Years ago, I made it to the big time and was interviewed for a segment on one of the primetime television “news magazines.“ I spruced myself up, put on a suit coat, combed my hair and beard, all that nonsense – trying not to look like the backcountry slob that I am. My father saw the segment and called me up. In his old age – this wasn’t long before he died, in his 80s – he had become gruff and rude, oblivious to people’s feelings, saying whatever he liked when he liked (which I admired).