User:Kamyers/sandbox: Difference between revisions

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{{Byline|last=Fox|first=Sue |abstract=An interview with Norris Church Mailer discussing her relationship with Norman Mailer. |note=This interview took place on January 18, 2010 in the Mailer Brooklyn Heights home. |url=}}

{{dc|dc=O|n the face of it, a twenty-six-year-old high school art teacher}} raised by strict Arkansas Baptists whose grandparents were sharecroppers and muleskinners, and America’s wildest literary lion—at 52, already a year older than her ~~father-with~~ seven children, five failed marriages and other affairs in his wake—didn’t have much going for it. But who is anyone to judge? Men and women with no obvious link in their culture, backgrounds or achievements are drawn to one another and the alchemy works. Norris Church Mailer and Norman Mailer were one of those couples. Apart from their cultural mismatch and age difference, in her platform soles, the strikingly beautiful, willowy five-foot-ten redhead, towered above Mailer, who was barely five-foot-eight.

{{dc|dc=O|n the face of it, a twenty-six-year-old high school art teacher}} raised by strict Arkansas Baptists whose grandparents were sharecroppers and muleskinners, and America’s wildest literary lion—at 52, already a year older than her father—with seven children, five failed marriages and other affairs in his wake—didn’t have much going for it. But who is anyone to judge? Men and women with no obvious link in their culture, backgrounds or achievements are drawn to one another and the alchemy works. Norris Church Mailer and Norman Mailer were one of those couples. Apart from their cultural mismatch and age difference, in her platform soles, the strikingly beautiful, willowy five-foot-ten redhead, towered above Mailer, who was barely five-foot-eight.

Their love affair—painful and stormy as it sometimes was—endured until the day Mailer died—November 10, 2007. He was eighty-four. Norris, who shared the same birthday as her more famous husband, January 31, is sixty-one. As she says,

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{{quote|“We were together thirty-three years, which by any measure is a long marriage. Every love story has its ups and downs and we certainly had ours, but I would say it was one of the great love stories. When you think about it, the two of us were kind of impossible. Norman and his wives sounded a bit like Henry VIII. Nobody would have put our two characters in a novel and imagined that the sixth wife would be the big love story.”}} {{pg|495|496}}

Except that, deep in her heart, Norris knew that the barrel-chested, blue-eyed Jewish intellectual ~~heavyweight-one~~ of the great voices of ~~post-war~~ American literature-loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. She writes about it in her memoir.

Except that, deep in her heart, Norris knew that the barrel-chested, blue-eyed Jewish intellectual heavyweight—one of the great voices of post—war American literature-loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. She writes about it in her memoir.

{{quote|“Through the years, no matter the circumstances of our passions and rages, our boredoms, angers and betrayals, large and small, sex was the chord that bound us together; it was the thick wire woven from thousands of shared experiences that never broke, indeed was hardly frayed and only got stronger, no matter how the bonds of marriage were tested. Even in the worst times we had many years later, when we almost separated, somehow, inexplicably, at night we would cling to each other, drawn like powerful magnets, the familiarity of our bodies putting salve on the wounds we had inflicted during the day, until over time the warring ended and the love remained. The only thing that brought it to an end was old age, illness and death itself.”}}

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She writes about the rude people: “and there are way too many rude people in this world asking her ‘Which wife are ''you?''’” Never for a moment did she doubt her short although possibly not sweet answer: “The last one.”

Love him or hate him, no one ever sat on the fence when it came to Norman Mailer, perhaps the most pugnacious writer of his generation. In 1948, his first partly autobiographical novel, ''The Naked and The Dead'', brought him fame and huge public acclaim. He was twenty-five years old. Over the next six decades, center stage, he published more than thirty books, including novels and non-fiction on subjects as disparate as Mohammed Ali and Marilyn Monroe. He twice won the Pulitzer Prize, for ''Armies of the Night'' (1968) and ~~“The~~ Executioner’s ~~Song”~~ (1979). Mailer wrote essays as well as writing, directing and occasionally, acting in low-budget movies. He helped found ''The Village Voice'' magazine. He was a regular and highly opinionated guest on TV talk shows who actively sought publicity and public attention.{{pg|496|497}}

