Poignant post. I especially liked this: "My father’s world had gatekeepers and snobbery and its own cruelties, but it also had time, and time is the medium grace lives in."
What an evocative piece this is. Not only do I see you inherited Herb's passion for assessing the world, you demonstrate his ability to translate that to words. This brought tears to my eyes, Ari. When I met Herb Gold in 1979, we chatted about Haiti, as well as San Francisco. I told you I was reading "The Best Nightmare on Earth" when I returned from Haiti after 9/11 where I had been conducting a training for Peace Corps. I brought back a CD of a Haitian music group and mailed it to him. I called him in 2010 a few days after the horrific earthquake there to let him know that an orthopedic surgeon friend of mine was organizing a team to fly and over to children with limbs mangled by that event. You're right about Haiti being Herb's first lasting love. Later, after you dad fell in love with San Francisco, I met him there several times and remember he even took me once to the San Francisco Press Club. Another time he hiked up the steep hill of States Street in Twin Peaks near the Castro. I was visiting my dad and he wanted to talk to him about the years my father managed The Beige Room, that featured gay performers. I'm delighted that you are in Mexico. I lived for five years in Central America and visited Mexico frequently. I hope your film comes to a local Southern California festival, so I have a chance to see it. Much love from Terri Elders.
yes I certainly hope to finally bring it to Southern California, this will happen, soon enough. Good memories of San Francisco, heels, Haiti, and all of it. my dad always walked the hills, the feature in the movie too, you will be happy to know.
A beautiful, heartfelt essay, Ari. The loss of the Oloffson, where so many of us journalists and artists spent years of our lives, was a gut punch, but is just one of the many other staggering tragedies and losses that Haiti has endured over the past 40 years. Graham Greene, who also would have been devastated, once wrote: "All good novelists have bad memories. What you remember comes out as journalism; what you forget goes into the compost of the imagination." Somehow, I like to think that all this suffering contributes to the "compost" out of which a new, even more wonderful Haiti (dare I say world?) can sprout. I look to viewing your film.
Wow Ari. We'll have to talk about Haiti next time we see each other. I too spent 2 years in Haiti in my 20s, '85-'87. I sat on that same porch at the Olaffson. I lost many friends in 2010. For now it's impossible to go back there and it will never be the same. And not just Haiti.
Beautifully articulated. Best with the film.
thanks david
Poignant post. I especially liked this: "My father’s world had gatekeepers and snobbery and its own cruelties, but it also had time, and time is the medium grace lives in."
thanks vincent
BTW folks the film is amazing!
What an evocative piece this is. Not only do I see you inherited Herb's passion for assessing the world, you demonstrate his ability to translate that to words. This brought tears to my eyes, Ari. When I met Herb Gold in 1979, we chatted about Haiti, as well as San Francisco. I told you I was reading "The Best Nightmare on Earth" when I returned from Haiti after 9/11 where I had been conducting a training for Peace Corps. I brought back a CD of a Haitian music group and mailed it to him. I called him in 2010 a few days after the horrific earthquake there to let him know that an orthopedic surgeon friend of mine was organizing a team to fly and over to children with limbs mangled by that event. You're right about Haiti being Herb's first lasting love. Later, after you dad fell in love with San Francisco, I met him there several times and remember he even took me once to the San Francisco Press Club. Another time he hiked up the steep hill of States Street in Twin Peaks near the Castro. I was visiting my dad and he wanted to talk to him about the years my father managed The Beige Room, that featured gay performers. I'm delighted that you are in Mexico. I lived for five years in Central America and visited Mexico frequently. I hope your film comes to a local Southern California festival, so I have a chance to see it. Much love from Terri Elders.
yes I certainly hope to finally bring it to Southern California, this will happen, soon enough. Good memories of San Francisco, heels, Haiti, and all of it. my dad always walked the hills, the feature in the movie too, you will be happy to know.
A beautiful, heartfelt essay, Ari. The loss of the Oloffson, where so many of us journalists and artists spent years of our lives, was a gut punch, but is just one of the many other staggering tragedies and losses that Haiti has endured over the past 40 years. Graham Greene, who also would have been devastated, once wrote: "All good novelists have bad memories. What you remember comes out as journalism; what you forget goes into the compost of the imagination." Somehow, I like to think that all this suffering contributes to the "compost" out of which a new, even more wonderful Haiti (dare I say world?) can sprout. I look to viewing your film.
I agree and we are all compost for some unknown future
Touching. Thank you for sharing.
thank u jeanine .
Wow Ari. We'll have to talk about Haiti next time we see each other. I too spent 2 years in Haiti in my 20s, '85-'87. I sat on that same porch at the Olaffson. I lost many friends in 2010. For now it's impossible to go back there and it will never be the same. And not just Haiti.
yes lots to share about that magical place!
It's been 40 years but I can still speak kreyol and remember every bit of my time there. Yes, magical.
Thank you Ari, I would love to see the film. We miss Herb and think of him and Leo and Carolyn often. Jerry Garchik in S F
Yes thank you Jerry - we will be finding our way to theaters possible in February - working on it! All the best.
loved