David Stafford ... Himself

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Here is he is, describing himself, sometime in the 1950s: It's kind of sad to learn that David's only "distingwishing" feature was "maybe" his back teeth, since probably few of his classmates actually got to see them. But we have learned since that David has more than one distinguishing feature, such as his hair in the 1970s during his presidential run, his spooky eyes even today, and yes, his most imaginative brain and art. Most of these qualities are well-illustrated on the other side of the card: It's not a huge card, but so much to see. Very nice drawing/painting of the kid David (fig. 3), and the set of choppers is a winner too (fig. 1).  The whole card is thoroughly enjoyable, but one little section is my personal favorite:  the excellent depiction by David of a "camper shell or fig newton." Clearly he succeeded in illustrating both unlike items in one drawing. That is remarkable, and also too witty for words. Thank you, David! Always always a treat to receive mail art from you.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

I'd just bet you have a variant. But DUOEAP is basically fear of exterior conformity due to subconscious overexposure to magazines.

A People's DSM-V is an excellent idea! Unfortunately, Laing is dead, but if he hadn't died of a heart attack in 1989, he'd be only 83 today and perhaps recruitable. He'd be the one, though maybe some young brilliant misfit will eventually take his place.  Or middle-aged or even young senior misfit.

[David Stafford]

We need a People's DSM-V...Is R.D. Laing still alive? What is dressuporelseaphobia? I may have a variant.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Yah, I think those are justifiably being considered for the DSM-V. Mentioned in journal articles but so far rejected are dressuporelseaphobia (DUOEAP), doityourself disorder (DIYD), and chroniccentslessmyalgia (CCM). Too bad; they all exist.  

[David Stafford]

Yeah, I have that syndrome too...what's it called? Dinerophobia? Filthy Lucre Disorder? The Minus Touch?

 

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Thank you ... that was probably my destiny, and others have thought so, but apparently I unwittingly thwarted it. It may have been fear of good income. No amount of therapy has led me to conquer that ...

[Nadine Wendell-Mojica]

Too good for words.

[David Stafford]

Nancy, you oughta be a therapist...if you're not one already....

[Nancy Bell Scott]

"totemic beaverness"--a whole new homo sapiens category. The little guy just had to grow into those teeth, and maybe someone needed to tell him that. There wasn't a lot of talk in those days.

[David Stafford]

What I love about this photo is how innocent the little guy is of his totemic beaverness...in subsequent years he would keep his mouth shut on official photographic occasions to avoid showing off his metallic teeth and in so doing lost that sweet openness in favor of a premature curmudgeoneality.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Wasn't the awkward age (which ran for about 16 years) FUN? I may have to post one myself. But David, you look like Sam Waterston in that photo, and he's a good-looking dude.