True Friendship

Today, I discovered a package on my front stoop. It was delivered via the good ol USPS!

When I opened it, I was FLOORED!

Absolutely FLOORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its contents brought an ENORMOUS SMILE to my face!!!!

Its contents reaffirmed my belief that MRS. SHELLEY BOOHER-DONNELL is one of the MOST INCREDIBLE FRIENDS a person could be BLESSED to have!

She's one of the MOST INCREDIBLE FRIENDS this ol' boy, in particular, is BLESSED to have!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I DO NOT know the words to describe how much JOY she adds to my life!

She is the KIND, LOVING and COMPASSIONATE soul who sent this package to me.

Inside was a CREATIVELY DESIGNED VISION BOARD, reiterating EVERYTHING I AM!

You see, SHELLEY knows a brother! Haaa!

She also included a beautifully framed photo she created, depicting a scene from the CONVERSATIONS with CAM talk show I WILL eventually host!!!

Yep, SHELLEY has FAITH in a brother!!

I DO NOT know the words to describe how much JOY she adds to my life!

Wait a minute! I've stated that before, right? 

Well, it's the TRUTH!

I don't know WHAT I've done to deserve a FRIEND like HER!

I don't know WHY she heaps such LOVE and KINDNESS on me!

But I'm HELLA THANKFUL for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

HELLA THANKFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And hella thankful for the SOUTH BEND CHOCOLATE COMPANY's chocolate-covered almonds, blueberries and the STARBUCKS gift card that were also stashed inside the package.

SHELLEY DONNELL, I APPRECIATE, LOVE, RESPECT and CHERISH your existence on PLANET EARTH!

PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island...to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep [her] is a blessing." -- Baltasar Gracian

The Call To Courage

My therapist suggested I check out this Netflix special. So, I'll do just that!

I first heard of Ms. Brown a couple years ago when she was a guest on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday. Turns out she's been a guest on that show several times.

She has tackled the following topics:

a.) What to do when you struggle with trust.
b.) The hidden damage of gossip.
c.) The anatomy of trust.
d.) The (3) most dangerous stories we tell ourselves.
e.) Regret is a fair, but tough teacher.
f.) The (2) most common ways we offload hurt.
g.) The best way to measure courage.

And a host of other topics!

After I check out her Netflix special, I'll discuss it with my therapist.

We'll see what we see.

LA County Fair Goes Pop

Yesterday, for the very first time since moving to Los Angeles, I attended the LA County Fair!

Yes, I've loved fairs for as long as I can remember!

The delicious, fried foods! Although I have to admit, I bypassed this yummy-looking $12.00 corn dog for a VEGAN dish instead. I know...BORRRRING! :)

The rides!

The games!

The ice cream!

And for the first time, I actually sat and posed for a caricature portrait! The handsome, young man standing next to me, Mr. ANDRE BLAND, is the extraordinarily talented artist who drew me!!!!!!! In fact, HE was the reason I even went to the fair. When he told me he'd be in town to draw his caricature portraits, I figured that was reason enough for me to finally check out the joint! And I'm hella happy I did!

For more of ANDRE BLAND's phenomenal work, check out his WEBSITE!!! 

Therapy & Me

Today was my first session with a mental health specialist.

Her exact title is Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

She doesn't look like the specialists we usually see on television. She wore a sleeveless blouse, and her tatted arms were on vivid display. I even mentioned them to her.

She asked me if I would have any problem with having a white female therapist. I chuckled a bit, then told her that "some of my best friends are white females." Haaaaa! But they ARE! Gretchen, Trisha, Madeline (half white) and Shelley are tops on my list of GREAT FRIENDS!

I eventually told her that I prefer the company of women for just about everything...

Except romance! Haaaa!

I told her about having five sisters and being a mama's boy. So, women are now, and have always been, verrrrrrry essential to my well-being.

Suffice it to say, I wouldn't want any other mental health specialist than a woman. Men can kick rocks!

We discussed what motivated me to seek treatment. And now, we're gonna spend the next seven sessions exploring this little ol' mind of mine! We're gonna get to the bottom of why professional fulfillment and CAM Jr are like strangers that pass in the night.