Love him or hate him, no one ever sat on the fence when it came to Norman Mailer, perhaps the most pugnacious writer of his generation. In 1948, his first partly autobiographical novel, ''The Naked and The Dead'', brought him fame and huge public acclaim. He was twenty-five years old. Over the next six decades, center stage, he published more than thirty books, including novels and non-fiction on subjects as disparate as Mohammed Ali and Marilyn Monroe. He twice won the Pulitzer Prize, for ''Armies of the Night'' (1968) and ''The Executioner’s Song'' (1979). Mailer wrote essays as well as writing, directing and occasionally, acting in low-budget movies. He helped found ''The Village Voice'' magazine. He was a regular and highly opinionated guest on TV talk shows who actively sought publicity and public attention.{{pg|496|497}}

Mailer once ran for Mayor of New York. He was an anti-war protester, an opponent of women’s liberation, and a man who railed against the evils of plastic. He railed against many things and, no mean boxer, could pick a fight at the least provocation. He stabbed his second wife, Adele. Gore Vidal frequently argued with him. In 1984, Mailer wrote asking Vidal to end their feud, inviting him to help raise money for a PEN World Congress by joining an impressive list of writers including John Updike, Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bill Styron, Arthur Miller, William Buckley, Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer. Vidal chose to share an evening with Mailer who, throughout his life, was a great supporter of PEN. According to Norris, “He was also a great supporter of aspiring writers, replying to letters with encouraging words and sending manuscripts to agents. I used to call Norman, ‘Henry Higgins.’ He was always trying to take someone and make them into someone wonderful. He liked it when one of them succeeded and was generous with his time and advice.”

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Norris Church Mailer was the name Norman made up for her. She was born Barbara Jean Davis in Moses Lake, Washington where her father, James{{pg|499|500}}

had a job on the O’Sullivan Dam and the family joined the Freewill Baptist Church. They moved to Little Rock. Feisty, three-year-old Barbara won Little Miss Little Rock and grew into a beautiful young woman—think Julianne Moore colouring and bone structure and then some. Norris was deeply conflicted between rebelling against her strict Christian upbringing and worrying about sin. Larry Norris, her first husband, was two years ahead of her in high school. They started dating in 1966. Vietnam was just beginning. Larry paid his way through school on a scholarship, which meant joining the army when he graduated. At 17, she lost her virginity to Larry. The earth didn’t move, but in the eyes of God she knew she was married. The sex improved. She entered Arkansas Technical College to major in art. They married in August 1969. Aged 20, she knew she was making a mistake but was saving her soul from hellfire. Matthew was born in 1972. Both parents adored him but they divorced in February 1974. As Norris recounts, “The break up was my fault. ~~We'd~~ met as children. I always felt, in some part of me, that I was just marking time until my real life started.”

had a job on the O’Sullivan Dam and the family joined the Freewill Baptist Church. They moved to Little Rock. Feisty, three-year-old Barbara won Little Miss Little Rock and grew into a beautiful young woman—think Julianne Moore colouring and bone structure and then some. Norris was deeply conflicted between rebelling against her strict Christian upbringing and worrying about sin. Larry Norris, her first husband, was two years ahead of her in high school. They started dating in 1966. Vietnam was just beginning. Larry paid his way through school on a scholarship, which meant joining the army when he graduated. At 17, she lost her virginity to Larry. The earth didn’t move, but in the eyes of God she knew she was married. The sex improved. She entered Arkansas Technical College to major in art. They married in August 1969. Aged 20, she knew she was making a mistake but was saving her soul from hellfire. Matthew was born in 1972. Both parents adored him but they divorced in February 1974. As Norris recounts, “The break up was my fault. We’d met as children. I always felt, in some part of me, that I was just marking time until my real life started.”

