Opened the paper to an interesting article today. LA performing artist, Jean Spinosa, found a letter when she was cleaning out her late father’s house two years ago. An 18 page screed from Neal Cassady to Jack Kerouac, dubbed the “Joan Anderson Letter.”
In scholarly circles the missive is called "the letter that launched a literary genre," because after reading it, Kerouac was said to have “scrapped” his early version of On the Road, and during a “three-week binge” rewritten the novel in the style of Cassady’s letter.
Truman Capote said of Kerouac’s work, “that isn’t writing at all, it’s typing.” Well, maybe so. But it was inspired typing. On the Road is a joy to read, and I stick by it as literature.
Family coming to town tomorrow. The holidays are here. Time to forget about what isn’t, or what should have been, and focus on the now. Trade expectations for the enjoyment of the moment.