Thursday, June 24, 2010

Hunter S. Thompson (#2): Owl Farmer.

Legendary "gonzo" writer Hunter S. Thompson, appearing at the Tattered Cover bookstore in downtown Denver and enjoying his choice of libation.





Recently, I had the chance to visit Thompson's Owl Farm in Woody Creek, Colorado, accompanying other attendees of NORML's 2010 Aspen Legal Seminar at a cookout at Thompson's place:



Wishing to appease the Spirit of Gonzo, I offered to read from one of the late Thompson's works. (I understand that Thompson used to enjoy hearing his own writing read aloud to him.) I didn't know beforehand that Anita Thompson would respond to my request by picking the beginning of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (one of my all-time favorite openings) and inviting me to recite it in front of the group of people gathered in the cabin's living room:



Visiting Owl Farm was a dream come true, but for one thing: the late Thompson wasn't there in the flesh to chide me or nod in approval at my recitation -- whichever the case may have been -- while taking a slug of Chivas Regal.

1 comment:

George Fitzgerald said...

Hi Greg - Thanks for your comment on my photo of Cookie Mueller ... didn't see it until today. A woman in Berlin who's writing a book about Cookie also found this picture and is going to use it in her book. I am really looking forward to reading your blog ... looks like it is right up my alley. I wonder if there's someway I can get emailed by blogspot when someone posts a comment long after the post ... I only see them when I occasionally look through old stuff.