I take pride in professionalism. I am willing to do things that other people find ridiculous if I have agreed to appear at a certain festival or school. Once I say yes I don’t do otherwise. I will drive four hours to teach a class and then turn around and drive straight home… I will work under bad circumstances, and I will feel virtuous. Laurel sometimes puts it this way: Rick likes it when it sucks. I can’t address the origin of this particular way of being, the professionalism just is. It makes it easier for me to wake up in the morning, because I know what I have to do… I felt (and feel still) like showing up for class keeps me tethered to the world.
~ Rick Moody, The Long Accomplishment: A Memoir of Hope and Struggle in Matrimony (August 6, 2019)
Photo of Rick Moody via Seven Days
Never heard of the guy. NOW I am sort of in love with him…. The tremendous power of words, imagination, but also experience and love.
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He does.
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“… keeps me tethered to the world.” I’m stealing that line!
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STRONG punch line. Yes.
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sounds like he and his wife both understand what makes him tick. personally, when I commit to something I always try to show up. it matters.
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It does matter. It does.
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I agree; there is a certain pleasure in doing the things that no one else wants to do.
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And just showing up, no matter how tough it is.
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Nothing worse than someone not showing up after they said they would. I can’t respect someone who does it without a fabulous reason.
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Me too. Me too.
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Sounds like a nice guy who does what he said he would
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He didn’t start that way but found his way….
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Love it! Sounds so old-fashioned, and feels so private–this pact between oneself and ones word…
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Agree. So 1960’s like.
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