IF YOU REALLY want to hear about it...

Mike42082@aol.com
Sat, 06 Nov 1999 01:23:07 -0500 (EST) 

Dear Bananafishers,

Now has come a time when I realized a few things I must say.  I think stating 
for this audience is quite appropriate.

When I joined this listserve, I had one purpose in mind:  to better 
understand the elusive Salinger.

What did I *actually* get out of it?  Well, to begin, I certainly understand 
Salinger better..

But I also have learned so much from some of the greatest literary minds with 
whom a kid my age should ever deserve to associate.  I've gained much about 
eastern philosophies--much about western philosophies.  I've had a reason to 
insist that my mother buy more Salinger books, which, might I add, has worked 
quite effectively.  I've posted a picture of Salinger himself across from my 
bed so that I might wonder what he might wonder as we both wonder into sleep.

Thanks to certain members, these following things have happened:  I *took 
down* the Kurt Cobain picture to make room for my Beatles pictures; I took a 
course this year entitled AP Psychology; I never will type a letter in lower 
cases ever again; I have impressed upon my brain that any French people I 
meet will be pedants; I now am the proud owner of a copy of Windows 98 that 
sits next to my computer; I listen rather keenly when I hear of Australia on 
the news; I now have Rilke to look forward to.

I'm sure this list has made several other impacts, but these are the ones 
that stick to my mind right now.  I also want to point out that I have gotten 
to know some of the greatest personalities I could have ever imagined.

(Here comes the but...)

But...
In a time when college applications hold such demanding priority, I cannot 
possibly receive 40 or 50 emails a day regarding one-liners about "he said 
she said that i said blah blah blah".  So, this weekend, assuming I can find 
somewhere bookmarked my email regarding removal, I will be leaving 
bananafish.  Perhaps I'll grow anxious and return in December, but if not, I 
bid you all a great farewell.

So, take a look at all that you guys have given me.

Thank you.

I've seen a turning in members lately, so I cannot thank the newer 
contributors from my lack of knowing you all, but I am sure these characters 
will continue to carry conversations in my mind for quite a while...

Tim, Will, Jim, Bruce, Scottie, Camille, TLM, Sean (and the list goes on)

...If you do, you start missing everybody.

Mike