: About Me

I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee. Working in the Department of Environment and Conservation for the State, I usually am able to go online to the Helium Website on weekends or for brief periods in the weekday evenings.

I am 62 years old and live in a suburb of Nashville called Donelson. In fact, I live just across Briley Parkway from Opryland - if you are at all familiar with Opryland.

I have been married twice and am still married to my second wife, who is from Russia. We have been together now for over 13 years.

I have been writing since the late 80s. I started out with one poem that was written especially for a visit of the Moving Wall (a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington, DC). From there, I wrote more poetry and then followed some lyrical poetry. Then I tried writng some novels (still working on those) and some short stories (finished four so far and starting a fifth). Along the way, I had a lot of my original poetry and lyrical poetry stolen during an apartment break-in. And about six months later, I started again writing poetry and lyrical poetry.

I wound up in Nashville, Tennessee, in the fall of 1991 and started working for the State in January of 1993.

My passion is ...

singing and writing although I am not a professional in either area

I know too much about ...

-well, actually, I took an IQ test a few years ago and it indicated that I was a Fact Gatherer

My parents always told me ...

to work hard. But sometimes I wonder if someone had encouraged my first attempts at writing in high school, I might have been further along with that as a possible career.

My childhood ambition ...

was to make a lot of money, but I haven't been very successful thus far.

My favorite memory ...

is spending time on my maternal grandparents' farm in the summertime when I was young.

Why I write ...

is because I enjoy a good yarn more than anything, so I guess I'm a yarn spinner. Actually, that sort of applies to my poetry and lyrical poetry as well.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Science fiction (read and watch), CSI, Lost, Heroes to name a few. I love listening to a local radio station - WJXA.

My first job ...

was at 13 working in a small town grocer's bagging and stocking shelves. That was so I could buy a suit for my 8th Grade Graduation Ceremonies.

My best moment ...

was being asked to read my poem, "Ode to the Vietnam Veteran" at the opening ceremonies to the Moving Wall when I was in Wichita, Kansas. That was the proudest moment of my life at that time.

My inspiration ...

is most anything, although, for songs, it has more to do with love and some humor sprinkled in. For my novels and short stories, I like ideas that may not be in the mainstream.

Celebrations & Holidays > Birthdays What are the golden years?

3 of 3

Years of Enjoyment Even though I am not there yet, my feeling is that the "golden years" are referring to that time in a person's life when he or she can look back over the years to see what they have accomplished while on this earth. From the vantage point of retirement, a person can now take it easy and follow their dreams, or their wishes, or their own path to the best combination of relaxing activities that are available to them. Work is past for the most part, although some may like to take on a part time job just for the extra income it can provide. Traveling is one way to relax and ...

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