The ex-Mrs. Norris then taught Art in Russellville High School. Her students voted her Outstanding Teacher of the year. She caught the eye of a charismatic twenty-seven-year-old man named Bill Clinton who was running for Congress. One of the wittiest lines in her memoir recalls when, years later in New York, the scandals broke and a man she knew socially who was in politics said, “I guess he slept with every woman in Arkansas except you Norris.” “Sorry,” I replied. “I’m afraid he got us all.” Norris knew that Clinton would become President and she recalls: “I even wrote in a little book I gave him: See you in The White House.” He was and is pretty hard to resist. But let me put it this way. Although he’s lovely, I would not have wanted to marry Bill Clinton.”

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house, and I had a fulfilling job. I was dating a lot. I knew Norman Mailer was older than my dad, but when we met at dinner later (Norman had taken one look at Norris and insisted Fig invite her to dinner), he didn’t seem old. He looked young and attractive and was obviously very interested in me. When someone is interested in you—really concentrating and not looking over your shoulder, which considering my shoes would have been easy for Norman—well, I was interested too.”

At the time Mailer was separated from his fourth wife, Beverley, but not quite separated from Carol, with whom he had a daughter, Maggie, who was six months older than Matt. At 9:30 pm Norris had to leave the party to collect Matt, who was with his father. Norman suggested that they pick him up together. Norris recounts, “Watching him hold my sleeping boy touched me.” Norman Mailer was the first man Norris ever brought back to her house while her son was there. She told Norman about her desire to write, about her marriage and her divorce. He told her about his life, his wives, his children and how he was being pulled in so many directions—and not only Carol—there was another relationship he was trying to get out of too. Curiously, both of them had first married when they were twenty.

At the time Mailer was separated from his fourth wife, Beverley, but not quite separated from Carol, with whom he had a daughter, Maggie, who was six months older than Matt. At 9:30 pm Norris had to leave the party to collect Matt, who was with his father. Norman suggested that they pick him up together. Norris recounts, “Watching him hold my sleeping boy touched me.”

Norman Mailer was the first man Norris ever brought back to her house while her son was there. She told Norman about her desire to write, about her marriage and her divorce. He told her about his life, his wives, his children and how he was being pulled in so many directions—and not only Carol—there was another relationship he was trying to get out of too. Curiously, both of them had first married when they were twenty.

They made love on the floor, which wasn’t that great. Norris writes about it: “How could it have been? But then there are few great ones on the first try.

Most guys never get near to great under any circumstance.” Norman left the next day without ever signing her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe. He invited Norris to meet him in New York. As Norris says, “I lied to my parents who looked after Matt. I told them I was going to an art convention.” Her close girlfriends, whom she still has to this day, thought that she would go to New York and get Norman Mailer out of her system.

Most guys never get ''near'' to great under any circumstance.” Norman left the next day without ever signing her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe. He invited Norris to meet him in New York. As Norris says, “I lied to my parents who looked after Matt. I told them I was going to an art convention.” Her close girlfriends, whom she still has to this day, thought that she would go to New York and get Norman Mailer out of her system.

Eventually they had to confront the truth. Norris had fallen in love with a man of fifty-two who lived in New York, was a lousy marriage prospect, and had fathered more than anyone’s fair share of children. Norris recalls, “When my father realised I was serious about Norman he said, ‘Well you know that in twenty years time you're going to end up as his nurse. ~~He's~~ going to be an old man? I told him. ‘Well daddy, I may go first and why give up 20 years of happiness for something that might never happen?’ I’d say that again. None of us know what’s going to happen. If you’re happy right now, that’s more than most people get.” Later, whenever another Norman Mailer story hit the headlines, Norris would call her parents to warn them about what was in the papers. Norris summarizes, “I didn’t like it and neither did they but that’s{{pg|501|502}}

Eventually they had to confront the truth. Norris had fallen in love with a man of fifty-two who lived in New York, was a lousy marriage prospect, and had fathered more than anyone’s fair share of children. Norris recalls, “When my father realised I was serious about Norman he said, ‘Well you know that in twenty years time you're going to end up as his nurse. He’s going to be an old man? I told him. ‘Well daddy, I may go first and why give up 20 years of happiness for something that might never happen?’ I’d say that again. None of us know what’s going to happen. If you’re happy right now, that’s more than most people get.” Later, whenever another Norman Mailer story hit the headlines, Norris would call her parents to warn them about what was in the papers. Norris summarizes, “I didn’t like it and neither did they but that’s{{pg|501|502}}

how it was.” Norman and her parents didn’t have much to talk about, “But,” Norris recounts, “they respected each other and got on fine.”

