My cab driver today was a young black man in his mid twenties. Somewhere in the conversation I mentioned that Julian Bond had died. The cabbie replied with "Who's that". "That man is the reason you are where you are today" I said.
My mind flew back 50 years, remembering watching on television Julian Bond fighting to be seated in the Georgia legislature. He and I were the same age and I thought he was the handsomest man I had ever seen. I went on with my life, watching his career escalate as did my own.
Forty some years ago I was dining with my family in the
Holiday Inn in Wabash, Indiana. We were the only people in the place when out of the night two men entered the room. It was he along with another man.
I walked over and introduced myself. He was speaking at a local college. I tried to play it cool while engaging in secret hero worship. Julian Bond was polite,extremely gracious and just as good looking. After some talk he asked if I and my family would join them for dinner. I was blindsided. Never being able to think on my feet, I demurred saying thank you no but I was there with my family.
How many times since that night I have berated myself for not accepting his invitation. I always planned to write him but like many things that we put off, it is too late.
What this country needs is more mental health programs and less guns.
I have been diagnosed as having Parkinsons Disease. I am in denial and now I am near the anger stage of loss. My hands have at times an uncontrollable tremor. It is difficult to use the keyboard.
I do not know the outcome of this but I shall continue to post whatever and whenever I am able. Probably photographs.
I am still sober,thanks to God and AA.
...with each broken shoelace out of one hundred broken shoelaces, one man, one woman, one thing enters a madhouse. Charles Bukowski
I would like to thank all those who have read or will read my blog. I hope that you enjoyed it. I continue to always welcome feedback.
The Shadow.
She left my life just as quickly as she had entered. The last time I saw her she was sitting on a mattress on the floor putting on her shirt. The next day she took a flight back to LA, leaving her apartment and taking nothing with her.
It was late spring when she appeared, letting out the apartment above mine. We hung out together all that splendid summer. We ate, watched parades and went to the railroad museum. I photographed her when we sat in the sun in the park.
I have the photo's now and a lot of good memories. Occasionally I sit and wonder whatever happened to her.
