When David and Georgia were married, he liked to take pictures of her naked. During the divorce, custody of the slides became an issue.

(from Inventing the Abbots and Other Stories)

This story was like a kick to the gut. I saw myself in all the characters. I don’t think you’ve got to get old to feel old, but it helps. If you have the chance to read this, I suggest you do, kinda late at night, when you haven’t talked to somebody for hours. Worked for me.

I bought the book used last year when a shop called Molly’s here in Philly closed down. This was the first time I opened it, and when I did, a liquor store receipt fluttered out. It’s from October 28, 2000. It’s got a name on it. I hope Judith bought the three bottles of Chardonnay, the Pinot Grigio and the Crown Royal for a Halloween party, and that she had a good time. I hope the line that says Account Balance 0.00 is merely some default setting, and that she didn’t actually spend her last $54 even on liquor at Suwannee Beverage Superstore in Northern Georgia. Or that she did and it was the right move.