Bits 'n' Pieces

Ever have times when your thoughts jump all around?  Some things on your mind are very important, and others not.  But how important things are doesn't set the precedence.

I've been dealing with heavy stress the past few months (years actually).. at times I think my mind picks little things to come to the front of my mind, because I know I can't deal with bigger things right now.

One small thing that leaped out at me was a photo on the "aol opening page" as I opened it yesterday.  The caption under the photo said, "do you know who this is?"  The answer was: Why yes I do!  This is Tony Dow.. he played Wally Cleaver, the big brother to Beaver, in Leave It To Beaver...

So I clicked on the article to see why the photo was there.  In turn it led to a website.. this web site.  If you follow this link you will find a group of photo's of actors "then and now"...

That made me think even more.

About a book I thought would be great to have, but was not written yet.  The idea came to me when I helped  at the autograph shows when I lived In California.  Being able to meet and help many of the older generation of actors and actresses always made me feel good inside and smile a lot. 

Even though they didn't look like when I first remembered seeing them, be it a television show like Leave It to Beaver (Wally, really was a cutie!) or a movie, they all did something for me.  They all took me away from my trials and tribulations for the amount to time I watched the show they were in or the movie they made.

In their own way, they were a spice of life.  Something to lift you up for an hour or more and make you feel many things, many emotions.. but none of them related to   what you were going back to when that show or movie was over.

It's a pretty wonderful thing these people do... and whenever I still go to a show and look at their faces and listen to stories other people tell them about how they affected their life.. I still smile.

And so it was, many years ago that I dreamed of a book I wanted to write.  Not that I am a writer mind you, but I didn't have to be if this book was done properly. Others could tell the stories and I could just type it up.

First, of course, there would be the "then" picture and a recent photo for the book.  Then each actor that agreed to the photo's  would also be asked to tell a short story into a recorder.  I wanted it to be short, but something that stayed with them all their life.  Maybe a funny joke someone played on them while making a movie, or someone who befriended them and stayed their best friend all these long years.  A little something that you and I would not know, but was forever memorable to them.

Mostly, I hoped it would be a comical story.. to keep the people reading the book smiling.

Along with the pictures and the short story each would tell that would then be written up (and not used without final approval from that person), then I had hoped that many of these people, who by the way, probably do not work at their craft anymore, or if they do are difficult to get a hold of, would also provide an address (could be a po box or a manager) where those who would like to write a fan letter or send for an autographed photo could do so.  And of course each person in the book would have a credit list.

Many retired actors have no way fans can contact them.  You or I may think that would be a blessing... but not always.  Which is why the book would not be for everyone.. but there are many who I think would like it. 

For a number or years now I've sat with quite a few of these actors and actresses for hours at a time..and one thing I've seen, is the happiness in their faces when fans come up to them still gushing to meet them, even if they hadn't make a movie or appearance in many years.   They beam when they hear people tell them how much they have admired their work. And I honestly think it does them good inside.

Way back then, when I thought of the possibility of the book it was tentatively called "Then 'n' Now" or "Remember Me?".  But that was all before life got in the way..

That little website brought that all back to the front of my mind.. ..  one photo and one caption.. weird how things sneak up on you.