A REALITY CHECK (PART 4)!

Farrah Fawcett: When we think about her it's hard not to smile and feel good about someone who makes us care. How I admire this Courageous, Beautiful and Classy Lady. It's only fitting that I begin this BLOG Post by Honoring her with my Respect, along with my thoughts and prayers for her wellness.


Last Christmas, I ordered a DVD of this magical movie as a gift for someone. Long story-short: The DVD sat for months on a living room chair, before I eventually stored it in my closet. By February, It remained gift wrapped and sadly, I never even had a chance to present it. In the end, I wound up keeping it for myself (we've all been there). This DVD is the "Directors Cut". It is a "coming of age" film about a little boy and a wonderful friendship he develops with a movie house projectionist growing up during World War II in Italy. It's also about Love. Once you see it, your heart will be changed forever. This is reality.

See this film. Make the time. It will be well spent!

Two nights ago, I was driving along a boulevard thinking about how my love of cars is met today only by homogeneous and unexciting car design styles. Suddenly, a V-12 Ford GT-40 roared by and like a kid I said (to "no one there, not even the chair" as Neil Diamond would sing), "Wow!" I instantly remembered the late Ed Bradley of CBS' "60 Minutes". Why?, you ask wistfully. Because Ed loved this car. In fact, he loved driving a race car he owned around the track and even on streets where he could "open it up". Like this car itself, Ed Bradley had a passion for life and he is missed. Ed Bradley was the real deal!

Oh, I can hear it now. "Another blond". Not so fast! I bought this hard cover book certain I would hate it and boy, was I wrong. Jewel Kilcher is a damn good poet. I may have "dried up" as a poet years ago. But this year, I have two books that will see the light of day with an independent publisher. One of them is my own collection of poems. This book inspires me and I've read it several times with great pleasure. Simpler pleasures are a great reality!


No words are necessary, however I would like to Toast Carolyn and Seraphine for encouraging me to continue this series! Two beautiful women as friends is a very cool reality! Cheers!!!

What does ice skater Peggy Fleming have in common with Michael Manning? I'll tell you. When Peggy's son was too young to travel with her to Sofia, Bulgaria when she was Co-hosting ABC's "Wide World of Sports", her Co-Host Jim McKay actually interviewed his shoe on television. So, there you have it. Peggy was there and so was I! Actually, I lived there for a month with my parents when I was still fairly fluent in the language (underline "fairly"--today I'd be laughed out of a restaurant there trying to order a meal). Maybe not. People there speak Bulgarian, Russian, French, Italian and yes...English. A laid back city with a rich cultural history I still remember, and it's very real!


Here's a story about Class and Humility. I e-mailed Deborah Norville to get her take on our industry. She e-mailed me back! Down-to earth and gorgeous, this book is written by a lady who has her priorities in order. Very real!

The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers started out as a favorite of biker gangs. Michael McDonald added an interesting dimension during his years with the band. Then he left and founder Tom Johnson came back. I last saw these guys at an outdoor concert with 5,000 other people and let there be no doubt. They get better with time and they DO Rock! A musical reality!


Leo Busgalia means a lot to me years after he passed away. His life as a college educator was incredible. He created a non-credit class called "Love 101". His passion when he lectured led someone to contact a local Public Broadcasting producer to show up to his class at The University of Southern California one day, and the rest is history. Leo's specials on PBS had an amazing and positive impact on people's lives. He was at his peak the year I began my career at a PBS Television station. When he learned that he was in bad health, it's my understanding that he wrote this:

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“If I had my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I wouldn’t try to be so perfect. I would relax more. I’d limber up. I’d be sillier than I’ve been on this trip. In fact, I know very few things that I would take so seriously. I’d be crazier. I’d be less hygienic. I’d take more chances, I’d take more trips, I’d climb more mountains, I’d swim more rivers, I’d watch more sunsets, I’d go more places I’ve never been to. I’d eat more ice cream and fewer beans. I’d have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. You see, I was one of those people who lived prophylactically and sensibly and sanely hour after hour and day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had it to do all over again, I’d have more of those moments. In fact, I’d try to have nothing but beautiful moments — moment by moment by moment. I’ve been one of those people who never went anywhere without a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do all over again, I’d travel lighter next time. If I had it to do all over again, I’d start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I’d ride more merry-go-rounds, I’d watch more sunrises, and I’d play with more children, if I had my life to live over again. But you see, I don’t.”

Leo Busgaglia's books and videos are still available. Catching the experience of feeling alive again. What better gift could this man leave behind than the reality check of Joy? It's never too late, my friends. Never...