Ruminations From a Retired Recluse

About the Book

            Upon completing Middle Age (35-65), Mr. Kelley felt it incumbent to share his pent-up wild thoughts on such diverse topics as Lucretia Borgia’s sex life to George Washington’s expense account (an absolute whopper!) Along the way, he found inspiration in documenting his penchant for satire, parody, annoyance, distemper, and pique with wicked thoughts on wacky subjects, vitriol sprinkled with humor, and historical facts such as famous celebrities who died on top of one another, had syphilis, committed suicide, went bananas, or managed to utter some wonderful “last words.” Since he wasn’t able to beat his buddies’ ears with these stories because death cheated him of that chance, he turned his target to those living souls who just might have run out of topics that kindle crankiness, and want to catch up on some acrimony, things to complain about, and hostility so prevalent in those of us who profess to pontificate on everything once we retire. After all, it is expected that geriatrics maintain their legacy of criticizing everything, and, in general, being a big pain in the arse.

            Mr. Kelley deems himself a scholar when it comes to purveying non-essential stories that might tweak the interest of people approaching post-maturity and bereft of material to prove it.

            To those poor souls who have few things to remember, I dedicate this book.

About the Author

            Ruminations from a Retired Recluse is Victor Kelley’s third book. How To Get Into The Business Of Photography, a New York Times Book Review recommended “best read”, was the first book ever written on the business side of that career, coming some 120 years after the invention of photography.

            Shooting For Fun & Profit: Confessions of a Professional Shooter, (Photographer, that is) was a follow-up non-fiction memoir documenting the many funny, zany, comical and strange experiences he encountered during the 25 years spent “shooting” Presidents, celebrities, and weird clients on global assignments.

            Retired in 2004, Mr. Kelley’s remarkable memory for fascinating tidbits (trivia, perhaps) and subject matter that has haunted him to reveal this curiosity, galvanized the author to put something in the record before dementia set in. Since all of his relatives expired in their 90’s, this book gives ample evidence that his best memories may someday provide nostalgic fodder when he can no longer remember what he put in these pages.