Summary

1983 opens with Sedaris spending the majority of his time split between working odd jobs and eating at the local IHOP. Sedaris is fascinated by the people he encounters at the IHOP and spends a significant portion of his diary describing them in detail. One of these characters Sedaris refers to as “Blind Billy,” who does not wear dark glasses and often starts conversations about sports if he hears someone settle into a nearby booth.

In June, Sedaris spent the night with a man named Ferris, a UNC student who at fifteen shot and killed someone who was breaking into his house. He does not comment much on Ferris besides the fact that he was put off by his murderous past. In July, Sedaris wrote, “This is Friday. I worked hard all week and have paid my rent and bills. There is $ 60 left over, so I...