Posts by Richard

In school we are forced to watch a creepy film full about bullies called, Lord of the Flies.” The film reveals how evil grabs a bunch of boys stranded on an isolated island. What frightens me most, is one of the kids is fat, asthmatic, and wears glasses. Like I’m mockingly called Magoo, the bullies…

I’m at the 1966 state-wide Boys Club Sports and Art Competition. I’m working on an art project, when two boys approach me. “Hey, it’s Mr. Magoo!” one says. “Got any money, Magoo?” the other bully asks.  One of them snatches my wallet from my back pocket. He dangles it in front of my eyes. “Can…

“At my table we have Kerry Jo, Russell Cedarburg, Glen Hansen, and Bernelle Hansen, all of which started performing with Richard in the early 70’s. I’m learning that Richard is a bit colorful. Can you share some of his weirdness or idiosyncrasies? Kerry would you mind starting?” “Sure,” Jon, I didn’t know quite how to…

My mother finally emotionally abandons my sister Lori and me. When my parents would visit friends, she did not want to be seen with us. It was fine with our kind father, but our mother would have none of it. “They’re staying in the car!” she would coldly order. She would leave us stuffed in…

Home life is getting worse by the day. My Mother is very stingy with everything, from her affection to feeding us. I am always so hungry! For breakfast I get one small bowl of cereal and a piece of toast and if I ask her for anything more the answer is always, “No!”  Before my…

What Mrs. Smith does next sets my destiny. She has an old seven-inch, reel-to-reel tape recorder that (must weigh half as much as I do.) She says, “I found a card book at a garage sale titled “Expert at the Card Table.” I’ve recorded excerpts on the tape recorder for you. You can take the…

Mr. Brian uses physical, three-dimensional games and puzzles to teach us to think logically and to analyze how objects can be physically manipulated with our fingers and touch.  One hands-on game is an ancient logic puzzle called, The Tower of Hanoi. After mastering it I realize it’s possible to use cards to play a more…

Mr. Brian is trying desperately to convince me of the value of learning Braille. I refuse to even contemplate it. (To learn Braille would be to acknowledge the reality that one day I am going to be one of these blind freaks.)  “Ricky,” Mr. Brian says, “Braille will open you up to a world of…

An administrator at the grammar school that Lori and I attend informs my parents that they can no longer accommodate us because of our visual inability to read and write. In the fall of 1965, Lori and I are forced to transfer to another school. It has a place called the “VH” room for those…

The doctors tell us that my sister Lori and I both have retina degeneration, possibly caused by the scarlet fever. It’s starting from the center of our vision and working its way to the sides. Now I have a blind dark spot in front and can only see a blur from the corners of my…

I recovered from Scarlet Fever and I’m back in school. I’m sitting in class, and suddenly everything goes blurry. As I rub my eyes and try to focus I’m terrified at not being able to see. I raise my hand and my teacher says, “Yes, Ricky?”  “Something’s wrong,” I say bewildered, “I can’t see the…

“Oh-boy! It’s time! Every Sunday night, as the aroma of supper fills the air, I pull one of the yellow-vinyl and chrome kitchenette chairs close to the black and white TV and straddle it like a horse. From the moment the theme song kicks in, I ride with Maverick, that oh-so-cool cowboy gambler in his…