Sendak.

December 31, 2011 6:50 AM

5 minutes with Maurice Sendak.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (13 comments total)

I was listening to a rebroadcast of his recent Fresh Air interview the other day, and I was struck by his almost morbid ebullience:

"I have nothing now but praise for my life. I'm not unhappy. I cry a lot because I miss people. They die and I can't stop them. They leave me and I love them more. ... What I dread is the isolation. ... There are so many beautiful things in the world which I will have to leave when I die, but I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready."

posted by The White Hat at 7:12 AM on December 31, 2011

Wow I love this. Thank you. And completely inappropriately and aside from the wonderfulness that is Maurice Sendak, I also thought "what a gracious living room." And I hope he and his dog are finally still on the exact same day so that they are not lonely.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:19 AM on December 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

The White Hat, I caught that rebroadcast as well. I was driving in the car and listening to it with my 8-year-old son, who had all sorts of questions about what it means to be gay, what Sendak meant by "Live your life, live your life, live your life," and why this old man was talking and crying. We talked. Openly, candidly, with, on my part, deep passion and pain. All because of this one man and his willingness to open himself up to Terry Gross.

Brandon Blatcher, thank you for giving me another opportunity to visit with this astounding human being. Happy New Year.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:22 AM on December 31, 2011

I caught the Fresh Air interview, and it's well worth your time if you haven't heard it. Great post BB, thanks for this.
posted by Daddy-O at 7:27 AM on December 31, 2011

My son is an avid reader (he's just learning and typically he prefers something of the Pokemon variety) and one love we share is a fondness for Sendak. I watched this yesterday and I tell you, if Sendak saying he's not a whore doesn't make my New Year, then whatever could?
posted by youandiandaflame at 7:59 AM on December 31, 2011

I've always lusted after a copy of The Art of Maurice Sendak.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:32 AM on December 31, 2011

This is great. Longtime Sendak fan here, but never had seen or heard him before. Wonderful. Thanks, BB.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:34 AM on December 31, 2011

One of my childhood heroes. Thank you. I had no idea he was so interesting to listen to in person.
posted by bardophile at 8:36 AM on December 31, 2011

Note: at 3:27, you see a Mr. Incredible doll in his house. Not at all surprising... I'd imagine he is a Pixar fan. Quality appreciates quality.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:00 AM on December 31, 2011

Thanks for this perfect little amuse-bouche for 2012.
posted by roger ackroyd at 9:26 AM on December 31, 2011

Thank you. I'm feeling a little less afraid of falling on my face.
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:50 AM on December 31, 2011

Thank you. I'm feeling a little less afraid of falling on my face.
posted by bonobothegreat

Not me, I'm more afraid than ever, you could hit your head on a rock and die!
posted by 445supermag at 2:15 PM on December 31, 2011

I caught part of the Fresh Air interview and was amused when he said he wished he had a daughter to help him out in his old age, and then when Terry asked if he would have had kids if it'd been socially acceptable for gay people to have kids, back in his day, and he said "No, it's too much work."

I don't fault him for that, but it was interesting food for thought.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:18 PM on December 31, 2011