RUDIMENTS

RUDIMENTS, pt. 267 Maple Tree, pt. 6 Everywhere you end up isn't always going to be where you wanted to go. It's like a hostage situation sometimes, this life. Just recently, back in January, I went to yet another wake, forcing myself sadly to look upon the sorely dead face of my friend Schultz. The same Schultz I've written of in these Maple Tree chapters a few times. When you got him at the right time, he was magic. If it wasn't the right time, best beware. I used to tell him, "Bobby, when you come around here they ought'a change the name of this joint to the Maple Treat, or, then, well, at least warn people you're on your way, at the door.' It was the trickle-down theory of humor  -  you'd better laugh now, before the blood is trickling down from your face and nose. One day, one long, sickening, lazy afternoon, it was, at the top end of Rahway, on Cherry Street, or whatever it's called ...

RUDIMENTS, pt. 266 - Maple Tree, pt. 5 - When I first started out with ABATE, they had two little boxy Apple Macs. I had to learn them, learn computers. These pieces were simple units, and user-friendly, as it was said, easy to use and arrange copy on. But, I guess, they were primitive and small too  - no color, just b/w text. About a year later, one of the members, from West Caldwell or Montclair   -  I kind of forget; out of the blue  -  contacts me to meet and visit. Turns out he's an older guy, like 65 then, or more, with a sweet little older woman for a wife, Mary was her name. About the same age as he was. The stone house, on a hill, was a veritable palace; totally impressive. I mean totally. I went in, having ridden there alone parking next to his motorcycle, which turned out to be some piddling Yamaha cruiser type, Virago or  something. Smaller displacement,  maybe 650cc, which actually ...

RUDIMENTS, pt. 265 - Maple Tree, pt. 4 - After a while, everything gets a life of its own and just starts moving along for you. Outside of you, almost. It was like that for me  -  the wave was always running by me, most of the time drawing me in. Once or twice I resisted and just let it slide past. In about two years, with this  ABATE  stuff, everything was  changed. I  was alone. The previous line of administrative people had walked. Some didn't wish to deal with any of the outside club pressures, claiming threats to their homes and families. That never much bothered me, I took it head on, and nothing every happened. There wasn't much else I could do  -  either close up shop or stick it out and transform  things  into some sort of workable, yet educatable, fun. Which I did. Basically through magic  -  being Ringmaster, mouthpiece, jerk, fool and wise man all in one. Somehow I foun...