This is a "greatest hits" collection of my Westport News columns from 1991-'98 -- nearly 100 in all. They range far and wide, from a son who helps his father commit suicide (the New York Times picked up the story three years later), to a 96-year-old woman looking back on her life (and ahead!); from a beloved pediatrician who leaves medicine, to a soccer team that does some pretty ugly things, to the greatest rock'n'roll band in the world (nope, not the Beatles or Stones).
The town changes -- the Big Top hamburger stand closes, young families move in, personal values go down the toilet -- yet so much remains the same. Westport Pizzeria serves great, simple food; the seasons and the beach endure; teenagers do wonderful things, get drunk and high, grow roots and wings, and candidly discuss their dreams and fears.
Through it all, the outside world intrudes. Computers crash, President Clinton comes calling, and I publish my now-famous "coming out" column.
A few of the columns are truly local; most are universal in theme. Some are touching; others funny. Some inspire readers; others make them happy, or mad. All are written about my two favorite places: Westport, and planet earth.
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order ($19.95 each, plus $3 shipping and handling), contact:
Woog's World Books
301 Post Road East #1
Westport, CT 06880
dwoog@optonline.net
A few more of the nearly 100 topics:
A town rallies round in time of need...Death on a school bus...Travels with Lou Santella...Heroes galore in the eye of a storm...House arrest for teen drug sellers...Mrs. Sadtler's dance class...The AIDS Quilt comes to town...Friendship...Ode to Jim Kuhlmann...Supermodels Derek and Drew Riker...Pizza deliverypersons...Kingdom Builders...Intolerance...The Westport Country Playhouse...The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...Ed Hall's long bout with cancer...The return of the Taxavoiders...Fred Hellerman of the Weavers...Death from a broken heart...The summer between high school and college...Rudeness...The Titanic...McMansions...The legend of Albie Loeffler.