Official Website of
Peter Durantine
Author & Scribbler
WRITINGS
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Grand Foyer
“They want you to come, too.”
“No,” I thought, watching her drop her purse on the chair while kicking off her clogs and hugging four-year-old Lilly. I refuse to attend one of her basket parties. She's asking too much, now. I contribute enough.
I load those baskets of various shapes and sizes into the mini-van before she sets out on one of her sales calls, unload them upon her return, even, on rare occasions, buy one to help her meet her monthly sales quota. Going to a basket party was crossing the line, demanding more than should be expected.
Holding the baby, Ellis, I stood in the living room of our comfortable little house in our comfortable little town, determined not to give in to her. I shook my head. “Why must I go?”
Sandy implored. “Oh, please. She said she won't have a party unless you come.”
I hate when she pleads.
“I don't know,” I said.
“Look, honey, it’s not just going to be a bunch of women sitting around looking at baskets. Kelly's having a neighborhood party. There'll be guys and beer there, too.”
“I don't even know these people and you only just met them. This sounds weird.”
“Oh, come on, they're nice people,” she said. “They like me and they want to meet you.”
I started to lose my footing. It was pathetic. “Why do they want to meet me?” My wife shrugged and said with more than a hint of sarcasm: “They like meeting new people, perhaps?”
BIO
Born in Washington, D.C. near the end of Dwight D. Eisenhower's second term as president, I grew up in the Maryland suburbs. Decided to become a writer in college. Worked my way through school. Traveled through Europe, found a job in Germany, and lived there for a year. Returned home via Trans-Siberian Express through Russia when it was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
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A story about my travels through Russia: When the train reached a station at the outskirts of Vladivostok, Russia's largest Asian port and home to its Pacific Fleet, a friend and I were detained for taking photos of our train. A little harrowing, but then you realize that, like any good police state, they must harass you lest you leave thinking oppression really isn't a bad thing.​
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When I returned to the states, I set out with minimal journalism experience
but plenty of ambition to find a job in newspapers. I have been working at some form of journalism ever since.
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My first job as a reporter required me to use a pen, paper and manual typewriter. Today, well, I don’t have to tell you how things have changed. However, at least one constant remains in our ever-changing world: writing.
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My interest in music ranges from contemporary to classic to jazz to pop to rock. I tickle the ivories, strum the guitar, and blow the bagpipe chanter.
Photography and film-making are dominant interests; visual ways to tell stories, but film, like music, needs good writing.
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CONTACT
For any media inquiries, please contact me:
Tel: 717-602-4300 | PDurantine@verizon.net
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