I am the lucky guy, that bared witness to the remarkable union and collaborations of Shalom and Mikal. Their “misery” was cultures’ gain, as together they penned hilarious ideas, reflecting their take on everything around them, output in the form of some of the most original and searingly honest ads that slightly rancid industry had ever seen. RIP Mikal.
There’s probably some psychological explanation why we recall misery in our past with a certain nostalgia, but I don’t care what scientific justification there might be. In our older, possibly wiser, selves we might recognize and appreciate what we couldn’t back then. And we should.
Engrossing and powerful as usual. So sorry for your pain of losing Mikal.
Years ago, not really thinking, a much-older coworker (a good guy) asked how things were and I replied, "Could be better." He looked at me annoyed and say, "They could be worse too." He knew I was limited in perspective compared to him. He was correct of course and I was an idiot.
"Perhaps you are in a miserable place right now. Perhaps you hate your job, your school, your apartment, your job. Surely, you think, things can’t get any worse, and you will find no shortage of seemingly knowledgeable people who will assure you that they can - indeed, that they will."
Sorry for the loss of Mikel. I recently lost the best friend from my youth (college in my case) and it was, and is, heartbreaking. But there are memories of, and times with, him that I will never forget. Certain things that used to make me laugh now make me smile wistfully. I wish you well.
I got to mad dogs after you left your mark and ur name came up often. Mikal gave me my first opportunity and I am forever grateful. Everyone was so nice and at that point mad dogs resembled an agency with about 18 people. But we were all young and miserable and happy. Mikal was now helping to lead and his positivity was always evident and yet you could sense a smirk. I will miss him. He was so smart and funny.
i'm so sorry that you lost your friend. Your piece here reminds me of something I think about often--as the lyrics to that old Carly Simon song go: "these are the good old days." They really are.
RIP Mikal. Please let it be known that I was a copywriter uptown from Mad Dogs and a bunch of us used to sit in our stale offices at Grey Advertising and look at the creative you guys were doing and feel like shit about writing about Pampers for Procter & Gamble. And yes you were all way too talented for the world. We might all be. NYC is some brand manager's wet dream these days, I'm not even sure anyone WANTS to be creative. Always great to read your words Shalom.
"...thin as hope's shivering feather.." What a perfectly stunning metaphor for hope. Shalom. Wow.
"...the shrapnel of my dysfunctional childhood..." This shrapnel bloodies our entire lives. I look at my own son (now 60) every day, fearing to find damage, but no, he is miraculously sane, thriving and loving life. In spite of the 1960s environment in which he was raised. Great writing, Mr. Auslander.
I felt this in my bones. Also the bit about shrapnel. As C.S. Lewis observed, "The characteristic of Pains and Pleasures is that they are unmistakably real, and therefore, as far as they go, give the man who feels them a touchstone of reality." As we get older, we feel the loss of that touchstone - an experience that you've captured here beautifully.
Beautiful reflection Shalom.
I am the lucky guy, that bared witness to the remarkable union and collaborations of Shalom and Mikal. Their “misery” was cultures’ gain, as together they penned hilarious ideas, reflecting their take on everything around them, output in the form of some of the most original and searingly honest ads that slightly rancid industry had ever seen. RIP Mikal.
Check out Nick's book, folks (link in the post). It's a great retelling of a remarkable time and place. And full of Mikal stories, too.
There’s probably some psychological explanation why we recall misery in our past with a certain nostalgia, but I don’t care what scientific justification there might be. In our older, possibly wiser, selves we might recognize and appreciate what we couldn’t back then. And we should.
Engrossing and powerful as usual. So sorry for your pain of losing Mikal.
Years ago, not really thinking, a much-older coworker (a good guy) asked how things were and I replied, "Could be better." He looked at me annoyed and say, "They could be worse too." He knew I was limited in perspective compared to him. He was correct of course and I was an idiot.
"Perhaps you are in a miserable place right now. Perhaps you hate your job, your school, your apartment, your job. Surely, you think, things can’t get any worse, and you will find no shortage of seemingly knowledgeable people who will assure you that they can - indeed, that they will."
My grandmother's answer was "Good enough."
A story about her I told on NPR recently:
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/15/nx-s1-5036582/by-giving-him-some-gum-a-grandmother-opened-a-young-boys-mind
Love and family over man-made ritual.
Sorry for the loss of Mikel. I recently lost the best friend from my youth (college in my case) and it was, and is, heartbreaking. But there are memories of, and times with, him that I will never forget. Certain things that used to make me laugh now make me smile wistfully. I wish you well.
I don't know Mikal, I don't know Shalom, but this brings me to tears...
Hi Shalom
I got to mad dogs after you left your mark and ur name came up often. Mikal gave me my first opportunity and I am forever grateful. Everyone was so nice and at that point mad dogs resembled an agency with about 18 people. But we were all young and miserable and happy. Mikal was now helping to lead and his positivity was always evident and yet you could sense a smirk. I will miss him. He was so smart and funny.
This is crushing beautiful. Thank you!
i'm so sorry that you lost your friend. Your piece here reminds me of something I think about often--as the lyrics to that old Carly Simon song go: "these are the good old days." They really are.
"But there’s also a chance, thin as hope’s shivering feather"...beautiful, I'll cling to that.
I love you, Shalom.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
RIP Mikal. Please let it be known that I was a copywriter uptown from Mad Dogs and a bunch of us used to sit in our stale offices at Grey Advertising and look at the creative you guys were doing and feel like shit about writing about Pampers for Procter & Gamble. And yes you were all way too talented for the world. We might all be. NYC is some brand manager's wet dream these days, I'm not even sure anyone WANTS to be creative. Always great to read your words Shalom.
But I was assured that capitalism promotes creativity.
(He said as he walked past "Wolverine Vs. Deadpool")
beautifully written
"...thin as hope's shivering feather.." What a perfectly stunning metaphor for hope. Shalom. Wow.
"...the shrapnel of my dysfunctional childhood..." This shrapnel bloodies our entire lives. I look at my own son (now 60) every day, fearing to find damage, but no, he is miraculously sane, thriving and loving life. In spite of the 1960s environment in which he was raised. Great writing, Mr. Auslander.
Congrats, Sharron. No small feat.
Tough and truthful memories of a friendship that takes on a different dimension now that Mikal is gone.
I felt this in my bones. Also the bit about shrapnel. As C.S. Lewis observed, "The characteristic of Pains and Pleasures is that they are unmistakably real, and therefore, as far as they go, give the man who feels them a touchstone of reality." As we get older, we feel the loss of that touchstone - an experience that you've captured here beautifully.
Yes this