It’s sad that he went away.  It’s sad that he will not come back.  It’s sad that I’ve never met him–met the real “Catcher”, the real Holden.

Just two days ago, I was planning that this August, I would go to New Hampshire and visit the man, whose book I read four times over the past decade, whose book has been a part of my growing.

I first read The Catcher in the Rye in early spring 1999 because an old on-line friend of mine introduced me to it, Timo (I love that name, it’s short for Timothy).  He said the book changed his life; and so there I was, looking for something to change my life, at age 17.  I remembered one day, in the homeroom period, a freshman asked me what the book was about.  I told him jokingly, “It’s about a teenager and a hooker.”  My English teacher cried out, “No, it’s not.”  Bad, wasn’t I? But who cares. I know I didn’t.  At that time, I’d realized people are not what/whom they seem to be. They sugar-coat themselves and put on the parade for the world to see. I was not an outcast in high school, but I didn’t want to fit in. I was me. Myself. Like Holden. Surrounded by thousand people; related to none (or maybe didn’t even want to relate.) I found myself in Holden’s character, a self-absorbed, self-preservation person, and by God, I love it!  That was why I like the book from its very first long ass sentence; and Mr. Salinger was right, that bio crap stuff would bore me.

So I read the book over and over again, to find me, whenever I felt lost or whenever I wanted to make a turn in my life. The book tells me that I don’t need no outward directions, it’s the inward voice that leads me to where I want to go and who I want to be.  That voice gets lost in the noisy lousy world sometimes.  So I look for the Holden to remind me to look inwardly for the strength and courage to shield myself from the noise of the outside world because growing up is hard—too damn hard.

Personally, I had never known the author, Mr. Salinger, but I’ve always loved Holden.  I’ve never read any of this other books, although Franny and Zooey is on my list. It was sad to find out that he’s passed away yesterday. I wanted to cry.  It gives a sudden void knowing that he’s gone. It’s a loss for me because I’ve never had a chance to meet him.

Rest in peace, Mr. Salinger.  Rest assured that Holden will live on.

(1/1/1910-1/27/2010)

(1820 – 1904)

Kindness – a language which the dumb can speak, and the deaf can understand.

A failure establishes only this, that our determination to succeed was not strong enough.

Affliction, like the iron-smith, shapes as it smites.

Our first and last love is – self-love.

A sound discretion is not so much indicated by never making a mistake as by never repeating it.

We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them.

One who is contented with what he has done will never become famous for what he will do. He has laid down to die, and the grass is already growing over him.

Contentment is not happiness. An oyster may be contented.

We trifle when we assign limits to our desires, since nature hath set none.

There is great beauty in going through life without anxiety or fear. Half our fears are baseless, and the other half discreditable.

Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.

False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade.

Tearless grief bleeds inwardly.

No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities.

It is only an error in judgment to make a mistake, but it shows infirmity of character to adhere to it when discovered.

We make way for the man who boldly pushes past us.

Fame – a few words upon a tombstone, and the truth of those not to be depended on.

The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater ennoble it.

Music is the fourth great material want, first food, then clothes, then shelter, then music

Sensitiveness is closely allied to egotism; and excessive sensibility is only another name for morbid self-consciousness. The cure for tender sensibilities is to make more of our objects and less of our selves.

When all else is lost, the future still remains.

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, “I love you”, mean it.
5. When you say, “I’m sorry”, look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slow but think quick
13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man you love to talk to. As you get older, his conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray — there’s immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don’t trust a man who doesn’t close his eyes when you kiss him.
38. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth’s greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Jackson Brown