I've gotta admit, I was kinda hopin' she had a chaise lounge, or a couch for me to recline on. But no such luck! I'll make the best of the little chair she has though.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

2019 is shaping up to be one helluva TERRIFIC year!

And for that, I am immeasurably thankful.

He Was My Brother

Yesterday, I was informed about the sudden death of one of my Brothers.

A Fraternity Brother.

He was 56. Born seven months before me; also in '63.

The Fiji House

When I joined Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity at Wabash College as a freshman, he was a sophomore.

He was handsome.

Funny.

Intelligent.

Outspoken.

And outgoing as hell!

One semester, during my freshman year, I roomed with his best friend. He'd come into our room and wrestle with my roommate (who was a wrestler, by the way). And from time to time, they'd even toss me around!

His given name was James, but for some reason I never learned, we called him "Simmy" or "Sim Pup."

Years after we graduated, I contacted him and told him I was visiting California. He had moved to the Los Angeles area and gotten married. He was kind enough to meet up with me, and took me along to a birthday celebration for one of his wife's friends, a casting director.

After my visit, I didn't have much contact with him until I actually moved to Los Angeles. We linked up on Facebook, made small talk about meeting up for dinner, but we never actually did. Well, one time, we actually set a date. I showed up to the restaurant, but while waiting for him, he texted me that he couldn't make it after all. So, I just dined there alone.

Since then, we only communicated via Facebook and texts. And, ooooh, some of those texts were fiery!! Haaa! He seemed to get a kick out of playing devil's advocate on people's pages, engaging in arguments for the sake of getting folks' goat. He was a freakin' pro at it too!

Well, he's gone now. The story is that he died in his sleep. Just the way I wanna go when that time comes.

He leaves behind his worldly riches. Riches he had no problem telling you about. Haaa!

He leaves behind his only child: an 11-year-old son whose 12th birthday is next month.

He leaves behind his older brother, who is also in our fraternity. I'm not sure if his parents are alive. If they are, I wish them the very best.

We're BORN.

Hopefully, we LIVE.

Then we DIE.

The sad part is that many people are ALIVE, but not LIVING. From time to time, I count myself in that group. Simmy, though, LIVED!

He lived HARD.

And FAST.

And WELL!

I hope and pray that when his eyes closed for the final time, his HEART felt joy.

But I'll never truly know if that was his heart's ending.

It's up to me...RIGHT NOW...to make SURE a feeling of immense joy is MY heart's ending.

Goodbye, Brother Simmy.

Until we meet again...

PERGE.

UPDATE: Sunday, 9/15, I attended a memorial celebration of Jim's life, organized by his ex-wife, Tracy, his son, Dash, his brother, Scott and his childhood friend, Cam.

What I know for sure is: the man loved.

And WAS loved in return.

And that, my friends, are requisites in order to live a GREAT life!

Throne

Yesterday saw the release of the debut single, THRONE, from singer/songwriter/actor/model CJ HAMMOND.

CJ is truly a talented and compassionate soul, so I'm wishing him the very best!

The song is meaningful, relatable and hella catchy! Its video depicts a young man fleeing his hometown to move to Hollywood to pursue his dream of acting. CJ pretty much did just that himself. Heck, many of us have. In the video, the young man realizes his dreams.

CJ and I and a host of others aren't leaving this dang town 'til we do the same!!!!

CJ, again, I wish you phenomenal success with this song! You're a go-getter and deserve all the success one man can handle.

Places To Be

Next week, I've got somewhere to be every, single day! And you know what? I like that!

As it stands, none of those places-to-be will pay me anything for being there, but I'll be happy to be there nonetheless.

By week's end, I hope to have attended a Q&A with a commercial casting director, an audition, a birthday bash, a meeting with a talent agent, and seen the good ol' orthodontist!

But this is showbiz! By 8pm tonight I could possibly book a gig (or three) that compel me to cancel outta dang near all next week's scheduled appointments.

Truth be told, I'd LOVE that to be the case! I haven't booked a gig since...well...since...I don't even remember when!

But MOOLAH is a-comin'!

And LOTS of it!

I wish a HAPPY WEEKEND to one and all!