 Michael Salinger: poet, performer, teacher, traveler – foto by smith Walking out of an excellent stone oven Mediterranean pizza restaurant last night, I heard an anxious “Señor, señor” behind me. I turned to look, and the waiter handed me my money pouch I’d left lying on the table. After all the openness and courtesy we’ve received from the Oaxaqueños here this past year, his honesty didn’t surprise me (though my absent-minded professor dudeness did). Our friend and fellow poet Michael Salinger from Cleveland Ohio is staying with us for six nights. He and mate/poet/partner/collaborator Sara Holbrook stayed with us in 2006 in Liznan, Croatia. They travel around the world teaching students how to write and speak expressively using Slam Poetry techniques. They have a batch of poetry and educational books out, a good rep, and they just finished gigs in Cairo Egypt and Bali, and’ve been to China, Thailand, Alaska, Bahrain, Istanbul. It’s good to see creative people actually surviving doing what they want to do, on their terms. Mike is approaching his time here uniquely: he rented a mountain bike and every morning spends 3-5 hours riding up and down the mountains (one was an hour and a half up, 20 minutes down). Oaxaca is a mile above sea level and lies in a bowl of mountains rising another 2 to 4,000 feet. Each day he looks at the map and takes off in a new direction. The weird part is the bike shop rented him the bike for 4 days for $44 cash. No deposit, no credit card, no proof of identity. In the U.S., he’d have had to put down a $600 deposit before they let him out the door. I don’t function well as a people person (I’m best in the 15 to 45 minute range of inter-personal interaction) and I seriously suck as a host, but the visit is going well and Lady says I’m doing fine, so it’s a good day today. Tomorrow we’ll take him to the secret sacred graffiti graveyard and ancient walled cemetery for fotos. See ma, I do have social skills after all. Sara & Mike may be analyzed and viewed at SaraHolbrook.com and MichaelSalinger.com. Their card offers Assemblies / Professional Development / Writing Workshops / Speaking Skills / Standards Based / Vocabulary Development / 440-255-1124 in the U.S.A. PS – in the foto below, the cover of the middle book on the left with “LOVE” is my 2007 foto from inside the walled city of Essaouira, Morocco. Someone had chiseled the word on the inside of the city’s wall. I got paid actual money from the publisher for its use – $100. Received $100 once to read poetry as well. Of course, I’ve been trying 46 years now, so that averages out to $4 each year. Does this make me a pro?  Sara & Michael’s postcard – foto by smith |
What a great photo! I am so bummed that I missed out on this trip and a chance to see you in your native habitat. I’m still a little nervous about that postcard. Hope those principals have a sense of humor! Nice words.
tell Michael and Sara to stay down there another three or four weeks until the north pole moves north again. International Falls, Minn was down to 40 below yesterday. You could lose youf face at that rate
To me, you were always the best host, because you took (at least this folk) as
I am, no pressure to entertain or be entertained. There were always Artcrimes to be committed, too, complete with a lavish selection of materials.