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What did Norris have that so endeared her to Norman’s children? Why did she succeed where the other wives failed? She is never going to say anything about any of the other wives: “I was an only child so having this huge family was wonderful. Susan, Norman’s oldest was the same age as me. It was like gaining a sister. The older kids were like siblings, the younger ones loved Matt and when John came along, they loved him too. Most of the time the kids lived with their mothers. They had their own lives but they spent summers with Norman in Maine, swimming, canoeing, climbing and being this big family. Norman was a wonderful father. They could see how happy he was. That hadn’t happened in a long time. Norman was very outdoorsy. During those first family summers I pretended I was more athletic than I really was. By the time he found out it was much too late. He was pretty formidable, radiating energy like a steam heater. But he didn’t phase me. I think that’s one of the reasons he found me attractive—the fact that I wasn’t phased.”

Did Mailer ever sign her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe? “He ~~didn't~~ write in it until I was already living with him in New York,” Norris recalls: This is what he wrote—To Barbara. Because I knew when I wrote this book that someone I had not yet met would read it and be with me. Hey, Baby, do you know how I love Barbara Davis and Norris Church?” Norman. Feb ’76.”

Did Mailer ever sign her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe? “He didn’t write in it until I was already living with him in New York,” Norris recalls: This is what he wrote—To Barbara. Because I knew when I wrote this book that someone I had not yet met would read it and be with me. Hey, Baby, do you know how I love Barbara Davis and Norris Church?” Norman. Feb ’76.”

By any standard, Norris Church Mailer has had an unbelievable life.{{pg|502|503}}

