Comments on: “God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.”

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:14:18 +0000

Thanks for the comment. I just e-mailed you…

By: J. Phillip Hoff

J. Phillip Hoff — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:51:14 +0000

By: J. Phillip Hoff

J. Phillip Hoff — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:48:32 +0000

I am 62 years old. My father and Kurt’s father were friends and young Kurt was often in the hardware store. In the novel “Jailbird” Kurt used the song “Ruben, Ruhen”. [Mine vater ver Rubhen (undt post 1940 Ruhben) Heinrich Hoff, [Son of Christian]. I remember as a “junge”, trips to see Herr Vonnegut at his hardware store. My father became a true German tool and die Maker at E. C. Atkins. He bought his toolchest from Herr Vonnegut. I still have it and do not have family to pass it on-to. Is there a museum or resting place that could use items purchased from the original Vonnegut store?

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:23:21 +0000

Thank you to everyone for submitting your thoughts. They were very nice to read. I’m going to reread one of his books soon. Not sure which though.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:17:21 +0000

Thanks for this post Daniel. I’ve been thinking about Kurt quite a bit the past few days myself.

Last year around this time I was getting ready to meet him when he came to IMA for his talk. Excitement doesn’t even begin to describe how I was feeling. The morning they reported that he had died I’ll never forget. My wife was leaving for work and came to tell me goodbye (I still had another 1/2 hour to sleep). She shook me and said something to the effect of “I’m leaving…and honey, I’m sorry but Kurt Vonnegut died.” Later when I got up I was convinced that I had dreamed it.

So, instead of shaking his hand I later found myself writing a message to him in the memorial book that Crown Hill set up for his family.

Among the various things hanging over my desk is a copy of one of his “Confetti” prints. (The ones they ran in Nuvo all last year). It’s one of my favorite quotes: We are here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different.” When I’ve had a rough day it always puts things into perspective and I feel just a little bit better.

By: No Name!

No Name! — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:26:59 +0000

Favorite book: either Slaughterhouse 5 (it had been banned in my high school) or Cat’s Cradle (reminded me of my own family).

Favorite bit: The farting and tap dancing alien who was beaned on the head when he tried to warn some people of their house being on fire (Breakfast of Champions.. right?).

By: Meg

Meg — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:24:19 +0000

I was raised on the Book of Vonnegut. Because of my father’s great admiration for the author, the moral lessons that I learned as a child were deeply rooted in his writings. Here are a few of the best lessons taught to me by my father and derived from Vonnegut’s work:
1. Be good to people because it’s the right thing to do, not because you’ll be rewarded.
2. Life can be absurd and unfair, but it’s better than the alternative.
3. Humor is essential. Always choose laughter over tears.