Catcher in the rye

In Chapter 22 of J D Salinger's celebrated (1951) novel The Catcher in the Rye, Phoebe Caulfield asks her sixteen-year-old brother Holden what he wants to   do with  his life. Holden responds with this image:

“Anyway, I keep picturing  all  these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all.

Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. ”

Picture: Jon Hicks

Search Amazon.com for Catcher in the rye

Related articles by Zemanta

• Salinger copyright case appealed (news.bbc.co.uk)
• J.D. Salinger letter to Hemingway on public display for the first time (huffingtonpost.com)
• JFK Library to show Salinger letter to Hemingway (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

The life you can save

Peter Singer: The Life You Can Save - Late Night Live - 4 February 2009

“Imagine you are on your way to work when you pass a pond where you see a young child drowning. There is no one else around but you are wearing new shoes which will be ruined if you wade in to save him, and the rescue will make you late for work. What should you do?

We don't hesitate to answer 'save the child!', but Peter Singer argues that when it comes to the plight of millions in the developing world we are all letting the child die. His new book is a call to action for individual responsibility in ending world poverty.”

 

Van strikes motorcycle: husband and wife injured but lack funds for medical treatment

Image via Wikipedia

March 19

Tina (11:50): Gud a.m. Bern, I'm now in DTI [Department of Transport and Industry], located in Pila. I'm not sure if I can get d list of name[s] of registered hotel[s] and resort[s], coz dey ask for request letter, but I'm still waiting for d person in charge.

Accident

Bern (15:52): I told Joe all I know about accident. IMPORTANT: tell [the] doctor you have Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), with platelet count about 16, and take Azathioprine.

Bern (15:53): I think doctor will see, however, if you have excessive bleeding. I certainly hope not.

Tina (16:03): Bern, driver of d van don't have money to pay x-ray and medicine; we're going [to] Provincial [hospital], but I don't have money too. What I can do? I suffer so much pain now.

Bern (16:05): If you are in [a] medical clinic I cannot understand why you are leaving it in pain. Surely doctor will treat [an] accident victim, even one who has no money.

Bern (16:06): Are you saying it is van driver's responsibility to pay for your medical treatment? Are you saying he is to blame for [the] collision?

Bern (16:09): I'll probably phone the Dr soon. I'll have to go offline to do that.

Bern (16:15): Jovs I hope you have load and can reply. I'll probably phone [the] Pila doctor soon to understand situation but to do that I'll have to disconnect Internet and Yahoo.

Bern (16:14): Mel, sad to say Jov's motorcycle [was] hit by van in Pila today. Jovs slightly injured I think. Tina has many abrasions, bruises, scratches on leg, foot hurt.

Tina (16:16): Driver don't have money today. He said he will help a little, he just have 200 pesos.

Tina (16:18): Doctor put Betadine [antiseptic] on wounds, dat all they do. I need x-ray in Provincial [hospital]. I'm sure they will give prescription.

Bern (16:18): Thanks for info but important questions not answered. Where are you? What are you doing? I'll go offline very soon to phone [the] doctor. I trust you do not have excessive bleeding.

Bern (16:20): Also you do not explain how you will travel to [the] Provincial Hospital. I don't know if your motorcycle is fit to ride or badly damaged or what.

Tina (16:21): We're now in police station, but d driver have only 200 pesos. We're plan[ning] to go now [to the] Provincial.

Tina (16:25): My mother bring d trikes here, we used to go to Provincial. We're now leaving now in police station. We have only 200 pesos from d driver.

Tina (16:27): It was motor cycle was damage too, but it can [be] used little by little to bring it home.

Bern (16:31): Sorry, visitor just arrived. I'm sure Joe sent you money very recently.

Tina (16:32): I felt dizzy but I don't have bleeding, we're now on da way to Provincial, I have only 100 pesos in my wallet. Jovs have referral for x-ray but our money is not enough.

Bern (16:32): I thought Provincial Hospital provided services free of charge.

Tina (16:34): Yes I already pay it in school last Friday coz today was our final exam, I need to have permit.

bern5321 (16:35): Pls provide estimated total cost and price of X-ray, medicines etc,;also advise where you will get the money.

