I am the Best of Men and I am the Worst of Men. All good stories have a hero and a villain. In my story, I am both. I offer you the Truth of My Life as I experience it. Welcome to My Rollercoaster.
Who I Am – is the Possibility of All Humans – working For The Good of All Humans - Every Day!
Tonight was brilliant highlight of my life and I’ve had more than any human deserves. Journey first with me back in time. Tonight’s excitement really began with Bruce Lee and me in January of 1986. Ah – I remember hair!
Oh – sorry! You want to know how I met him.
A Brief History: I was the only child of Oklahoma farm kids. Dad joined the army and we lived in Europe, Alabama, Tennessee, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Oklahoma again. I wound up at the University of Oklahoma with a Math and Speech – Radio & TV major.
Back to Bruce Lee
I was a radio Disc Jockey and I created a show called “Datebook.” As a journalist, celebrities were willing to chat to encourage students up to their shows, or to promote their product. For example, I interviewed folk singers “Peter, Paul and Mary”, singer / movie star Frankie Avalon and more.
Bruce Lee and several other actors came to raise money to fight Cerebral Palsy. I was allowed to set my massive, stereo, reel-to-reel tape recorder up in a room next to the Green Room, a place where guests wait to be introduced, or to come back and rest between appearances.
When Bruce walked in, I was surprised by his modest height. Our heroes always appear taller in our hearts and imagination. They are bigger than life. It was late January 1968. The Stars who came to support the event would appear on stage and urge their fans to support this worthy cause. They would answer phones or sign autographs. I caught Bruce on one of his breaks and he took his “rest time” to let a college kid interview him.
The important information was not in the words which passed between Bruce and me. I asked about his upbringing in China, the fights on the street and the styles of martial arts.
Here is the profound part. He was the most sincere, genuine person I had ever met. I was immediately family. He explained things he said as if he was handing a younger brother his most treasured knowledge. He gave me embedded pearls of wisdoms, many of which did not become clear for years.
I remember how he praised the merits of fighting styles from Judo and Karate to Kung Fu. He spoke of the time he spend meditating on each one and imagining counter moves. This Bruce said was the time when he knew he had to embrace all points of view. If you only fought against your style, you only defend well against your style. What if your opponent does the unexpected?
The next we saw on the screen of Bruce was in “Marlowe”. He played a hired killer who was sent to warn Marlowe, a detective, from taking a case. Suddenly Lee glances up at the office ceiling light. Bruce flips upside down and kicks the fixture to pieces and lands back on his feet. The audiences went wild. He was amazing.
THEN Bruce passed so suddenly, the world was in shock. We walked like Zombies if we were fans. It was otherworldly, but for the wrong reason. The only good was that our Images of this Giant – like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe – Bruce Lee would always be at his peak for us. He never grows old, or so believes the Peter Pan in all of us.
You might ask where Bruce was in public status. Let me set the stage. Batman, a twice weekly, very “Comic Book” version was a surprise hit. Then came the Green Hornet – another comic book. It took a more serious approach but never quite delivered. As a College Student, we gathered in the dormitory recreation rooms and fraternities to watch together. Kato stole the show. If the producers had gone that way, it could have run for years.
When Kung Fu came out, there was grumbling that it should have been Bruce Lee, but David Carradine won followers very quickly.
The Lessons of Bruce Lee for me? – a guest in his life who walked a few feet of Life’s Journey in his presences. Be Excellent in Everything You Do. Be Honest & Excellent - then people know they can count on you. Families are earned. The color of one’s skin isn’t as important as the Integrity of Your Character. Leave everyone you meet Better Off for having been in Your Space.
Today, Bruce Lee is a part of me. Do the principles I live by reflect his philosophy? Here is my Logo. Be in Harmony & Balance but Be Prepared to Defend Yourself. Tomorrow is not always like today. Good-Bye My Brief Friend – I Love You Bruce for the Lessons You Still Teach to the World!
(Subscribe and I’ll tell You Why Tonight’s Adventure May Save The World!)
PS: Are you curious Why? I’ve invented a new personal rescue system which is a Clue to the Next Chapter.
What I Have Done, You Can Do Even Greater! The End of War on Earth!
