THE GRATITUDE TRAIL-FRIENDS and WARRIORS

OF THE REASONS WE COUNT

    Friends say I'm mellowing from the energetic and relentless 24/7 sprinter I was as a journalist, documentary maker or news executive.  "More sensitive" they say. I don't think it's a new turn. If I'm more reflective its because I'm no longer obsessed by deadlines. Be that as it may, I'm taking a few opportunities this year to observe reasons for gratitude. While they are mostly personal, you may see something with which you agree.

FRIENDS

    "Real" friends are a blessing aren't they? Through loss and suffering as well as in sun lit moments of joy, they are with you. It is in challenges and adversity that true character is revealed, and where the truth of that old adage "a friend in need..." is validated.  I found research that places the origin of that line to 3 BC.  Translated from Latin it says "a sure friend is known when in difficulty."

     Friends are a blessing.

WARRIOR SERVANTS

    War is hell, William Tecumseh Sherman said and I agree.
War is a crucifixion, Dr. William Enright said and I agree.
    War is a failure of human beings to behave to their highest good. War produces the worst in humanity. But in our muddled history on this blue sphere, it has also produced valor, sacrifice, devotion and honor.  
    Sadly, old men conscript young men and women to do the fighting for them. These warriors answer a call and respond and many have died and suffered on our behalf.  Debate the cause, or the politics as we must, but gratitude for those who have served and given is no point of debate.

 Viet Nam Memorial

Washington DC

 Korean War Memorial

Washington, DC

District of Columbia WW I Memorial

Washington, DC
We are grateful for those who have served.

The tribute to WWII personnel, my father included,

is the subject of forthcoming post.

This is the time of year to count 'em up.
See you down the trail.

     

THE WEEKENDER-TOGETHER

BECAUSE IT'S STILL RIGHT

     Boomers will remember this from a time of discord and rancor when it became a kind of anthem.  Posted here in two versions as a post election stress syndrome tonic.

Lyrics Version

Full Hippie Style

Good bye Big John 

Photo Courtesy of Sherry Gillis/WIBC

    It is fortune in life to know people who are unique, true individualists even delightful eccentrics. John Gillis is on that list.

     1969 was a time of transition for the country and for me.  Big John was a wrench man in my re-tooling.  He was part of a revolution, FM Rock radio. He and a few renegade young men made history by creating something new.  I was out of college, waiting for my bride to be to finish student teaching, working at a small market AM station doing the police beat and street news.  John had heard me and  showed up one day at the studio to evangelize the hip new world of "underground, counter cultural, history making" WNAP FM. The cultural history of that station has been captured in a film detailed in this January post.  

       On that day, John opened his ever present hard sided brief case, which he organized a couple of times as we sat in our little studio talking, and produced promotional literature, tapes of jingles, air checks and posters.  He opened the door to my future.

       A few months later, after returning from a spring and summer traveling in Europe, Lana and I settled into our new home and I walked further through the door John had opened.  The News Director of  the station group that operated both the radical FM and the old line AM news leader offered me a job to live in both worlds.  Traditional beat reporting for the AM News giant and the on air voice of those "long haired fucking hippies in the back room." (It's funny, because the only long hair Big John had was his mutton chop side burns, being a prematurely bald man.)

      It was the best of both worlds, the beginning of life long friendships, adventure and the launching pad for a career that would send me around the world. Some of that would have happened perhaps, but it certainly did because Big John came calling one day.

       He was a radio legend in Indianapolis, the automatic host, toast master, emcee at thousands of events over the years.  Colorful, always traveling to the beat of his own private drummer, a loving and lovable guy, John passed from this world yesterday at the young age of 65.

       There will be great stories about John's vivid uniqueness-he truly was a character- and they will fill a space in our heart left by a life lived large. Big John, you left Big memories.

        Take a moment this weekend to tell a friend how important they are to you.

          See you down the trail.

FRIENDS & CREATIVITY

MUSINGS ON TREASURES

MY FRIENDS ARE MY ESTATE

Emily Dickinson


A group of fraternity brothers have gathered
again for our twice a year encampment.
These are our oldest friendships and over
the years they have grown to be more
important and enjoyable. Wives have become
friends, we have shared troubles and tribulations
and watched changes and the constant remains
our love for each other. These people
and these times together are treasures indeed.


I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
John Lennon


A WORTHY HUMAN ENDEAVOR-
CREATIVITY
No doubt, it is because of the way I am hard wired that 
I think creative endeavors are the highest and holiest
of human activities.  In a sense it is an emulation
life itself-giving birth to something new. It is
an "aping" of the Creator.
Thanks to friends at the WCI for finding
a great thought from our beloved Indiana writer
Kurt Vonnegut

"Nobody will stop you from creating. 

Do it tonight. Do it tomorrow. 

That is the way to make your soul grow - 

whether there is a market for it or not! 

The kick of creation is the act of creating, 

not anything that happens afterward. 

I would tell all of you watching this screen: 

Before you go to bed, write a four line poem. 

 Make it as good as you can. 

Don't show it to anybody. 

Put it where nobody will find it. 

And you will discover that you have your reward." 

                          ~Kurt Vonnegut

Think about a friend today and then
think something new.
See you down the trail.