Goodbye J.D.

J.D. Salinger died. Yesterday, I believe. It's such a horrible shame. That's like losing a best friend. The Catcher in the Rye has been one of my favorite books since I first read it several years ago. I've probably reread it and referred to it again dozens of times since then.

I wasn't ever forced to read this book like I know so many people were. My high school english teachers weren't going to take a chance at pissing off parents by making their students read this one. I picked it up completely by choice. And I loved it from page one.

I first started reading it during a particularly dark time in my life. I probably looked pretty cliched--sitting in the waiting room at a therapist's office, thumbing through The Catcher in the Rye and laughing to myself.

Holden really helped me through all that. I could relate to him. He was angry and depressed and confused and he smoked and he cursed. He was like a fictional male version of me. Just another wayward teenager looking for the right path.

So, Rest in Peace, J.D. You will be missed.

"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend to be one of those deaf-mutes..."