Oh, Frances, thank you so much for linking to Dirda's review. I have ordered The Collected Writings of Joe Brainard, too.

My brothers and I have long played an "I remember" game in the style of Joe Brainard's statements. I have heard of Brainard, but I don't recall actually reading any of his writings before.

Fabulous! I think this book will make me cry. Maybe I'm just in one of those moods (in fact I know I am, due to an actual letter I received in the mail today) but it just seems so terribly poignant and reminds me of so many things I remember but the people I remember them with are no longer here.

I think I will have to get this book.

I remember always wearing a crinoline under my full-skirted dresses and having to dip it in liquid starch and hang it out to dry to keep it crisp ( and scratchy!).

I remember walking to the corner store with my sister and best friend--as early as ages 5, 6, and 7--and for a dime we filled small paper bags with candy like licorice whips, candy necklaces and cigarettes, and that hard caramel on a stick. Then we walked home, sat on the front porch, spread out our goodies and traded. Frances, I Remember sounds lovely. Poignant, too. What will my own children remember?

ps--Frances, I didn't want to piggyback onto the introductions thread, but my standard schnauzer, too, is a sweetheart. He is so intelligent and obedient. He's been pampered since day one, so I think it must just be part of the breed. He's not at all an alpha dog, so I wonder if that contributes to his wonderful nature.

I remember when I was in junior high the upperclassmen ( girls and guys) would have heel taps put on their penny loafers so that they clicked when they walked the granite hallways. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

I remember saddle oxfords and skirts so long they scooped the tops of our turned-down bobby socks.