I am having an amazing life. Today I start a new and somewhat important phase of this fun adventure. I hope I am ready. As I sit here in my messy studio I look at a bunch of grey hair and a bunch of extra pounds that need to go away. I am the proud owner of a partial knee replacement (so far my only surgery) three original works of the artist Peter Max and my parent’s cedar chest that is full of family treasures and memories. Well actually the cedar chest is at Julie’s house. I have yet to be able to have it close to me as it represents so much of who is no longer part of my life. But soon I shall gather up the courage to bring it home with me. For now I know it is being lovingly cared for.

I am a child of the sixties. Yes I was born in 1951 but my growing up happened in that wonderful decade. It is something that I am very grateful for and something I take in a serious and respectful manner. An interesting thing about the sixties is that they did not start until February of 1964 and they did not end until November of 1972. The only way you know what I am talking about is if you were there.

I grew up with Jerry Lee Lewis (my first concert at the Kellogg Auditorium in 1958), JFK, The Beatles, Martin Luther King,  I remember  waking up in June of 1968 to hear that Robert Kennedy was killed. I remember the Miami Pop Festival in January of 1968 (my first time away from home alone) The Atlanta Pop Festival in July of 1969 and of course Woodstock. (I had tickets but since most of the bands that played Atlanta were going to play there I stayed home).

Moonfire

I worked for an underground newspaper in Tampa called The Aquarian. I, with Jon Palmer Claridge  spent an afternoon with Jimi Hendrix. I spent a strange afternoon with Jack Kerouac in St Petersburg. I hung out in Miami with the likes of Iron Butterfly and worked on The John Lindsey presidential campaign.

Then, there were the seventies.  OK I was going to leave it at that one sentience but the truth is I became an adult. I met, fell in love and married a beautiful woman. She was a wonderful wife I was a less than wonderful husband. We had many outstanding adventures together, her family was and is the best.

In 1980 she gave us a son. She also taught me about growing, loving, learning and peace. Two years later another son. I am a very lucky man for knowing her.

In the eighties there was yet another wonderful wife who helped me become a better person. She was and is caring, nonjudgmental and just a hoot to hang out with. A truly wonderful wife. Once again, I was a less than wonderful husband.

My third wife provided me with three magnificently cool and talented children and taught me how to eat a more diverse group of foods. She taught me that there is always a way and she stood by my mom and sister when they needed her. To this day even though we are no longer together she knows me and watches out for me.

I am not done yet.

OK so I am old. I never thought I would see sixty but the truth is. I am healthy. I take no medication and I feel well. There are more adventures. I still have one son left at home with me to raise up and let fly. There are places I need to go, there are people I need to connect with.

I am grateful for:

My parents. My sister. My brother (who I depend on greatly) My children. All of my wives. At the opportunity to be a dad. For all the wonderful people I have met along the way. For my talents. For my friends. I am grateful that I am learning how to focus and move forward.

I am grateful to be able to live.

I think I will drive up to New Port Richey and spend some time with my parents.