Category Archives: Anthology

My collected writings and those of family members.

“Sock Hop Bop Flop”

Posted on August 4, 2018 by JMN

Sock Hop Bop Flop An Admonitory Fable for Tragedies Averted (To all my students who made it through graduation) Bee-Bop-A-Ree-Bop, A lockdown jam, A lockjawed ham, Good golly, Miss Molly, Lookin’ hot damn! Bee-Bop-A-Ree-Bop, A hounddog dude, Blue suede shoe’d, … Continue reading →

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Sigh… but I’d love to be surprised.

Posted on August 1, 2018 by JMN

If he’s proven to have not told the whole truth about the fact that campaigns look for dirt, and if someone offers it, you listen to them, nobody’s going to be surprised. There are some things in politics that you … Continue reading →

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Sir Alistair Has Much in Common

Posted on July 31, 2018 by JMN

Sir Alistair Chichester is just like you in so many ways: He can quaff a pint with the next man at the Thane of Thoth; he enjoys his Marmite soldiers with an egg, his faggots with mushy peas, his bangers … Continue reading →

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Dear Mother… I also finished

Posted on July 25, 2018 by JMN

I also finished the “Teacher in America” book and loaned it to Charles last night. Herbert, Charles and I had lunch last week and I mentioned the book to them. Herbert knew of Barzun, said he had read several of … Continue reading →

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Finger Hut Follies

Posted on July 25, 2018 by JMN

Mimsy and Chance Lafarge went to Cloudburst for the weekend to celebrate their tenth anniversary. Drove up in two cars with Dandi and Mitch Oddbocker and Shay and Rafe Bickford. Planned to split up on Saturday so Mimsy, Dandi, and … Continue reading →

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Dear Mother… I visited

Posted on July 25, 2018 by JMN

I visited with *** last night and we went over my translation, reading it against his published rendering. He was pleased to see no great errors, but saw places where he would like to change his version to match the … Continue reading →

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“Vassar Pembroke Confronts the Spanish Language Teacher”

Posted on July 23, 2018 by JMN

Vassar Pembroke Confronts the Spanish Language Teacher Vassar Pembroke busts his chops, Spits her mind with no preamble, Says his teaching method flops According to her daughter Campbell. “Campbell says she’s not inspired. You do not motivate her much. Your … Continue reading →

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Cressida and Hermione

Posted on July 22, 2018 by JMN

Cressida’s fiancé Rupert plays midfield for the Tottenham Hotspurs. Her friend Hermione, only daughter of Sir Hubert Dalgleish, fancies Orlando, an enigmatic striker for the Northampton Avengers. Tut tut. Le coeur a ses raisons, etc., wouldn’t you say, if only … Continue reading →

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Dear Mother… I missed my last

Posted on July 21, 2018 by JMN

I missed my last weekend’s letter because of Andrew’s illness. It was not serious, but required that he be in the hospital for four days. A virus that produces nausea, diarrhea and fever has hit the little ones hard in … Continue reading →

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Dear Mother… I’m continuing

Posted on July 21, 2018 by JMN

“I’m continuing to read Jacques Barzun’s “Teacher in America,” written in the forties. He has a lot to say about what education really consists of (a lifelong endeavor), and I imagine a lot of his ideas would be sympathetic to … Continue reading →

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