Category Archives: 80s

A Curse on the White Man

October 11, 2024 – 10:02 am

Young men in the 1960s were constantly warned about the dangers of drugs, rock n roll, and sex. Sex not only led you to hell, but to Syphilis. We had no idea what Syphilis was, how you got it, and what you did once you had it other than horrific tales of doctors shoving an […]

By Peter | Also posted in medicine, PARIS | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Osama’s Brother

September 11, 2024 – 9:01 am

Back in 1984 I was visiting friends in London. Vonelli was living behind Harrods. A small studio in which Eric Burdon of the Animals’ wrote SAN FRANCISCO NIGHTS. This landlady was from America. Her daughter was a beauty. Her boyfriend was a Saudi pilot. he bought us champagne. Crystal not Moet. His girlfriend introduced him […]

By Peter | Also posted in England, War | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

In Vino Veritas or Oblivio

June 20, 2024 – 12:03 pm

From 1847 to her death in 1901 Queen Victoria had ruled the British Empire from Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight. Prince Albert, her consort, had designed the royal residence with the aid of Thomas Cubitt, the London architect. Once finished the Italian Renaissance palazzo on the Solent Osbourne House served as a refuge […]

By Peter | Also posted in England, semi-fiction | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

BETTER LUCKY THAN GOOD by Peter Nolan Smith

June 18, 2024 – 8:02 am

Back in October of 1990 a greasy nor-easter ruined Columbus Day weekend for New York. I shut my windows for the first time in months and dressed to leave my apartment for breakfast at the Veselka Diner on 2nd Avenue. The shoes and jacket seemed unnaturally heavy after a season of shorts and sandals. Luckily […]

By Peter | Also posted in france, semi-fiction, women | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

THE ONLY YEH YEH GIRL By Peter Nolan Smith

June 12, 2024 – 5:20 am

The teenagers of the 1950s worshipped Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Buddy Holly as dead gods. My generation preferred the living and the stars of the 1960s were transported by TV and radio to my family house south of Boston. Bob Dylan’s BLOWING IN THE WIND knocked Elvis off his throne and the Beatles enthralled […]

By Peter | Also posted in Beauty, PARIS, semi-fiction | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)