adds to the idea so much that one might as well render the original without-context version useless at worst, naked at best.

you just put your naked heffie in an armani (or a tibetan meditation robe, or a superhero cape, whatever your style)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Well, let's see how the book itself pans out when the time comes. We'll see if it ends up a collection of stories or just anecdotes.

[whimmydiddle.livejournal.com]

When I'm short on time, I find myself skimming or not even reading long LJ entries. For some reason today I followed the link to the account of you grandfather. Thank you, that was a nice shot of sweet & funny at a good time.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[pokeyburro.livejournal.com]

I'm holding back a laugh as I read this! Wow. We just never really know sometimes, do we?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Maybe that really is the appropriate response.

Just a thought

[slaversbane.livejournal.com]

I am (shock) an avid reader of Playboy. I would suggest perhaps a "for the general public" version to send in. Often the fiction(yeah yeah yeah go ahead...say it...cliche I know) is rather good and only surpassed by the literary non-fiction. Worth a shot, and besides it's money in the bank if it gets published.

[covenhouse-cat.livejournal.com]

Wow...
I say that a lot when I read your stuff. You wow me.