I didn’t actually throw the German book away. It was a stunt photo for an article I wrote for ‘The Beacon’ student newspaper back at UoP. I wrote a total of six articles, with accompanying photos. They published three, two in heavily edited format.
I spent many Friday nights at a bar on the Steingasse, the old Roman street between the Salzach River and Kapuzinerberg on the east side of the river. There I met students and young faculty from the University of Salzburg with whom I spent hours talking politics, Austro/German/European history, their takes on the Vietnam War, and answered their questions about American culture. Their stories became the inspiration for my first novel.
My sole role in that Halloween photo was to hold ‘the bed’ Roccaro to get the effect she wanted. I can see why she won best costume by a female. I can also see why whatever my costume was supposed to be probably added to my drunkenness.
Tall (6′ 2″), skinny (168 lbs), and naive as all get out. I am forever grateful for a year with amazing people, trusted leadership in Pa Powers, and experiences that shaped my worldview. In Salzburg, I grew up to become a citizen of the world.
