T: Is for Tribute!

Today I went to cover Norman Mailer's Memorial at Carnegie Hall partly because it is the kind of event that makes New York, New York and partly because I know two of the ex-wives and two of the children. There are times that you can know too much and it warps your opinion. Charlie Rose spoke eloquently as well as Pulitzer prize winning author William Kennedy. Vanity Fair's editor Tina Brown sang his praises so loudly that all I could think of was, is this one of his many conquests? After all Mailer was just as much known for his drinking, drug abuse, womanizing and chauvinism. As I sat in my seat I wondered was I the only enemy among friends and if not who else felt as I did. What about Adele whom he stabbed with a pen knife seven times, seriously wounding her. His excuse was he had drunk to much after announcing his plan to run for Mayor. At least that's what the papers said. The truth is she accuse him of being a homosexual. Maybe she hit a home run and he just couldn't take the blow to his manhood! What about Beverly the mother of his first two sons? She watched as the younger was ignored while the older was worshiped. Her career taken away and her self esteem berated because Norman couldn't stand anyone more famous or popular than he was. His sixteen year marriage to Beverly took its toll when Norman took a mistress and got her pregnant, married her and divorced her two days later. I met the talented singer Carol last night and of all his victims it seems she got away with the least amount of damage. Mailer stated he had never met a beautiful women who wasn't angry. I think he got it wrong, they weren't angry until they met him. It was said he suffered years with a crooked back. Could it be the atrocities he inflicted on those that knew him took their toll. Mailer's 9 children spoke. Mailer, the father, dared his offspring to risk death, conquer fear, startle their minds, question authority and "get to know each other under dire circumstances", recalled talented daughter Kate Mailer. Her heartfelt reenactment of an incident had the audience rolling with laughter. Stephen, channeled his father, and growled, "Carnegie Hall? Carnegie Hall? Well, why the hell not?" and brought the house down. Bravo, Stephen.


Other famous literary figures spoke and loudly in my brain repeated "If you are a genius does that give you the right to mess with other peoples lives?" Where does talent end and a person begin. "’Norman Mailer is Dead,’ stated Sean Penn. “Norman Mailer is a lament of what greatness once was and a bold reminder of what greatness should be aspired to be." On one hand, he won two Pulitzers, wrote thirty novels, some good, some bad, some horrid, helped found The Village Voice, protested the war, hated plastic and corporations. On the other he openly stated his hatred and violence towards women, was known to start fights with the slightest provocation and for someone with a prolific knowledge of words negated fidelity, sobriety, kindness to ones children and straight (and I don't mean sexually). But this is "Norman Mailer" I am talking about and even in death no one could speak the truth.

The three hour memorial ended with announcement of the creation of The Norman Mailer Writers Colony to be established in Provincetown. Well at least in death he can give back and that is at least a redeemable F.A.C.T.