This is a wonderful piece. I laughed at those two great bits of dialogue---the two sisters each thinking she was the favorite, and your mother's parting line to the doctor. Oh, grant us, Great Spirit of Secular Humanism, such courage and good humor under these circumstances.

Your mother was a powerful woman with her own special charisma. Her death, which still makes me angry, was a loss to all of us, but to you and Miles, of course, most of all.

Thanks, Melinda. These kinds of losses shape us for life, for better or worse.

I never realized before how much Perry Como sounds like Der Bingle. Maybe that was only when he was starting out? Terry Gross did an interview a while back with someone who recently wrote a biography of Gene Autry in which it was revealed that early in his career Gene did dead-on imitations of Jimmie Rodgers.

Wonderful piece. I'm glad you included a still from the Zeffirelli movie, which is so masterful. I don't think anyone has ever done a better job producing Shakespeare.

Dear S: Nice one! Should have been in "Shouts & Murmurs."

I've always loved this song, and Jimmy Durante in general. And the philosophy of this song: couldn't be more true.

Dear D: I'm hoping this is aired again soon, as I missed this notice. But congratulations! (I didn't know you were Jewish.)

Dear M: Thanks for this vivid appreciation of Mr Durning. He was always completely convincing & great fun to watch.

Wonderful poem. Poetry and prayer seem to come from the same weird interior world of argument, nonsense, complaint, hope, pain, self-delusion, humor etc.

Nice piece, Michael. It makes me nostalgic for that time, not long ago, when bookstores were a central locus of our creative lives. Now there are only a handful of bookshops left in the DC area, with Bridge Street Books and Politics & Prose being the most notable. It's just very strange. My first job when I first moved here decades ago was in a bookstore, where I stayed for 4 years; and most of my fellow poets in these parts also worked in bookstores back then. Alas, that bookstore culture, which you are still part of, is fast heading towards extinction.

Hey, wait a second, I say it's my birthday too. And also: Nov. 1st, on the ancient Celtic calendar,is the start of the New Year.

Dear D: Wonderful remembrance. You were fortunate to have such extraordinary guidance as a student and beyond.

The 2 photos of yours here are striking---among your best, IMO.

Your photo of John on the roof is one of your best.

Thanks, Mr. Gutstein, for taking time away from your STOUT obsession.

Tom---I can safely predict that, had you known him, you would have loved John, who was in all respects a unique and self-invented man. Plus, you'd have that crazy Kingdom of Kerry connection wiring you together.

He had obvious affection for you, Doug. You were clearly one of his special projects.

Thanks, Doug. And I always remember your line: nothing exceeds like excess. You and John are indeed kindred spirits.

Thanks, Cait. John felt very connected to you & Miles.

MDL: I had forgotten the tattoo. There are many McCarthy stories, one of my favorites being the time J & I got in trouble for unwittingly drinking and smoking in the vestibule of the ladies' room on an Amtrak train long ago. You can do anything, but sometimes you get caught.

MO'K: John spent the last 20 years or so of his life in that well-known recovery program. In fact, when I visited him in his last weeks in his apartment in Chelsea, the place felt like an impromptu AA meeting-block party-family reunion in one, with John presiding over it all.

Yes, Tom seemed extraordinary---I wish I had known him better.

Thanks, Ei. I definitely believe that friendship just goes on forever.