Remembering John

I once knew a very personable, intelligent, respectful and imaginative drunk named John with whom I lived in a home for men in Salt Lake City. His propensity for strong drink often led him to bouts of stupor and confusion and to stays in the VA Hospital, but he told funny and memorable stories about his past after he sobered up.

I interviewed him because I had a talent for writing, and I thought his stories would be very interesting to many people. This white-haired, grizzled, loquacious, ol...