The Accidental Lawyer

For several years I have wanted to write a book about my life.  Why you ask do we need another book?  Well, we probably don’t, but this one is unique because it is about me.  I guarantee you that no one else will write one about me.  So if it is going to get done, I have to do it.  I would have been eternally grateful to any of my ancestors who would have  taken  the time to shed a little light on who they were for the rest of us.  None did.  At the ripe old age of  69 I’m not sure who I am.   Of course it doesn’t really matter who I am.  One can only stand so much navel gazing, especially someone else’s navel.   Like a lot of people, I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.   That isn’t exactly true.  I want to be better than Tiger Woods, and make a gazillion dollars.  I am open to suggestions on how to do that, and don’t give me that stuff about practicing.  I hear enough of that from the pro.

The honest truth is that when you get older it really  doesn’t matter so much.  I think I am learning that, but some days I think it does matter, and those are not my best days.  My mom used to say that  “you just had to know the truth and you would be in your rightful place”.  I hope this is it.  That is probably what does matter.  To be in your rightful place.  Good luck on doing that.  Maybe we’ll know it when we get there.

I am quite sure that the readership of this book, if any, will be very limited.  I realize that I may be the only one interested.  That's okay.  I would hope that some day my own children would read it and in so doing, have a better understanding of their father.   Of course this is impossible for Tony, but I think he knew me pretty well anyway.  Having never written an autobiography before I am not sure how to go about it.  My life is connected to world events.  Not that my life helped shape or change them in any way,  but I  know they contributed in making me who I am.   I grew up in the 1940s and 50s.  I really believe that these were terrific times to be a kid and student.  Of course my family, friends and significant others will receive their due.  Fairly or unfairly they are partly responsible for how I turned out.

I regret that so many people have passed away - most of my best resources have gone on.  My mother, father, son, aunts, uncles, grandparents - most gone.  With them their secrets and remembrances.   I have tried not to include too many details and boring facts,  but for  the record to be complete, some are necessary.

I actually started this many years ago.   Writing this book has forced me to recall a lot of things that had been long since locked away.   This is not some tabloid tell all.  It is strangely embarrassing that there isn’t much  to tell.  Richie Cunningham and I have a lot in common.   “Happy Days”  is incredibly  accurate regarding the teenage mindset in the 50s. Many, like my friend John Lewis, have asked who I thought would want to read this book?  I have no idea.  I guess that you do because you have read this far.   Here it is, ready or not!

TED SALVETER, III

January, 2005