"Just Kids" chronicles a magical time. A time of immense creativity, combined with the unbridled freedom to express it. A time that came and went like a white-hot flash. It follows the friendship of two incredibly artistic and misunderstood kids. Robert Mapplethorpe was Patti's first friend in New York City in 1969. They clicked from the start, sensing something remarkable in one another. That love and friendship propelled them both toward eventual success and major recognition.
And the rest is history... Smith writes in the most jaw-droppingly beautiful style. Such a tribute to her friend!
Throughout, I thought of my own wonderful friend and muse, James. When we met in 1979, it was love at first sight. Never physical love, though we shared a bed many times. No, this love was different. We both felt like we had finally met that person who really "got us", after feeling odd and misunderstood for the better part of our twenty-something years.
Through life's various misadventures, our love and mutual respect remains steadfast. Through heartbreak, marriages, parenthood, loss, and more. Some friendships didn't stand the test of time. They crashed and burned or fizzled out quietly. But not us. We made it through.
There have been occasional speed bumps in our friendship over the last 34 years, but it always come back to one undeniable fact. That we need each other in a way that no other friend or partner can ever fulfill. It continues to be a necessary force in our very different lives.
Someday, I will fill a book with our own stories. Some day.
7 comments:
You are lucky to have held on to such a good friend.
I "missed" the 70's and am really ignorant of the whole decade in the U.S. because I was in Switzerland, re-living the 50's!
What a lovely tribute to your friend! :) Has he visited you in Hawaii?
He has not, JoJo. But he has spent time on the Big Island and it's neighbors in years past. These days, he is the care provider to his 90-year old father, who lives with him in San Francisco. I look forward to a time when he is free to fly over and stay with us.
He can't fly anymore; because Chaney ordered The planes to fly into the buildings on that fateful day. Such an inconvienience. And with the TSA (That's "Terrorist Support Administration") Making air travel no fun anymore. He doesn't see that happening anytime in his future. But He still loves his Pal no matter what.(<>};~}
I did mean "Go fuck yourself Mr. Chaney"but; If you speak or spell their name correctly you give them power as if they existed. I don't know... I am to fat to fit in any seat except possibly first class but since the decline of credit cards I don't have my AMEX card to default on anymore and the Matson lines don't sail... HMMM I have seen a pig fly (At a Pink Floyd concert)so I just don't know......
You aren't as fat as many of the peeps on the plane. And I prefer "rotund"!!!
One of the many things I adore about Hawaii is that there are lots of BIG locals.
Which is why I love being at the beaches--nothing like fatophobic California!
I saw a bed fly once--when I worked a Pink Floyd show in 1989.
Just had to add the pic of James with his son...That little dude is 26 now!
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