Subject: PHS'62 Lightfoot's Book Suggestion
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 23:27:42 -0700
From: Frank Simpson
To: "James Lightfoot" ; ALL

First of all--Hi Jim!

Initially I like the book idea but the lawyer in me has some "reservations" about copyrights, royalties, privacy issues, etc. These issues can be taken up later if needs be. I am sure that the rest of the lawyers in the class know these issues better than I do.

At present I am still overwhelmed with the postings to date. If there ever was to be a book, Tom Jones has written the preface.

But the idea needs more definition. I think it is more than a sociological study. I have had a vague feeling for years that our generation as identified by our particular class was unique-basically because of who we were as well as the time and place we grew up.

The real rub is going to be the premise--is it to be a documentary or "fact based" fiction? I don't see it as a toting up of points in a material dollar sense. Yes, money and material things are important but that is not my definition of a successful life. Don Heytman's post seems to have broken the ice a bit and I hope even more people will come out--including a few lurkers that I KNOW are there:-)! Folks, at this stage in life just being here with a roof over your head is a SUCCESS.

Jim, I am not throwing cold water on the idea. The fact that I am even responding to it means that I have a certain attraction to it. And I'll go even one step further (something I rarely do) and will help with putting it together. But I know that there is at least one other class member who has formal training as a writer. My "creative" writing efforts (outside of past legal briefs and memos) are occasional op-ed pieces in the Press Democrat. Though there was the time a few years back when I created a fictional wine institute spoofing the local wine business in Sonoma and Napa. It got totally out of hand as some people thought it was real and wanted to visit the "Internationale Instituto de Vino."

In any event if the idea matures in conversations while you and the others are in Peoria, let me know.

For now I must go to "radio silence" for a few days to take care of things.

Frank Simpson