During sex, I often think of a fact I heard, which is thatduring sex, our impulse toward disgust is diminished.I think this in order to make myself less inhibited.As some things die back, others rise. Norman died todayand I can’t help thinking about how the person he ismay never be a style of person again. It’s hard to believeall the things the world’s made extinct, that we’ve killedoff entirely. A normal, healthy process of burningthe brush out of a forest or the annihilation of us all?I can see the good in what we’ve left behind. Drunkin the MFA program, I opened my mouth to everyone,a mouth that was more sticky than wet. Disgustnever occurred to me then. Disgust trampled outby how big I always tried to be. At that time, Norman lovedto talk big about his sexual competitions, his drunkenness,all the fame that briefly surrounded him—though nowhe is celibate of all things. First real teacherto die, as many are dying today, throughout the world.Everyone—or many—are feeling this at all times.