Oh, Yeah. Here I am. I am a father, grandfather and husband. I'm diligently trying to be my best at all three. I also am a son, brother, and a very good friend to many. I do love my wife and have since I was 15 years old. The rest is mostly numbers.
Let's see: I'm a veteran [1965-1975], lived in Asia, Europe and most the USA, raised up in Appalachian Virginia and proud of it, spent some time on far eastern Long island and loved it. Went to university in Austin, Texas in the late seventies/early eighties and loved that time spent listening to music and getting high on Bastrop Homegrown. I think my many visits to Big Bend National Park and the Texas desert high-country sparked my imagination and inspired me to write things down. After 30 years, Texas is a huge and great inspiration in many aspects of my psyche.
People that inspired me most are those common, but very uncommon, people that earned a big "Wow!" as I got to know their truths. These were people that allowed me to see them and saw me as kindred, regardless of blood, race, age, financial status, personal beliefs or background. Father Clem @ St. Edwards University and V. Kent Newman are heros of mine.
Migraine Headaches have been constantly with me since December 1973. Why I have these chronic and severe headaches is a mystery, but they are forever with me.I survive. When the fog of this pain lifts just a bit, I write.
So what do you get with my writing? I'm not certain because I am truly an imperfect work in progress. I am working on me....daily.
My passion is ...
Living. A thrill-seeker, warrior and psycho-whatever.
I know too much about ...
Trivia. I absorb way too much useless information.
My parents always told me ...
They loved me in spite of much and, I guess because of much more. Now that my parents and step-parents are gone, there are a lot of remembrances. Good ones, I assure everyone.
My childhood ambition ...
Virginia State Trooper or USMC - That makes me smile now with my gray hair
My favorite memory ...
Appalachian Mountain forest at daybreak after an early Fall snow. Still takes my breath away to think of it.
Why I write ...
To scream "I live, I think, I challenge, I imagine and I am not going quietly!"
What I am reading/watching/listening to ...
Reading Thoreau, Rick Atkinson's Liberation Trilogy, Hunter S. Thompson, listening to XM Public Radio, singer Peter Wolf, Roy Buchanan, Super Session, Looking at David Muench's photographs, watching Black Bears in the Smokey Mountains
My first job ...
mowing grass with a push reel-blade mower.for $.75 a yard which included a hand edged clip.
My best moment ...
a child's hugs. You earn those. Grandchildren are the best part of growing old.
My inspiration ...
Bill Wrenn, Mike Farmer, Rick Johnson, Mary Alice Crawford, "Big" Charlie Crawford, John Trippin, Mr. Fallon, Sir Charles Crawford, Jim Banach, Fritz Herrmann, Mike Farmer, Rick Johnson, Tom Jensen, Paul Trivoli, Trish and Nick Ponke, Janine Guy, Vickie Glenn, Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, Bob Dylan, Rock and Roll, all words, Tennessee Walking Horses, my Loving Wife/True Love of My Life, Big Bend desert high-country, Appalachian Mountain forest dreams, fast moving waters, full moons and daybreaks.
That our nation has allowed through legislative neglect up to 12 million illegal immigrants to invade our country is a disgrace. Tom Tancredo is not a hero of mine, but he definitely has the right idea when he lobbies not to reward these lawbreakers. The very presence of people that initially entered our nation through a disregard for US law is an embarrassment to us all. We have elected public servants that have turned a blind eye toward this problem and, even now, obstruct the enforcement of our immigration laws. There are no America communities that are not infected by illegal immigrant...
More..Buddy Miller
Member since: May 2007
Articles Written: 13