Farewell From the Monkey House

When I hunkered down, and signed a lease with my 18th-and-final college roommate, I had know idea what knowledge a young painting major from Philadelphia would bestow upon me. During the course of our three years together, he would teach me about oils, canvas framing, the Broadstreet Bullies, politics, and he would also introduce me to the ingenious literature of this man -- one Kurt Vonnegut Jr. The phenomenal author of Deadeye Dick, Bluebeard, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Siren of the Titans, Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse Five, and Breakfast of Champions (just to name of few) has left us. Mr. Vonnegut had not been in good health for some time now, and, as I understand it he suffered brain injuries from a fall a couple of weeks ago, and the man upstairs decided it was time. Not that anyone wants the life of anyone in poor health to linger, but I'm amazed that two authors that have influenced me perhaps like no other, continued to live long enough for me to absorb the majority of their works, and then die a couple of years apart. Suffice it to say that many tremendous works of Mr. Vonnegut's have been published. Many of his speeches circulate on these here internets. Some of them have never surfaced in great numbers. To pick one does not imply its betterness than the others, but that's what I'll do. For now. God bless you, Mr. Vonnegut. And we thank you for your attention.