My first brush with publication came 38 years ago this month in my junior high literary magazine, Pieces of Mind. The story I wrote was called “Saturday Afternoon Fever,” about four friends whose entire existence revolved around going to the library at the end of their week, which was the only thing that made them feel alive. Gibb-inspired song lyrics embedded within the narrative included, “Readin’ A Book [1],” “Book Fever [2],” “How Long Is Your Book? [3]” and “More Than A Bookworm [4]”.
[5]Learn, baby, learn…about the Mets and stuff.
It was 1978 and, trust me, it was very on-point. There was even talk of a movie, albeit most of it between my friend Joel Lugo (who recently reminded me of the entire ninth-grade episode) and me.
The not-so-subtle subtext of my Saturday Night Fever parody was a good-natured ribbing of those who theoretically preferred a trip to the library over anything else in the world. I mean, c’mon, who would want to spend their Saturday afternoon in a library?
You will, I hope.
Everything that comes around goes around, or something like that, for this Saturday afternoon, Amazin’ Again Fever will burn like a disco inferno [6] at the Queens Library’s Briarwood branch [7]. That may be an overstatement, but the nice folks there have asked me to talk baseball in their building and I am looking forward to doing so at 3 PM, June 25.
You can find the Briarwood branch at 85-12 Main Street [8], accessible via the Briarwood (formerly Briarwood – Van Wyck Blvd.) stop of the E and F trains; the 168th St. exit off the Grand Central (turn left onto Main); and four bus lines that begin with the letter Q: 20A, 20B, 44 and 60. I’ll bring some books, I’ll share some thoughts, we’ll solve the Mets and we’ll be done in time for that evening’s 7:15 first pitch from Atlanta.
I hope you’ll join me. I can’t think of a better topic to discuss, indoors or out, on a Saturday afternoon.
For those of you in New Jersey who have asked for an Amazin’ appearance on your side of the Hudson, mark Thursday, July 28, 7 PM at Little City Books of Hoboken [9], on your calendars and other appropriate date-marking apps.