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The Mailer Review/Volume 3, 2009/Courtly Mailer: The Legacy Derby: Difference between revisions
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Later, when alone, I mused whether I had momentarily held on to Norman Mailer or Father Time. | |||
Neither Phil nor I wanted a repeat of the 1972 mayhem of the Kathy Freepersons and other “Prisoners of Sex.” I was worried, after that ramp episode, that tonight’s honored guest might morph into the “Prisoner of Aging.” Again I was wrong. Norman, refreshed, turned up early at Phil’s house and stayed late. He was in a youthful high gear. | |||
He settled, as usual, in the center of the room, comfortably seated with his | |||
canes parked, as he personally welcomed one and all. Norman was fully | |||
enjoying himself and the crowd of approximately sixty people. There was no | |||
waiting line to speak to Norman. In fine fettle, Norman rose to the occasion. | |||
The party played on: catered home food, a well-stocked bar, and a lovely | |||
spacious setting. It was a well-behaved gathering, clearly the antithesis of the | |||
1972 “Hippy Happening.” | |||
I surveyed the room. It looked idyllic, harmonious, except for a possible | |||
minor eruption. There was a faculty colleague and possible troublemaker, | |||
who was a born celebrity confronter. He loved to muscle in, razz and rattle, | |||
and out-argue and outwit the honored guest. Most celebrity guests thought | |||
him harmless, but what about the legendary Mailer volcanic temper? They | |||
sat and huddled. I looked away, cooled down and counted, and when I | |||
looked again they were both laughing. Score one for the jovial octogenarian, who was, literally, the life of the party. | |||
Phil mentioned to me that his 13-year-old son, Phil Jr., was a baseball | |||
pitcher and asked Norman to autograph his prized baseball. Norman did so, | |||
saying, “I’ve signed all kinds of things, even body parts, but this is the first | |||
time I have ever signed a baseball.” So Norman Mailer and his mighty pen | |||
and “America’s Favorite Pastime” put a signature on the evening. The Tampa | |||
farewell party could not have been better. | |||
The next morning, Norman and Mike kept saying to Phil and me, “We’re going to be seeing you two again and again.” On the way to the airport, I | |||
overheard Norman say to the driver, “I was looking forward to this visit, and | |||
it was even better.” | |||
After his departure, I was left with one pensive question. On this visit did I learn more about Norman Mailer or Father Time and, if the latter—were my future Mailer “visits” on a shortlist, numbered? | |||
===PROVINCETOWN (2005-2007)=== | |||