“I myself am entirely made of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.” ~ Unknown
Of all days not to have my camera with me, this was one of the worst. You’ve actually seen this photo before back in September at the beginning of my Creative Writing class with Gurney Norman. Here, I’ve done a different process that I actually like better than the original. However, my point is not the photograph, but Gurney. In class tonight he talked at length about his early path to becoming a writer. His story is fascinating. In the telling of his life’s journey I heard only wisdom and gratitude. I’m not entirely sure that Gurney is even aware of how extraordinary his path has been. He’s humble and short on ego that way. For instance, he has been friends with Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove), Ken Kesey (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), and Wendell Berry (THE Wendell Berry) for over fifty years. Plus, the two former writers were his classmates at Stanford. Can you imagine the brainpower in that classroom? When he talks about these men one gets a glimpse of how deeply and sincerely he values their friendships; how much his path and success have fortified him. That is wisdom. What an exquisite gift Gurney has been to me. I just don’t think I could be more fortunate.
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