The Portable Veblen (45 page)

Authors: Elizabeth Mckenzie

H
UTMACHER:
John, the courts have nothing to do with this. We do not abide by the law. The important thing is, I’ve learned a lot this year about what really counts.

D
AVIDOW:
And what is that, Cloris Hutmacher?

H
UTMACHER:
I will mention that to my board.

D
AVIDOW:
Cloris Hutmacher, heiress and humanitarian. We wish you all the best.

H
UTMACHER:
Everyone does. Would you repeat that in the form of a question?

APPENDIX E

Justin Richard Vreeland and Alice Caitlin Benjamin

Invite you to join them for their wedding at their new home, The Courage Center

September 15 at 5 o’clock in the afternoon

COME READY TO BOOGIE DOWN!

APPENDIX F

Dear Veblen,

I know you are busy. Maybe you could just answer the questions and send this sheet back.

Did you read the biography of Ibsen and what did you think? _________ What did Paul think? _________ Is there a theater in Tromsø? ______

How long does it take to drive from Tromsø to Oslo? ______ To Trondheim? ______ To Bergen? ______ Have you taken any trips yet?

What is the cost of gas per liter? ______

Do you have mildew problems in that area? ______

When will you send more pictures? ___________

How is your Norwegian progressing? Do you find yourself able to understand people in most situations? ____________________

When will you meet Mr. Odegaard? Does he know you’re living in the country? Can he find you more work? __________________

What is your current waist size? ______ Hip? ______ Bust? ______ Please measure in inches.

Has Paul got his work better organized so he’s less stressed out? ______

How many days is he gone when he’s following the herders? Have you met any of them? ________________ As I am fascinated with textiles, would it be possible for you to send me something? I’d give my left leg for one of the Raanu weavings.

Are you financially in good shape? ______

Have you heard from anybody, such as Albertine? ___________ Do Paul’s parents keep in touch? ______

I will continue to buy cold weather clothes for you at the RS. Unless you don’t want them anymore. Please indicate. __________

How are your back and your neck? ________________ You mentioned stress after the move. Are you feeling all right? ________________ Don’t neglect your health because Paul is a doctor. It’s a paradox that is unfortunately a reality.

Did you like the long blue snowsuit in the last box I sent? Is it too short in the crotch? ___________

Have you met your neighbors? ______ Who are they? ___________ Please describe the demographic of your neighborhood. __________

Have you been able to furnish the place without spending too much? Do they have thrift stores there? ________________

What is your salt consumption? ________ It is not healthy. What are you eating now, anyway? Have you tried that sweet brown cheese they’re known for? __________

Have you seen any wildlife? Are there squirrels there, god forbid? ____________

Fill in and return! I am waiting!

Love,
Your Mother

APPENDIX G

Kjære Mamma Og Linus,

Alt går bra. Takk for alle brev og pakker med varme klær. Du vet akkurat hva jeg trengte Mamma. Jeg skal også fortelle deg at det er mange, mange ekorn her i Norge, over alt, fra tre til tre, vakre røde norske ekorn! Dette er bare en kort hilsen for å si hei og at jeg savner deg. Jeg er veldig opptatt, og jeg skal skrive mer snart!

Have fun translating—
Veblen

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you very much Rosemary Ahern, Wallace Baine, John Blades, John Chandler, Carole Conn, Donka Farkas, Peter Farkas, Karen Joy Fowler, Syed A. Haider, Deborah Hansen, Richard Huffman, Kathryn Kefauver, Richard Lange, Kat Meads, Liza Monroy, Roberta Montgomery, Micah Perks, Jory Post, Melissa Sanders-Self, Catherine Segurson, Paul Skenazy, Patricia Stacey, Peggy Townsend, Alfredo Vea, Vito Victor, Dan White, Sally Wolfe, and Jill Wolfson, for your invaluable contributions to my spirits and these pages.

To Judy Kmetko at the Lane Medical Library at Stanford, Tom Lamb III at Carleton College, and Jay Rorty, thank you for your help with my research. Thanks to S. Brian Willson and Becky Leuning of Portland for our enlightening conversation about the care of military veterans. Sarah Warner Vik and Sigmund Vik of Trondheim, Norway—
tusen takk
! I also appreciated the use of the Veblen archives at the University of Chicago and the congenial atmosphere at the McHenry Library at UC Santa Cruz.

Thank you to C. Michael Curtis for publishing an excerpt of this
novel in
The
Atlantic
and for the duration of his encouragement. Thanks also to the Center for Cultural Innovation, Silicon Valley Creates, and the Sustainable Arts Foundation for their generosity.

Thank you to Emily Forland for embracing this novel without hesitation and for all your great ideas and camaraderie since. Ed Park, thank you for so many things, including being exactly the right editor for this book; collaborating with you has been an honor and a pleasure. Thank you very much also to Penguin Press, Ann Godoff, and Scott Moyers for such wholehearted support and to Juliana Kiyan, Matt Boyd, Annie Badman, Caitlin O’Shaughnessy, Ruth Liebmann, Robert Belmont, Wendy Pearl, Justin Goodfellow, and Megan Sullivan for all your help.

Talking to Bart Cox about old Palo Alto was one of the best parts about this, and he, too, is greatly missed. As is Isabel Cox, whose house on Tasso Street I remember so well.

Emily Cox and Christopher Wrench, thank you for your help with the images and for your love and unstinting goodwill.

Thank you to Steve for everything that made this possible. Nick, it was delightful to discuss the writings of Bakunin, Žižeck, and the Situationists with you, and then apply them to
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
. Stuart, it was you who put me on track originally, and our many talks about animals, Teslas, business and consumer issues, translation, and the fine points of storytelling inspired me
especially.