Living on the Fringe: A Memoir

When Ed Entin decided to torch his draft card, everything about his life changed. He had his whole life mapped out. It was 1966 and Eddie had just been accepted into Yale Law School–his ticket out of the Army and Vietnam and into a life of secure prosperity.

It took only one day, one decision to change the course of his life. What follows is a sometimes harrowing, often hilarious, and always illuminating ten-year journey through the social, political, and spiritual turmoil of the era.

For anyone wondering how it was back then–or how to get through right now–Living on the Fringe provides a look at how one person waded into the turbulent waters of his time and came out whole, dry, and ready to face the future. And with a new name to match the person he had become.

C O N T E N T S

Prologue

Part I Duck and Cover Sixteen Tons Most Likely to Succeed A Little Lower than the Angels You Can’t Say That The Lady on the Bus The Great Football Riot Bananas Taste like Blood The Friendly Stranger Sitting in Limbo Always Carry a Purse Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown Almost Busted (Twice in One Night) Taxi Driver Pissing on the Pentagon

Part II I Ain’t Marching Anymore Won’t You Please Come to Chicago Red Haired Angel (Busted for Real) Winter is Over

Part III: California Welcome to Los Angeles, City of Tomorrow Call Me a Cab Run for Your Life The New Me Looking for a Sign Send the Dog Everyone Gets an A The Boys with the Balls How I Met Your Mother Meet the Parents September 11, Mario and the FBI Aldo and Johnny Getting off that LA Freeway Waiting for Everyman

Part IV: Finding the Path: Finding the Path The Pushers of Cancer The Kung Fu Kids The Shadow of the Godfather The Spear of Destiny I’m Gettin’ Married in the Morning