Dispatch 21: Secret Letters From Jack Kerouac

Recently discovered letters from a 17 year-old Jack Kerouac to his childhood friend George Apostolos paint a vivid picture of his New York City experiences. Before his literary successes, young Jack was just a wide-eyed boy from Massachusetts who earned a scholarship to Columbia University. His words playful and full of wonder and remind us why we should never stop being explorers, no matter where we are:

“Then I went out and went on the Brooklyn Bridge. There I stood alone, with the gale full force in my face, the only man on the Bridge on that night. Once in a while, a blast would almost blow me over, but I resolved to conquer the fear I had for a while. I dont know why I did it, but I do know that it was the first adventurous experience I’ve had in a long time. I guess you must think I’m crazy, George, but I had the time of my life.”