Not great news from the States

Diary

I learned about too many losses this week.

Cecil Green died at age 102. Benefactor of the school that very much molded me into who I am. I never met Mr. Green, but his influence spreads throughout the world, through the boys who turned into men influential, in turn, far beyond their small numbers. Oh, and he founded this small company called Texas Instruments. I never got to thank him...or--truth be told--thanking him never occurred to my young self.

Yves L'Helgoual'ch, symphony director, died late last year--I just heard. I knew him just as an acquaintance, and if I had known him more, I might well have ended up a music major.

Robert Amundsen. A high point of my high schooling was our swim team going over to Tulane to swim against their varsity. We got trashed in the scoring, of course, and then got trashed in New Orleans after. Bob was a better swimmer than I was; 48 is too young to go.

I didn't know these people well, but it occurred to me that I've crossed into the age where my friends are leaving life faster than they are having and raising children.

One more loss this week. The Partisan Review has published its last issue. The literary journal with a bit of humor and sharp eye for young talent (who go on to become literary monsters) is gone. Oh, well--there's always People magazine to take its place.