Welcome to My Life: A Pre-Show
When I first began this website (I hate the term blog, so let’s agree not to use it, thank you), I didn’t exactly know in what direction I was headed…as early postings might indicate. I knew I had lots to say, but wasn’t sure how to go about presenting it. But as I have plodded through more than three years’ worth of postings, things have begun to take shape. While part of me always enjoys the infrequent ruminations on all things pop-culture that you will occasionally see, my overriding ambition has become to simply chronicle all of the memorable events of my life – along with observations of the lives of my family and friends.
I must confess that it sometimes feels overtly egotistical, self-glorifying, and vain (along with plenty of other adjectives indicating some degree of narcissism) to send these electronic words and images of myself out into the world for all to see – but let me be the first to assure you – I realize that I am nobody special. Just a guy who enjoys life and nostalgia and who has experienced some cool and interesting things – sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance. This is just my way of getting it all down – a scrapbook that has been opened up for all to see…you see?
Assuming the survival of the server that houses this info, I admit that I think this would be an interesting read for my future generations – but beyond that, I have created this site solely for myself. You may find some of it fascinating and some of it excruciatingly boring, but just remember who its number one audience is…and his initials are BF.
Now having rudely stated that fact, I will say that I absolutely love getting feedback via comments left on the site, especially from those that have been directly involved in my life in any way. Whether I loved you or hated you, chances are I never forgot you…and you will be mentioned. I look at my life as a movie and everyone I know is a co-star. Every movie needs a hero, a villian, a lovely girl, a relative, a friend, and plenty of extras. Most likely, if you’ve read this far, you are one of these. And hearing your input on what I have to say only adds to the richness of this film…er, life.
And if I don’t know you, that’s okay too. I fully realize that there are a few entertaining postings on here that are very high on the “Google” hit-list, so there are often strangers weaving in and out of here as well. Feel free to look around and share your observations as well.
My overall aim is to be both honest and accurate on this site so that I will have a true timeline of my life’s adventures. While I pride myself on a fairly good memory, there are certainly times when it falters miserably. That is where I have to rely on photos, documents, and other people’s memories in reconstructing events from my past. So I am often calling on friends and family members to share their memories and photos with me – and I always appreciate the support.
Things you should know to easily navigate this site
While there are both categories and archives in the right hand column that can be utilized to locate what you are looking for, they are not always the easiest places to find anything specific. I would suggest using the search function to find a certain topic by entering one or more keywords.
To read the most recent postings, click on the MOST RECENT POSTINGS in the right-hand column under pages (or click here).
If you should ever wish to start at my first posting ever and navigate through them in the order that they were written (through the links at the top of each page), begin here.
I have attempted to chronologically daisy-chain each event with a link at the end of every posting leading to the next chronological event.
By clicking the link below to any five-year era, you can travel that particular timeline as far as I have completed it thus far. You will be able to ‘bypass’ any series of more than two postings (ie. a vacation with several postings) if so desired. Clicking on the word INTRODUCTION in the right-hand column under pages will bring you back to this page at any time.
Early 1970′s
Late 1970′s
Early 1980′s
Late 1980′s
Early 1990′s
Late 1990′s
Early 2000′s
Late 2000′s
Because this site will always be a work in progress with new comments and additions being added quite frequently, you may check below to see where to find both the most recent comments and major additions or changes to existing postings. I hope you enjoy my life as much as I have so far…if not more.
Most recent comments:
The ten most recent comments are now located in the right column under the links area.
Updates to previous postings:
**My visit to the Harding death site in San Francisco has been added to Warren G. Harding and Me
**Two photos taken inside the Blount Mansion added to Knoxville
**Eight additional graves added to Holy Cross. New introductory paragraph photo added to Valhalla.
**My encounter with Eva Marie Saint has been added
**Additional photo of me with Clayton Moore added to Who Was That Masked Man?
**Autographed photo and a new meeting with Billie Hayes added to Witchiepoo
**Video added of Jimmy and me on the Jimmy Kimmel Show to Jimmy Kimmel Live!: How We Nearly Became the New Mujibur & Sirajul
**Visits to Woodrow Wilson’s homes in Princeton, New Jersey, and Augusta, Georgia have been added to Woodrow Wilson and Me
**My meeting with Mickey Rooney had been added to A Short Visit with Billy Barty in ’95…and Later Mickey Rooney
**Photos of me visiting the James Garfield death site have been added to James Garfield and Me
** Additional photos added to The Last American Veteran of the Great War and Another Fine Road Trip ’09: West Virginia with a Hint of Maryland
**My visit to Andrew Johnson’s birthplace has been added to Andrew Johnson and Me
**Photo of me with Henry Winkler added to Autograph Fonzie? Okaaaaaay!
For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: “It might have been.” - John Greenleaf Whittier
Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. – John Lennon
Life must be understood backwards; but…it must be lived forward - Soren Kierkegaard
Enshrine every moment of your life – the same as you would any other invaluable treasure. – Brad F*rrell