After Newtonbrook, I went to the University of British Columbia, originally to get my BFA in Creative Writing. Never finished that, but did end up in the theatre working across Canada, acting and writing. Moved to London, Ontario where I worked in public relations and fund-raising while completing a degree in History at Western. During and shortly after that time, I did get to work for a large music management company out of New York and traveled the countryside once again managing solo artists and bands.I was approached by a company in the graphic arts business to move to Calgary and run their western Canadian business for several years before once again moving back to Toronto to run the Canadian operation of a luxury goods company. At the same time I got married and was the proud father of a beautiful boy, Shawn. That sure does change your perspective on life, and I began to think that perhaps buying and selling houses (just to move everywhere, or traveling the globe several times a year) was not my major priority.
And then one of those life changing “happenings” did finally happen. My son passed away at the age of 3 of a rare disorder, and my world spiraled out of control. Inevitability of divorce, closures and all those things that we never expect—happened.
I started to change my life, my career plans, get back to my roots, so
when I did travel, I was writing more, some of it for travel publications, some of it just for my personal creative pleasure. In the past several years I’ve been a consultant in the technology business, the human resources field, technology marketer, web-marketer/entrepreneur, freelance writer, wrote a TV pilot, and traveled some more.A few years ago, I sent a short story and a few poems I had written to a well known writer, and was referred to a publisher. Now in the final stages of a collection (stories, verse, photos) to be published sometime in March 2009 (“Five Stages of Being Me”), I’ve been able to begin to put to words some of the lows and highs of life.
How far we’ve all come—no matter where and who we are.
I see the road, out there in front
twisting and snaking out of sight
I hear the distant footsteps, smell spring on the air
meandering forward, friends join with me
ever forward
the light is bright, senses awake
satisfaction growing, tis a happy journey
desires fulfilled and disappointments overcome
strengths revealed and weaknesses banished
I can do this, for I have no choice
this journey, this adventure called life.
