A message from Michigan

So my old mentor (as in, from years ago) Gary Custer was alerted to my post that mentioned him and wrote me an email.

He says he rarely drank more than a half case of beer a day in 1976 and that his "gentle" cat, Ronin Neko, lived to be 22 years old.

Isn't that a cool name for a cat? I had forgotten the cat's name (and apparently the rate of beer consumption). I was never one to pass up certain substances myself back then, so my memory was probably hampered by ... oh dear, I do get myself into pickles, don't I?

Someday I'll have to dig out my East Village Magazines from back then, find a scanner and show you the amazing photographs Gary took (he probably still does). Although I love all good photography (check out the blog South End Blend if you do, too), his specialty was black and white photos.

I did not learn any particular photographic techniques from Gary, but I do still cringe every time I see someone with a camera slung around their neck (should be over the shoulder, he told me, to prevent jostling) and also taking photos with one hand.

Of course, this relates to 35mm cameras, of which I own 3 in addition to the crappy digital camera.

Thus ends my reminiscences of 1976 to whatever year it was I moved out of Flint's East Village and into Pontiac, Michigan. Yes, hometown of Madonna. I was the one who encouraged her to "be herself."

OK, I lie ... our paths never crossed, that I know of.