Cultural Writing. Gay/Lesbian Studies. Ron Padgett's warm, conversational memoir is an unlikely and true story of two childhood friends, one straight and one gay, who grew up in 1950s Oklahoma, surprised their families by moving to New York City in search of art and poetry, and became part of the dynamic community of artists and writers whose work continues to shape Amerian culture. Dozens of letters, journal entries, poems, photographs, and artworks create a stirring portrait of the times--one that illuminates not only Joe Brainard's life and art, but the influence that his kindness and insight had on the lives of his contemporaries, including Alex Katz, Andy Warhol, Frank O'Hara, Joe LeSueur, Anne Waldman, John Ashbery, Kenward Elmslie, and countless other friends, lovers, and admirers.