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 {{Byline|last=Fox|first=Sue |abstract=An interview with Norris Church Mailer discussing her relationship with Norman Mailer. |note=This interview took place on January 18, 2010 in the Mailer Brooklyn Heights home. |url=}}
-{{dc|dc=O|n the face of it, a twenty-six-year-old high school art teacher}} raised by strict Arkansas Baptists whose grandparents were sharecroppers and muleskinners, and America’s wildest literary lion—at 52, already a year older than her father-with seven children, five failed marriages and other affairs in his wake—didn’t have much going for it. But who is anyone to judge? Men and women with no obvious link in their culture, backgrounds or achievements are drawn to one another and the alchemy works. Norris Church Mailer and Norman Mailer were one of those couples. Apart from their cultural mismatch and age difference, in her platform soles, the strikingly beautiful, willowy five-foot-ten redhead, towered above Mailer, who was barely five-foot-eight.
+{{dc|dc=O|n the face of it, a twenty-six-year-old high school art teacher}} raised by strict Arkansas Baptists whose grandparents were sharecroppers and muleskinners, and America’s wildest literary lion—at 52, already a year older than her father—with seven children, five failed marriages and other affairs in his wake—didn’t have much going for it. But who is anyone to judge? Men and women with no obvious link in their culture, backgrounds or achievements are drawn to one another and the alchemy works. Norris Church Mailer and Norman Mailer were one of those couples. Apart from their cultural mismatch and age difference, in her platform soles, the strikingly beautiful, willowy five-foot-ten redhead, towered above Mailer, who was barely five-foot-eight.
 Their love affair—painful and stormy as it sometimes was—endured until the day Mailer died—November 10, 2007. He was eighty-four. Norris, who shared the same birthday as her more famous husband, January 31, is sixty-one. As she says,
@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 {{quote|“We were together thirty-three years, which by any measure is a long marriage. Every love story has its ups and downs and we certainly had ours, but I would say it was one of the great love stories. When you think about it, the two of us were kind of impossible. Norman and his wives sounded a bit like Henry VIII. Nobody would have put our two characters in a novel and imagined that the sixth wife would be the big love story.”}} {{pg|495|496}}
-Except that, deep in her heart, Norris knew that the barrel-chested, blue-eyed Jewish intellectual heavyweight-one of the great voices of post-war American literature-loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. She writes about it in her memoir.
+Except that, deep in her heart, Norris knew that the barrel-chested, blue-eyed Jewish intellectual heavyweight—one of the great voices of post—war American literature-loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. She writes about it in her memoir.
 {{quote|“Through the years, no matter the circumstances of our passions and rages, our boredoms, angers and betrayals, large and small, sex was the chord that bound us together; it was the thick wire woven from thousands of shared experiences that never broke, indeed was hardly frayed and only got stronger, no matter how the bonds of marriage were tested. Even in the worst times we had many years later, when we almost separated, somehow, inexplicably, at night we would cling to each other, drawn like powerful magnets, the familiarity of our bodies putting salve on the wounds we had inflicted during the day, until over time the warring ended and the love remained. The only thing that brought it to an end was old age, illness and death itself.”}}
@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
 She writes about the rude people: “and there are way too many rude people in this world asking her ‘Which wife are ''you?''’” Never for a moment did she doubt her short although possibly not sweet answer: “The last one.”
-Love him or hate him, no one ever sat on the fence when it came to Norman Mailer, perhaps the most pugnacious writer of his generation. In 1948, his first partly autobiographical novel, ''The Naked and The Dead'', brought him fame and huge public acclaim. He was twenty-five years old. Over the next six decades, center stage, he published more than thirty books, including novels and non-fiction on subjects as disparate as Mohammed Ali and Marilyn Monroe. He twice won the Pulitzer Prize, for ''Armies of the Night'' (1968) and “The Executioner’s Song” (1979). Mailer wrote essays as well as writing, directing and occasionally, acting in low-budget movies. He helped found ''The Village Voice'' magazine. He was a regular and highly opinionated guest on TV talk shows who actively sought publicity and public attention.{{pg|496|497}}
+Love him or hate him, no one ever sat on the fence when it came to Norman Mailer, perhaps the most pugnacious writer of his generation. In 1948, his first partly autobiographical novel, ''The Naked and The Dead'', brought him fame and huge public acclaim. He was twenty-five years old. Over the next six decades, center stage, he published more than thirty books, including novels and non-fiction on subjects as disparate as Mohammed Ali and Marilyn Monroe. He twice won the Pulitzer Prize, for ''Armies of the Night'' (1968) and ''The Executioner’s Song'' (1979). Mailer wrote essays as well as writing, directing and occasionally, acting in low-budget movies. He helped found ''The Village Voice'' magazine. He was a regular and highly opinionated guest on TV talk shows who actively sought publicity and public attention.{{pg|496|497}}
