Way Corp group(s) I was in
7
About Me
Ah, to condense twenty-five years into twenty-five words of less, well, maybe not.
F. Scott said, “There are no second acts in American lives,” well, most folks know that to be a load of bull.
Let’s see I have been a failed Reverend, a successful publisher, a respected editor, and a pretty good M&A entrepreneur. The first my love, the second and third my passion and last a way to make money. That surely constitutes more than two acts and perhaps even a mini-series on Lifetime. Yuck!
The last twenty years I have mostly spend my working life starting small independent newspapers. Think alternative, irreverent, socially conscious free rags.
I have been married to a wonderful woman named Susan for nineteen years. We have lived around the world and for years called NYC our home.
My offices were 11 blocks from WTC on 9/11. My attorney was on the 85th floor of Tower Two. She tragically was never found.
(Susan and I would have been on the 85th floor of Tower Two at 8 am on 9/13. So we were some of the lucky ones.)
For a year after 9/11 we soldiered on but our hearts and our city were badly damaged.
Our dreams before the attack seemed unimportant when stacked beside the real awareness of how short life really is.
Someone once asked Billy Graham what he had found most amazing about life?
He answered, “Its brevity.”
So, we have become “drop outs.” We have traded Gucci for Wal-mart and Manhattan for a farm in rural Alabama. It is very much Green Acres. (Organic garden, 2 horses, 5 goats, 2 dogs, 4 chickens and I have no idea how many cats.) Susan has an earth-friendly store and greenhouse; I spend much of my time writing things that no one ever reads (except those who are kind enough to read my rants without thinking I have truly crossed the line into lunacy).
It has taken me the better part of the last twenty-five years to fully forgive myself (and some others) for my final days in The Way.
Of course finally finding a Russian doctor and a French psychiatrist I am fine, really. The doctor assured me, “Smoke, drink, enjoy, what’s it going to do kill you?” The frog intoning a motto of, “Wrong? There is no wrong!"
Ok, I’m kidding.
I am very happy to see so many people I once called friend here on this site and doing well.
If I have offend, hurt or betrayed any of you I am sorry and ask your forgiveness.
It is my wish to connect as best I can and share whatever I have with everyone here.
Typing this now I also ponder, what is the next act?
To all of you I say, I am okay. How are you friend?
Love to all,
B
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
John Donne
Music I Like
Charlie Parker
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Chet Baker
Dean Martin (Really he was great!)
Tony Bennett
Nat “King” Cole
Most songs by Johnny Mercer
The Beatles (of course)
The Rolling Stones
The Beach Boys (Pet Sounds)
The Chieftains
Van Morrison
Songs and Bands that should never be heard again!
Stairway to heaven
Muskrat Love (What was that all about!)
Ben
Anything Michael Jackson, Wings, Lite Rock, Hair bands and Rap (Why did they leave the C off of the spelling?) Well, maybe that song about, “Sipping on Gin and juice, with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.” I mean, really, it is so culturally relevant.
Now that I have started this list I know it is a fool’s errand.
Comments
"It has taken me the better part of the last twenty-five years to fully forgive myself (and some others) for my final days in The Way."
A hearty "me too", Billy, just recently came to grips with some old Way issues. Whatever happened, It left me with a relationship with God I'd never have had without it. I too opted for a simpler, non corporate life, FINALLY, with organic garden, morel mushroom patch, golden retriever, and mountain roots music(tomatoes love that stuff!).
Perusing all my old friends in the 7th Corps sure has made me smile a lot. Always loved your music, brother, all the best to you.
Your page is full of wisdom and understanding. I hope your invitation is still open.Would
love to share some lunacy.
John DiMartino
johnd@wispertel.net
Happy birthday Billy. Hope you have a fantastic day!
Hi Billy,
I posted the brother's keeper thing last November but only just today checked for comments. I don't do this site often. Thanks for the compliment. So how are you? What's the latest news? No big news from us. Our web site is doing well enough I suppose. We have hundreds of visits per day, not thousands or millions, but it is the best outreach I know how to do.Would still love to have you contribute. It's kind of embarrassing to be the only contributor. Articles don't have to be Biblical.
Saw it was your birthday today, Bill. May it be a blessed one.
Happy Birthday, and God's richest blessings to you this day inthe wonderful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Love your writings, hope more are forthcoming. wonderful perspective and insight.
I pray you are having wonderful birthday. As the old saying goes "keep on a trucking"
Happy Birthday Billy
God Bless You Brother
Ted
So I thought I would get in on the act. Happy birthday to you Billy. Hope you have a fantastic day on the farm or wherever you are today. Sure love you my friend, have a gut one.