Show By Dr the time this appears yours youn truly should be far out on the Pacific It if the good Lord Is IB willIng will Ing and My Lady fady Fair over ov Jr finds hAt other shirt She's Shea carrying quite a load she load she bad had to see me mo through a three-day three publishers publishers' convention try to arrange ar ar- ri range rang igo clothes enough for that event and have enough left lert for a weeks two-weeks trip When our plane pulls out oui she sho will breathe a sigh of relief and go to work on a two two- i people eop 8 job After three weeks week of hearing Oh you lucky dog at home and downtown It was nice to pct jet away nut Hut In It got 10 times worse Brother publish ers era not so fortunate this time really poured It on The 10 of us UI J lucky l y dogs logs caught It real good H Somebody dubbed the 10 the That was quickly chang change changed ed cd to those SODs SOBs We were wore absolutely forbidden to mention tho the word Hawaii within hearing of any anyone one out ide the charmed circle Our wives automatically i became those poor abused girls I The e convention was wonderful Greeting old friends making neV new ones hearing the experts give the latest dope dop on trends of the In Industry In in- industry these are always good Like I said last week we didn't pick up any prizes to speak peak of One second place and andone andone one one ne honorable mention to be exact It Isn't that the papers papers' are deteriorating Its It's Just of course that the Judging the officiating was h horrible o 0 r r rib i b I Is e Lousy Louey Blind Isn't that what we say when we lose One unusual experience can stand telling Sunday morning I 1 awoke at and ld couldn't go I back ba k Jo Co I Sleep iMp S So 1 up A aid aidI I went vent for A walk There JM may be bejA be- 1 I lonelier r. r pate ee than a 11 efty tf t on oft a morning but wh where re The desk m man D e said eald ld there WM Wes an all night all coffee shop a block up and halt half a block o over offer er No coffee shop But the police sta sta- lion tion What an experience t Three poor burnt bums were curled curl turl ed up on the stone floor of the lobby and It was wae so very easy to remember that there but for forthe forthe forthe the grace of God am I. I I A beat up couple was WI arguing about whose fault It was wu with the bored lieutenant trying to pay patient attention Two tired lady clerk clerks were on phones I The sergeant explained to me I that Saturday night is the only time timo the night all coffee shop closes Go down another block and over I It was wee starting to rain at 20 and It was miserable Only traffic fic was an occasional taxi and night watchmen The bright I lights and tho the warmth and the strong coffee of the night all cafe were wera welcome Plus conversation I 1 The ancient chef was reading the morning paper and he kept stealing peeks peek at me until I wondered whether ho h thought I was stealing the sugar until I realized he was comparing me with the picture In the pap paper I But the waitress waitress- She HAD to i I talk She works work nights because she cant can't sleep Bleep anyhow because she's sho's just so blue and heartsick that she wakes up crying because after arter eight years she got a divorce two weeks ago after arter two years separation and she's I been true every day of the tho separation separation sep sept but lily Ills mother Insists on i I interfering and hes he's 37 31 but still mothers mothers mother's boy and she told him if it itlie he lie would only break with mother shed she'd take him back In a minute but somehow hes he's lost interest and she thinks lies lie's started drinking again agam and her landlord makes passes at her and she's so sick and disgusted with the whole thing that she's going back to to Michigan and here hero please have another cup of coffee on me and finally Well Vell gee Im I'm sorry I bent your ear but Ive Ive I've just GOT to talk with somebody By now the rain was really beating down and my pants under the topcoat were getting out of or press The The Tribune was brilliantly lighted and I went Vent fent into the city room but it was d deserted except for the Janitor There was a nostalgic touch to wander about watching the teletype news come comein comein comein in in listening to police news on the radio kicking aside small mounds of or copy paper Outside again it was snowing Hard Next stop the bus station Depressing Id I'd forgotten so many people can sleep sitting up with their faces on their knees I cant can't Can you 7 More coffee cottee M More re studying faces and person person- Most of of f the night all wait wait- for buses were past 70 70 Why So finally it was and the Cathedral was open and warm and beautiful and compelling And AndI I remembered the driver cab-driver who drove me there through the bUndIng bUnd blind Ing ng snow and when I paid him 65 6 cents looked me in the eye and said Say a prayer for me fellah I aint been In nine years And AndI I did Back at the hotel It n was 7 and people eople were stirring and It was time ime to start another convention day I didn't tell a soul Id I'd been I up since tao It If 1 t bad had they would ouM bales baft Commented Sure he just Jutt wanted to MO see MOI I II If hit his picture w. w was In I the paper 1 So It Its It's now Monday evening and Im I'm 4 years Yel old and tomorrow Is iii Christmas hay Day Wish every on one Dd j I lot i you could Join me M Mac I |