In 2006, I was on first-name basis with Jim Carroll. He asked me to hold all mail. He moved twice<\/a> (from Chelsea to Brooklyn, then Brooklyn to Inwood). Once he was settled back in Inwood, circa 2008, I gave him a big box full of mail backlogged to 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fan mail box sat unopened in his Inwood apartment, along with boxes containing about 95% of his possessions, until I started unboxing stuff and putting things like books away in his apartment (that’s another story to tell)<\/em>. One of the boxes I opened in July 2009 was the box of old mail. Jim got busy reading and responding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August 2009, Jim had responded to everything in the box and mailed everything he could, but there were two items he couldn’t mail himself. He didn’t know what to do with these last two items. In one case, the recipient had not provided return mailing information or postage. In the other, it had been so long since the recipient had written to him, as we discussed, we could not assume the return address was still valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I ended up having to deal with these two “ambiguous” packages following Jim’s death (September 2009). It would seem like this would be a somber duty — and it was. I had to do a lot of detective work to figure out how to deliver these items to the intended recipients. But wow! In the process I got the rare treat of seeing how Jim communicated with people who wrote to him. And now I want to share the treat with you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I want to point out that the stationery Jim used for his notes was given to him as a birthday gift by a fan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Brian” occupied (circa 2007) Jim’s past apartment (“3A”) in Chelsea. Brian’s sister Janice sent Jim a copy of the Atco promo for Dry Dreams<\/a> (published in the April 10, 1982 issue of Billboard<\/em>) and asked him to sign it for her brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jim’s inscription says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dear Brian,<\/p>\n\n\n\n I hope 3A is treating yr. needs<\/p>\n\n\n\n Actually I hope you’re even a fan. Your sweet sister is, and I send this at her bequest.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jim also wrote a note to Janice, Brian’s sister . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Janice wrote to Jim asking him to sign the above Atco promo for her brother, who, as of about 2007, lived in the Chelsea apartment Jim had previously occupied. (My challenge, in delivering the package, is that Janice did not provide return mailing info. I COULD have mailed it to Jim’s old address, where her brother lived, but that would not have fulfilled the original intent! I can’t remember for sure, but I think I may have mailed it to the Chelsea apartment.<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The note from Jim Carroll says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dear Janice, The P.S. at the top says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the way – my friend Annie Leibovitz took this picture<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div> David sent a letter with some drawings and sleeves of all three JCB albums for Jim to sign. Jim signed all of them, front and back, with notations of his favorite songs. Jim also wrote a three-page note to David.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jim Carroll’s note (page 1) says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hey David, David’s letter apparently said something about promo mini basketballs.<\/p>\n<\/div> Jim’s note to David continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So I can’t send you anything but my thanks & I can honestly say I dig your drawings Keep working, man. Maybe you can study painting I have just been finishing up a long novel about a painter & he’s going nuts) Got to get back to that now, in fact <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep working on whatever gets you there <\/p>\n\n\n\n But all my best At the top, Jim has added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The last page of Jim’s note to David says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n P.S. – Jim Carroll loved Sharpies!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the front cover, Jim has labeled the subjects “Dad,” “Me,” and “Mom.” For David, Jim has added a little “good luck” drawing.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jim has inscribed the front cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love Annie Leibovitz’s peach colored light on the bed On the back cover, Jim has identified the song “Rooms” as his favorite track on Dry Dreams <\/em>with an arrow and the note:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Personal favorite song on this LP. The front cover is inscribed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For David, <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the back cover, Jim has identified the song “Hold Back the Dream” as his favorite track on I Write Your Name <\/em>with an arrow and the note:<\/p>\n\n\n\n My personal favorite song on this L.P. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dry Dreams Promo for Brian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Brian_signed_promo-764x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNote to Janice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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My only problem here is I don’t get if your brother is a fan (or even knows my work) I signed it anyway, but I wish I had a sister like you (very sweet & thoughtful)
Why not keep it for yourself?
It[‘s] all in your hands now.
All my best,
Jim Carroll ’09<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Janice_note-648x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNote to David Lindsay (1 of 3)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Sorry, I don’t have any of those little basketballs as gift from the movie, but I wish I did, cool idea!
All we got were hats, tee shirts, & fanny packs!!
I do have a tiny BBall like you’re talking about. It’s on a keychain and I bought it at the Basketball Hall of Fame years ago, when the tour bus stopped in Springfield, Mass, but now I can’t even find that. Some one stole all but one of my hats and shirts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Lindsay_note1-681x1024.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNote to David Lindsay (2 of 3)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Jim Carroll<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n[P.S. Don’t know how long you’ve been waiting for this stuff. I just got a huge box filled with letters & packages 3 days ago]\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Lindsay_note2-672x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Note to David Lindsay (3 of 3)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Sorry these notes are so messy. Using the computer makes me forget my handwriting (which used to be pretty good.
Jim C
And thanks for the fucking Sharpie!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Lindsay_note3-649x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCatholic Boy <\/em>LP Inscribed for David Lindsay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The inscription says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
All of our best, Bro.
From Dad & Mom and –> Jim Carroll
7\/15\/09
N.Y.C.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/lindsay_cb_front.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDry Dreams <\/em>LP Inscribed for David Lindsay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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All my best & thanks
Jim Carroll
7:15:09
N.Y.C.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/lindsay_dd_front.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
J.C.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/lindsay_dd_back.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I Write Your Name <\/em>LP Inscribed for David Lindsay (front)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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-Keep Rocking & Drawing
Best,
Jim Carroll
July 15, ’09
N.Y.C.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/lindsay_iwyn_front.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
J.C.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/lindsay_iwyn_back.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n