 Mailer once ran for Mayor of New York. He was an anti-war protester, an opponent of women’s liberation, and a man who railed against the evils of plastic. He railed against many things and, no mean boxer, could pick a fight at the least provocation. He stabbed his second wife, Adele. Gore Vidal frequently argued with him. In 1984, Mailer wrote asking Vidal to end their feud, inviting him to help raise money for a PEN World Congress by joining an impressive list of writers including John Updike, Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Bill Styron, Arthur Miller, William Buckley, Kurt Vonnegut and Norman Mailer. Vidal chose to share an evening with Mailer who, throughout his life, was a great supporter of PEN. According to Norris, “He was also a great supporter of aspiring writers, replying to letters with encouraging words and sending manuscripts to agents. I used to call Norman, ‘Henry Higgins.’ He was always trying to take someone and make them into someone wonderful. He liked it when one of them succeeded and was generous with his time and advice.”
@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 Norris Church Mailer was the name Norman made up for her. She was born Barbara Jean Davis in Moses Lake, Washington where her father, James{{pg|499|500}}
-had a job on the O’Sullivan Dam and the family joined the Freewill Baptist Church. They moved to Little Rock. Feisty, three-year-old Barbara won Little Miss Little Rock and grew into a beautiful young woman—think Julianne Moore colouring and bone structure and then some. Norris was deeply conflicted between rebelling against her strict Christian upbringing and worrying about sin. Larry Norris, her first husband, was two years ahead of her in high school. They started dating in 1966. Vietnam was just beginning. Larry paid his way through school on a scholarship, which meant joining the army when he graduated. At 17, she lost her virginity to Larry. The earth didn’t move, but in the eyes of God she knew she was married. The sex improved. She entered Arkansas Technical College to major in art. They married in August 1969. Aged 20, she knew she was making a mistake but was saving her soul from hellfire. Matthew was born in 1972. Both parents adored him but they divorced in February 1974. As Norris recounts, “The break up was my fault. We'd met as children. I always felt, in some part of me, that I was just marking time until my real life started.”
+had a job on the O’Sullivan Dam and the family joined the Freewill Baptist Church. They moved to Little Rock. Feisty, three-year-old Barbara won Little Miss Little Rock and grew into a beautiful young woman—think Julianne Moore colouring and bone structure and then some. Norris was deeply conflicted between rebelling against her strict Christian upbringing and worrying about sin. Larry Norris, her first husband, was two years ahead of her in high school. They started dating in 1966. Vietnam was just beginning. Larry paid his way through school on a scholarship, which meant joining the army when he graduated. At 17, she lost her virginity to Larry. The earth didn’t move, but in the eyes of God she knew she was married. The sex improved. She entered Arkansas Technical College to major in art. They married in August 1969. Aged 20, she knew she was making a mistake but was saving her soul from hellfire. Matthew was born in 1972. Both parents adored him but they divorced in February 1974. As Norris recounts, “The break up was my fault. We’d met as children. I always felt, in some part of me, that I was just marking time until my real life started.”
 The ex-Mrs. Norris then taught Art in Russellville High School. Her students voted her Outstanding Teacher of the year. She caught the eye of a charismatic twenty-seven-year-old man named Bill Clinton who was running for Congress. One of the wittiest lines in her memoir recalls when, years later in New York, the scandals broke and a man she knew socially who was in politics said, “I guess he slept with every woman in Arkansas except you Norris.” “Sorry,” I replied. “I’m afraid he got us all.” Norris knew that Clinton would become President and she recalls: “I even wrote in a little book I gave him: See you in The White House.” He was and is pretty hard to resist. But let me put it this way. Although he’s lovely, I would not have wanted to marry Bill Clinton.”
@@ Line 136: / Line 136: @@
 house, and I had a fulfilling job. I was dating a lot. I knew Norman Mailer was older than my dad, but when we met at dinner later (Norman had taken one look at Norris and insisted Fig invite her to dinner), he didn’t seem old. He looked young and attractive and was obviously very interested in me. When someone is interested in you—really concentrating and not looking over your shoulder, which considering my shoes would have been easy for Norman—well, I was interested too.”
-At the time Mailer was separated from his fourth wife, Beverley, but not quite separated from Carol, with whom he had a daughter, Maggie, who was six months older than Matt. At 9:30 pm Norris had to leave the party to collect Matt, who was with his father. Norman suggested that they pick him up together. Norris recounts, “Watching him hold my sleeping boy touched me.” Norman Mailer was the first man Norris ever brought back to her house while her son was there. She told Norman about her desire to write, about her marriage and her divorce. He told her about his life, his wives, his children and how he was being pulled in so many directions—and not only Carol—there was another relationship he was trying to get out of too. Curiously, both of them had first married when they were twenty.