Christine Lisa (16:42): Yes, its free but we need to provide things like bandage, medicine etc. Like in PGH, it's up to you, Bern, I don't have any idea about the cost. W'e're lucky if x-ray [machine] in Provinical [Hospital] function[s] - if not? X-ray outside [costs] 500 per x-ray.

Tina (16:43): I already paid all necessary things for graduation last Friday, I don't have problem now; only my thesis and exam today and tomorrow.

Bern (16:52): Sounds like you are not in [a] fit state for thesis and exam. You gave no estimate. I'm very unhappy about West[ern] Union. Agent here CLOSES 1 hour from now. We have [a] visitor.

Tina (16:56): We not arrived yet [at the] Provincial. I'm sorry, Bern, it's up to you, how much you will help, put in name of Jovs, if we don't have enough money we cannot get d result of x-ray and medicine.

Mel (17:05): Oh, Bern, what happen now to both of them? Who tell you about dat accident?

Bern (17:16): I got text from Tina so I phoned her. She's on way with Jovs to Provincial. I must rush to Western Union to send money for medicines, bandages, x-ray.

Tina (17:13): Bern, Dr. gave prescription vaccine, anti-titano [tetanus], 850 [pesos] each, 2 pcs. for 2 of us.

Tina (17:15): Sorry, I cannot give exact estimate coz Jovs have wounds also in his legs. I will send you d medical scratch.

Bern (17:18): I must rush now to bank then Western Union agent. I guess maybe I'll send 4,000. Goodbye.

Mel (17:19): OK Bern I hope both of them are OK now... 18:31:23.

Bern (18:39): I trust you and Jovs received text from me, sent about 15:50 your time. I'd appreciate an update on the current situation for both of you. Mel knows. Christine Lisa will receive your messages on a mobile device.

Tina (18:50) Thanks Bern, Jovs get d money; we already paid d vaccine, I done d x-ray. We get d official result tomorrow at 2 p.m. Nanay Josie was here now. Dr. gave prescription for pain, mefanamic acid 500 and cefalixin 500 mg.

Bern (18:56): OK. I'll look up those prescriptions. I suspect Cefalexin is an anti-biotic. Try to eat nourishing food, especially with Vitamin C, and try to rest tonight.

Tina (18:59): We're now going home after d vaccine injected to both of us, and we have now d medicine, we just rest at home, still I cannot walked; my right ankle was injured.

Bern (19:00): So sorry to hear that. I wonder how you get about. I hope Jovs doesn't have to carry you! Perhaps you need crutches.

Tina (19:04): Yes, I use crutches in hospital. Lito is d one [to] carry me, coz Jovs suffer wounds in his right leg too.

Bern (19:07): Oh, I hope the hospital allows you to take the crutches home. I'm glad to hear your mother and Josie and Lito have been there to help you; my greetings to them.

Tina (19:09): They did not allow [borrowing of the crutches]; only in hospital; we're now ride on d trikes going home, also Laurice was here too.

Bern (19:10): Crazy! Australian hospitals at least allow patients to take crutches home, even if they have to put a deposit on them. My greetings to Laurice too!

Tina (19:12): Yes, Bern, I told to them about your greetings. They want to say hello to you too.

Bern (19:13): I sincerely trust they are all well and managing OK.

Roderic, father of Ken and Kert, injured in accident

E-mail from Tina received at 16:11, GMT+10

Hello Bern and Alice,

Look at the picture attach[ed]. Guess who? The elder one was Kevin Ken, "Kenken", the elder son of Liza and Roderic: your grandson, did you remember them?

The small one was Kert Clarence, "Kertkert", the 8 months old baby, the encovetor [incubator] one, without of your help he can not live like this; "they are your mga apo".

They give their love to you, they [came] back from Alabang last January 4, they now live in Kalayaan for good, just Roderic [their father] [is] back in Alabang for work, and [he comes] back weekly to check his family, but last Monday he been [in an] accident; I will send another email for more information.

I will send by mail the picture.

Love,

Tina.