NOTE: I previously published this piece on May 3, 2014, the first day I announced my “semi-retirement” from USC (the University of Southern California where I had been a theater professor for almost 3 decades).
Sweet piece. I’m paying more attention to my Substack subscription, my languishing Substack too, my hanging on subscribers. I remember meeting Earl. He was all you say so well and probably more hidden away in an inspiring personality built on an unfair share of heartbreak. My hunch is he didn’t pay much attention to, or couldn’t find his way into our Sickcare System. When I was a medical intern every third patient I admitted at Kaiser Oakland had a stroke. The 70’s began a revolution in the treatment of hypertension that to this day has reduced stroke by 90%. My hunch is Earl relied on his beer meds more than anything else. R.I.P. Perl.
Thanks, Bobby. Earl, surprisingly, AFTER he had his stroke, was cared for by the Sickcare System for about 2-3 months b4 he passed. He was mostly incapacitated, and no doubt NEEDED much more of his BEER MEDS! R.I.P.
Except for the fact that she’s alive and still in command of some faculties with the help of a very supportive system, Dick’s wife likely got/gets the best Sickcare has to offer. Is she better off when it comes to living the life you expect, the quality to enjoy what you always have expected to enjoy? Perl Lived his life the way he wanted, likely went out the way he’d hoped. Who knows.
Sweet piece. I’m paying more attention to my Substack subscription, my languishing Substack too, my hanging on subscribers. I remember meeting Earl. He was all you say so well and probably more hidden away in an inspiring personality built on an unfair share of heartbreak. My hunch is he didn’t pay much attention to, or couldn’t find his way into our Sickcare System. When I was a medical intern every third patient I admitted at Kaiser Oakland had a stroke. The 70’s began a revolution in the treatment of hypertension that to this day has reduced stroke by 90%. My hunch is Earl relied on his beer meds more than anything else. R.I.P. Perl.
Thanks, Bobby. Earl, surprisingly, AFTER he had his stroke, was cared for by the Sickcare System for about 2-3 months b4 he passed. He was mostly incapacitated, and no doubt NEEDED much more of his BEER MEDS! R.I.P.
Except for the fact that she’s alive and still in command of some faculties with the help of a very supportive system, Dick’s wife likely got/gets the best Sickcare has to offer. Is she better off when it comes to living the life you expect, the quality to enjoy what you always have expected to enjoy? Perl Lived his life the way he wanted, likely went out the way he’d hoped. Who knows.
Rest in Peace and Power to your friend, Earl. The courts must be missing his presence.
I AM SURE THEY DO, Shaista! R.I.P.
Great story, Eric!
May your memories of Earl be a gift.
Thanks, Robert. My memories of Earl are a gift indeed!