A POEM FOR MY DAUGHTER

TO CHRISTINE SANTOS -MY DAUGHTER FROM OUT OF THE BLUE

I dangled at the end of my heritage chart,

a childless uncle, adrift and apart;

wandering home from time to time,

just living my life; no reason or rhyme.

The world would end if the likes of me

were counted on for posterity;

a curious drifter who'se life's a mystery;

would somewhere die and vanish from history.

Such was I, plodding about,

intent-fuzzy, aimless of route,

when out of the blue an email came

that rocked my world and changed my game.

I think you are my father it said.

I knew it was true the moment I read:

Judith's my mother, long years remote

you and she sowed a wild oat.

Nine months later I arrived.

Now all grown up age twenty five.

Last week mom gave me your name.

You were easy to find, you've a bit of fame.

I don't wish to bring trouble or bother;

I just want to know my genetic father.

Some of my feelings and manner collide

with Spanish culture where I reside.

Perhaps knowing you could help me make sense

as I seek to shape my providence.

My heart surged, I thanked stars above;

I have a descendent— someone to love.

Genetics quickly proved—all was true:

you really were me, I really am you.

My soul can hardly contain my joy

and I promise my wit and will to deploy

to be the best father and faithful friend

that I can be to the very end.

Meeting her aunts for the first time

A very proud and happy father embraces his daughter from out of the blue.

A REAL LIVE HERO STORY

THAT'S MY RIG DOWN THERE---AND THE HERO'S RIG PARKED A FEW YARDS AWAY.

We are parked along Tennessee creek, about 5 miles from Leadville, Co.

This beautiful creek is a creation of the beavers.

Here I am inspecting their dam.  Note the jacket and eat your heart out if you are suffering from the heat.  The elevation here is 10,000 ft.

We are parked beside this bicycle raceway.  Tomorrow there will be 2000 bikers zipping past us on a hundred mile race. (one of the primo races in the US)  Will get a pict for you tomorrow.

BUT I PROMISED TO TELL YOU ABOUT A HERO!

HERE'S THE STORY.:  One day as we were walking along the creek, we noticed:

this: a pipe under the railroad.  I supposed that it drained the rainwater and snowmelt from the other side.  BUT NOT MY COMPANION.  He was determined to know the truth.  The next day he went over there and traced its path for more than a mile.  Guess what! it goes to a sordid trailer park sewer system.

HE WAS OUTRAGED!  He went to town and contacted the sewer officials of Leadville. The lady in charge then made a very dramatic demonstration.  She took my friend to the pipe that pours Leadville's sewer treated water into Tennessee creek--TOOK A CUPFUL OF THE WATER AND DRANK IT......Proof that Leadville is in full compliance with treatment protocol.  Our pipe is a county pipe--so she arranged for my friend to contact the proper county official.

MY FRIEND MOVED ONWARD---meeting with the county officials and convincing them to take action.  AND THEY DID---IMMEDIATELY.  today the pipe is not flowing and an electronic device is in place. monitoring the situation.

HERE'S THE LARGER STORY HE UNCOVERED:  A nationwide corporation is buying up trailer parks like this sordid one--doing the minimum maintenance--catering to illegals and making fortunes from a population in no position to complain.  These are the workers that sustain this ritzy town. Now this sleazy corporation will have to install a modern treatment plant,  County officials thanked my friend for his persistence.  A

rare citizen indeed!.

This 24 hr electronic device now monitors the offensive pipe.

I thank him, the fish thank him, the beaver thank him, the cities downstream thank him---and Shakespeare nods from his grave: 

"WHETHER TI'S NOBLER IN THE MIND TO BEAR THE SLINGS AND ARROWS OF OUTRAGES OR TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST A SEA OF TROUBLES AND BY OPPOSING--

END THEM.

I SAY THE MAN IS A HERO--HE'S MODEST AND WILL NOT LET ME IDENTIFY HIM.

A DEAR FRIEND PASSES

WE BECAME FRIENDS THE VERY DAY WE MET--AND REMAINED FRIENDS FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS.  She's the smartest person I've ever known---and she gave me a gift you will find hard to believe, but I will show you.

meet Joyce Glauser--my mentor, friend and The wind beneath my wings

She is the author  of this wonderful  novel: I'll BE SEEING YOU. and a host of scientific papers and articles on a wide range of topics.  I have heard her speak to large audiences on subjects as varied as philosophy, physics, anthropology, metaphysics, religion.  

THE GIFT SHE GAVE ME THAT YOU MIGHT FIND HARD TO BELIEVE?

SHE GAVE ME 15 MINUTES OF FAME.   

 She organized a discussion group of  ten that met weekly for many years bonding us into an action committee for a bold experiment. We decided to hold the world's first Unitarian Universalist Revival. We pulled it off to a packed house for 5 nights running.  It made national news in our denomination.

This publicity gave me entree to almost all Unitarian groups nationwide,

So we whipped up a full scale "show" and took it on the road.  Joyce played old time revival music and I delivered  a fiery sermon,  Often we would get a full page spread in major Newspapers like the Tampa Tribune and the St Petersburg Times.

We printed up copies and sold them for a dollar.
I traveled around the US delivering this Unholy sermon.  At the height of my speech, I would yell in a loud voice:  "UNBELIEVE---UNBELIEVE---UNDO IT , DUMP IT, SHUCK IT  AND BE BORN
AGAIN AS AN HONEST HUMAN BEING WHO DOES NOT CLAIM TO KNOW MORE THAN HE REALLY KNOWS."
(you can read the full text here )

When that had run its course, Joyce helped me prepare another performance: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO WALT WHITMAN .  And because I now had "creds", I traced the US doing this speech.

And selling its dollar booklet.

As the years rolled by we kept in contact and she along with my editor Kim Raines critiqued my poems for my recent book: 40 YEARS A NOMAD---Poems from the Road.

And when I needed someone of substance to say something nice about my new book, she praised me to the heavens.  That's her writing on the back of it.
As recently as 2 months ago I sent her a poem and asked her:  Is this anything?  She said that it was---so I kept it for the next book.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  I often told her that I loved her--that I congratulate myself on having and keeping so worthy a friend.  She saw the best in me---overlooked my dark spots--shared the best of herself with me--and  as I've demonstrated was the wind beneath my wings.  I pledge to her memory to pay forward the support and inspiration and wisdom she gave to me.