From the Fortress of Solitude
Yesterday in the midst of cleaning the Fortress of Solitude I decided that after nearly fourteen years in hiding that my Sweet Valley High books should come of the dark and take their rightful place on a bookcase. It’s so deliciously nerdy. Every time I catch a glimpse of that shelf out of the corner of my eye I get a little shock of delight seeing them all there.
It’s hard to tell from the picture but those first twenty or so books are dingy and creased, well-worn from my utter devotion. The back of #1 Double Love is dotted with neon pink hair spray a victim of the Halloween I dressed up as Jem.
While cleaning I also found a random collection of concert tickets dating back to 2001 and a ticket to ride the El in Chicago. I am not generally a concert ticket keeper. Most of them end up going through the wash because I shove them in my back pocket and forget about them. I have no idea how these survived or what to do with them now.
It wasn’t all fun and games though. I did do some actual work, and put all my short stories in the Mail Cart for easy access whenever I need a reminder of . . . well I am not sure what they remind me of. I thought about tossing a few of them that are beyond any hope of redemption but I couldn’t bring myself to do that. Eleven stories. That’s almost a collection. Too bad so many of them suck.
Dana
April 27th 2008 - 1:58pm
I am absolutely jealous of your SVH collection. I’ve wanted to go back and read some of them now as an adult (and I felt so dorky for admitting it), but I can’t find any. None anywhere. Not even the local library.
PeeWee
April 27th 2008 - 7:12pm
I loved seeing your files. You have a story called “Taxes?”
Jodi
April 28th 2008 - 12:55am
Taxes is a scintillating story about love, death, and the IRS.
PeeWee
April 29th 2008 - 11:36am
“Love, death and the IRS…” must be about MY life.
Thomas
April 29th 2008 - 12:19pm
The one behind taxes: Boobs Larve? Dear God, see a doctor or, at the very least, an exterminator!