+At the time Mailer was separated from his fourth wife, Beverley, but not quite separated from Carol, with whom he had a daughter, Maggie, who was six months older than Matt. At 9:30 pm Norris had to leave the party to collect Matt, who was with his father. Norman suggested that they pick him up together. Norris recounts, “Watching him hold my sleeping boy touched me.”
+Norman Mailer was the first man Norris ever brought back to her house while her son was there. She told Norman about her desire to write, about her marriage and her divorce. He told her about his life, his wives, his children and how he was being pulled in so many directions—and not only Carol—there was another relationship he was trying to get out of too. Curiously, both of them had first married when they were twenty.
 They made love on the floor, which wasn’t that great. Norris writes about it: “How could it have been? But then there are few great ones on the first try.
-Most guys never get near to great under any circumstance.” Norman left the next day without ever signing her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe. He invited Norris to meet him in New York. As Norris says, “I lied to my parents who looked after Matt. I told them I was going to an art convention.” Her close girlfriends, whom she still has to this day, thought that she would go to New York and get Norman Mailer out of her system.
+Most guys never get ''near'' to great under any circumstance.” Norman left the next day without ever signing her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe. He invited Norris to meet him in New York. As Norris says, “I lied to my parents who looked after Matt. I told them I was going to an art convention.” Her close girlfriends, whom she still has to this day, thought that she would go to New York and get Norman Mailer out of her system.
-Eventually they had to confront the truth. Norris had fallen in love with a man of fifty-two who lived in New York, was a lousy marriage prospect, and had fathered more than anyone’s fair share of children. Norris recalls, “When my father realised I was serious about Norman he said, ‘Well you know that in twenty years time you're going to end up as his nurse. He's going to be an old man? I told him. ‘Well daddy, I may go first and why give up 20 years of happiness for something that might never happen?’ I’d say that again. None of us know what’s going to happen. If you’re happy right now, that’s more than most people get.” Later, whenever another Norman Mailer story hit the headlines, Norris would call her parents to warn them about what was in the papers. Norris summarizes, “I didn’t like it and neither did they but that’s{{pg|501|502}}
+Eventually they had to confront the truth. Norris had fallen in love with a man of fifty-two who lived in New York, was a lousy marriage prospect, and had fathered more than anyone’s fair share of children. Norris recalls, “When my father realised I was serious about Norman he said, ‘Well you know that in twenty years time you're going to end up as his nurse. He’s going to be an old man? I told him. ‘Well daddy, I may go first and why give up 20 years of happiness for something that might never happen?’ I’d say that again. None of us know what’s going to happen. If you’re happy right now, that’s more than most people get.” Later, whenever another Norman Mailer story hit the headlines, Norris would call her parents to warn them about what was in the papers. Norris summarizes, “I didn’t like it and neither did they but that’s{{pg|501|502}}
 how it was.” Norman and her parents didn’t have much to talk about, “But,” Norris recounts, “they respected each other and got on fine.”
@@ Line 152: / Line 154: @@
 What did Norris have that so endeared her to Norman’s children? Why did she succeed where the other wives failed? She is never going to say anything about any of the other wives: “I was an only child so having this huge family was wonderful. Susan, Norman’s oldest was the same age as me. It was like gaining a sister. The older kids were like siblings, the younger ones loved Matt and when John came along, they loved him too. Most of the time the kids lived with their mothers. They had their own lives but they spent summers with Norman in Maine, swimming, canoeing, climbing and being this big family. Norman was a wonderful father. They could see how happy he was. That hadn’t happened in a long time. Norman was very outdoorsy. During those first family summers I pretended I was more athletic than I really was. By the time he found out it was much too late. He was pretty formidable, radiating energy like a steam heater. But he didn’t phase me. I think that’s one of the reasons he found me attractive—the fact that I wasn’t phased.”
-Did Mailer ever sign her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe? “He didn't write in it until I was already living with him in New York,” Norris recalls: This is what he wrote—To Barbara. Because I knew when I wrote this book that someone I had not yet met would read it and be with me. Hey, Baby, do you know how I love Barbara Davis and Norris Church?” Norman. Feb ’76.”
+Did Mailer ever sign her copy of his book on Marilyn Monroe? “He didn’t write in it until I was already living with him in New York,” Norris recalls: This is what he wrote—To Barbara. Because I knew when I wrote this book that someone I had not yet met would read it and be with me. Hey, Baby, do you know how I love Barbara Davis and Norris Church?” Norman. Feb ’76.”
 By any standard, Norris Church Mailer has had an unbelievable life.{{pg|502|503}}