...
"Here’s to dignity: one thing that cannot be preserved in alcohol...."
rasmussen village: an introduction
fiction by mike daily
When I moved to Portland in December 2001, the first person I visited was Kurt Eisenlohr.
He told me to open his refrigerator and take a look at my future.
It was nearly empty.
30 ANAGRAMS FOR ‘KURT EISENLOHR’
IN THE FORM OF A COUNTDOWN
30. SOUTHERN RILKE
29. HELEN RISK TOUR
28. THEORIES KNURL
27. RELISH TOKE RUN
26. HORSELIKE TURN
25. RETHINKER SOUL
24. OK ERNEST I HURL
23. SHORELINE TURK
22. RENO HIKER SLUT
21. KURT RESIN HOLE
20. NUKES OR HITLER
19. SHRIEK LORE NUT
18. I RUN OK SHELTER
17. NO SLUR KIT HERE
16. RIOT LURK SHEEN
15. SNORKELER HUT I
14. LUTHER ERIKSON
13. IN SKELTER HOUR
12. KNEELS THRU RIO
11. THREE KILO URNS
10. TERSE HUNK ROIL
09. REORIENT HULKS
08. LOST HIKE RERUN
07. HURT LION REEKS
06. KILT HOUR SNEER
05. HI UNREEL STORK
04. OIL TRUNKS HERE
03. HERO KNITS RULE
02. OUR SHIT KERNEL
01. TIN HEROES LURK
00. KURT EISENLOHR
...
RASMUSSEN (THE RAZ)
“Kurt, I just bought this notebook at 7-Eleven. And the glue stick! Isn’t that funny?”
“It is. I don’t know why but it is.”
“I don’t want to know why it is.”
“What do you want to do tonight, Mick?”
“I want to go out somewhere.”
“So do I. I don’t know why but I do.”
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“You know as well as I know where.”
“Where?”
“Bar. The bar.”
“Let’s go.”
...
HERE’S TO DIGNITY . . .
I come out of the Men’s room, find an empty place at the bar and order a bottle of the non-alcoholic.
I am served.
“I always wondered what you guys did here,” I say. “Now I know. I always wondered about that. Thanks.”
I raise my Buckler* and make a toast:
“Here’s to dignity: one thing that cannot be preserved in alcohol!”
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
“Fuck off.”
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
...
...
-----
* Buckler. I like the font.
CHASER
“It was Gertrude Stein, I believe, who said that mostly every one is perfectly right in living.”
“Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
...
CHARMED PART OF YOUR LIFE
“I am here, Kurt. I am living like I was born and bred here. You know what I’m saying?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know the city like a Mologian or even your average cab driver but I do know my way around town.”
“I know.”
“I still get lost sometimes—“
“I know.”
“--but I am living like I was born and raised here.”
“Yeah.”
“In Portland.”
“Portland, Oregon.”
“So how does it feel to be living the charmed part of your life?”
...
“JOE THE CABBIE” CHRISTENS ME CHARLES BAUDELAIRE BECAUSE I WAS WRITING AT THE BAR AND GETS AWAY WITH IT
“Where did Baudelaire just go?”
“I think he went to the bathroom.”
“Well fuck it, there’s no drink in front of him, I’m takin’ his seat.”
“Sit down!”
“I am.”
...
NOW
“What is disruptive anymore, Kurt?”
Pause.
“Being genuine.”
Pause.
“I knew there was some reason I hung out with you.”
