I was not going
to do this, but then a friend asked if I would reveal a few things about me few
people know (including my hairdresser), sooooo....
1. Several
generations of my family, including my parents were born in the Altoona/Blair
County/Huntingdon County areas, but through a twist of circumstances, I was
born in Camden, New Jersey. Shortly thereafter, we returned to Altoona.
2. At age 9, I
almost drowned in Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake (before the dam was built). A
hand around my wrist pulled me to shallow water. I still believe an angel
pulled me to safety as I was swimming alone.
3. My fifth
great-grandfather, John Gilley, an Irish immigrant in Maine, lived to age 124,
married a 24-year-old at age 80, fathered ten children, and worked his farm
until age 120. I thought it was just oral legend until I began reading about it
in various history books, in Ripley’s
Believe It or Not, and note that his organs were requested by Harvard
Medical School for study after he died. His wife, by the way, lived to 92.
4. Before I
joined the Air Force during the Vietnam War, I was part of a rock band called
J.D. & The Swanks. Before the days of androgynous rock, I performed one
number in drag and got the biggest crowd reaction of the show. Our keyboard
player, John Berkstresser, went on to become a well respected concert pianist,
after serving in Vietnam as a fighter pilot. Guitarist and triplet brother of
John’s, Jerry Berkstresser, also served our country as a helicopter gunner.
5. The day after
enlisting in the Air Force, my Draft notice arrived. It took the Defense
Department, my congressman, and the Pentagon to declare my enlistment valid. I
went to Southeast Asia as an airman.
6. During
military off duty hours, I taught English to Chinese nationals in Northeast
Thailand. While there, I crashed a film set pretending to be Hollywood press.
The director stopped shooting so the biggest stars in Thailand could pose for
photographs while thousands of extras and spectators parted to let me through.
I did it all for a star struck school girl. I still have photographic proof of
the moment.
7. My first
acting role (age 19) was Ensign Pulver in Mr.
Roberts for Altoona Community
Theater in the historic Mishler Theatre (built 1906 and 1907) where the likes
of Sarah Bernhardt (1911), the Barrymores , Houdini and many others once graced
the same stage. Decades later, I wrote a feature story about the theater’s
founder, Isaac Mishler. While taking photographs for the article, and climbing
into the upper rafters above the dome, I photographed ghostly orbs. I’ve never
released or published those images.
8. I once ran for
the state legislature. My liberal politics made it a suicide mission in a
conservative district (actors need training somewhere). I learned a hard lesson
about politics—honest people tell the truth, but they don’t get elected.
9. I met my wife Carol
on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend. I was 7 years post-divorce,
followed by the loss of a fiancé who drowned after a seizure, followed by a
broken engagement, and countless dates. I was ready to give up on love. Carol
had two divorces with really bad guys. She hadn't given up. She chased me until
I caught her. I never went home after our first date. We’ve been married for 34
years.
10. Despite my
love for and involvement in the arts--especially acting and music--I am also a
science geek. I'm fascinated by quantum physics, astronomy, and most fields of
science, and wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid. Despite my
understanding of concepts and theories, I lacked the math skills to even
consider a career in science. However, this interest sparked an idea for my
next novel—a romantic story with a new twist on time travel.
That's enough.
I'm sorry if your eyes are glazed over.
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