Wednesday, April 4, 2018

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! INSPIRATION HAS STRUCK!

Hi, All


Hope everyone is well! Spring has always been one of my favorite times of year...maybe because I was born in the Spring. It is a time for rebirth....clear away all you Winter blues and let the warm sunshine and balmy breezes sweep away all the cobwebs and anxieties in your mind.

As many of you know I have had been less than inspired for the past few years, not writing a single new thing and barely keeping up  with blogging. It has been a very stressful time emotionally and physically. But I have never given up. I knew it would pass and it finally seems like it has!

But before I get into my exciting news, I would just like to THANK Alex and ALL the wonderful writers who are involved with this AMAZING GROUP... find them HERE...YOU know WHO YOU ARE... IF  it's been a while since you popped around the blogosphere do so now. There are wonderful authors with insights and support during our many crisis through our writing journey. I for one, have been mine for longer than I care to admit. Now almost ten years! I can't believe how quickly the time has flown by. I started writing my first novel back in the Spring of 2008... It took me over a year to find this wonderful community and I have never regretted it for ONE SECOND...

Inspiration come in many forms. It could be our friends, family, our surroundings, a wonderful vacation, or just a walk around town. Spending the winter at my condo in Orlando, Florida was going to be my escape. Instead, the community here has been mismanaged and basically the complex has taken a nose dive. After much stress, screaming, letter writing, and determination, things are moving back in the right direction. But during this time I had the pleasure of getting to know one of my neighbors, who just happens to be on the board for our condo complex. One day she was telling me about her childhood and the OUTRAGEOUS woman who had raised her. Her mother died a few years ago and sadly they were estranged during her passing. A hard nosed and very dominating woman, she fell ill and left Orlando to return to NY where she had lived most of her life.

She then gave me some insight about her siblings and how her mother had been laid to rest with basically no funeral and buried in a pine box with neither my friend (Kim) nor any of Kay's hundreds of friends in attendance. Kay died, and a mere few hours later was buried in her familie's plot. Sadly,Kay, the mother, had made her son, executor of his will. Needless to say, he absconded with everything and Kim- never had closure.

Then it happened, Kim just let it ALL out. I listened to countless stories about her mother's antics with fronting and selling stolen merchandise in the 50's, 60's, and 70's, her acquaintances and friendships with many well know people of the day, and about her four husbands, ranging from the first, Kim's father an Italian catholic, to a Jewish diamond merchant, then a Puerto Rican man, eight years her junior, then finally a Muslim Egyptian man, also her junior by several years. During most of her marriages between the wheelings and dealings, she opened up her own beauty Salon in Middle Village Queens in NY, where she was born and raised.

Kay also had a love affair with the arts and frequented Harlem to hear Count Bassey as well as many blues clubs where she fell in love with the voice of Carmen Mcrae. After countless visits to hear her sing, the manager of the club introduced Kay to Carmen and they were friends instantly.

One of the most amazing things I found out about Kay is that she was INCREDIBLY liberal in her life and at her salon. Many of her client's were African American. Raised in the 40's as a white Anglo Protestant in QUEENS, NY...this was unheard of. Most people then had very similar views to the famed Archie Bunker of All in the family. On a final note, Kay's grandfather actually thought ALL in the Family was a documentary! I gasped when I heard this news.

Anyway, I am sure you all see where I am going with this. Two weeks ago, Kim and I signed a contract for me to write Kay's memoir. Kay had always wanted to write about her incredible life, and now her story will be written! This is Kim's legacy. Kay would so want this. Both Kim and I know this.

I have already written the first FOUR chapters and I am so excited to continue on.... Kay will become as Famous as our beloved Auntie Mame, who was fictitious. Kay is the real deal! I cannot begin to tell you how honored and happy I am to write her story. She was an AMAZING woman for her time and to have roots from the Mayflower, Kay was definitely not anything like the typical 1950's woman.

Sorry about the LONG post, but I just could not help sharing this with all of you! I will keep you all posted. I hope to have the rough finished by the beginning of May. I am writing 6-8 hours a day... something I have not done in YEARS!

Hugs to you ALL.... HAVE a WONDERFUL DAY and HAPPY SPRING!

29 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's great news! You will do a great justice to Kay's story with your words.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks Alex!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Oh how wonderful! You two were meant to meet and talk. You'll be helping out both women so much.

Considering how much it's snowed up north, you're smart to spend your winter in Florida. My brother-in-law lives in Michigan and they just set the record for most snow ever in their area.

emaginette said...

Sounds like a wonderful project to tackle. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Michael Di Gesu said...

EEK! Yes, Chicago has had a crazy winter, but not a ton of snow. Just extreme weather ups and downs.

I think so, too! Thanks L. Diane!

Michael Di Gesu said...

It is, Anna! Such fun! Thanks for dropping by!

Crystal Collier said...

How very cool. There's nothing like a new project to get you invigorated. People think NY is a melting pot, but they don't realize so many New Yorker's end up in the Orlando area. I think that's what I love most about the area--the diversity. It's epic.

J.L. Campbell said...

Hi, Michael, it sounds like you are enjoying what you're doing and that's super important!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Michael - sounds an ideal assignment for you ...and you'll be helping Kim so much ... she can get it all out. Good for you - and something helpful has come out of the scenario ... take care and good luck - Hilary

Yolanda Renée said...

How exciting! I've no doubt you'll do an amazing job. I can't wait to read the full story! Congratulations!
May this spring bring all a rebirth to our creativity!

Denise Covey said...

Hi Michael
What a story! Love it! You were really meant to meet Kim. Kay sounds like a woman I would have loved to meet too and now I will in your memoir.
We’re having a blustery autumn Down Under. Makes a change from our summer of heatwaves. Up at the beach for the Easter holidays.
So glad to hear your enthusiasm!
Hope to see you at WEP!

Denise

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Wow! That sounds like a great project and your enthusiasm comes through so clearly. Best wishes to you

Cynthia said...

Congratulations on this new writing project! It sounds like you have a lot of material to work with.

Natalie Aguirre said...

So glad for your good news. As I was reading your post, I thought that this would be a fascinating life story to read about. Good luck.

E.M.A.Timar said...

I am thrilled for you! It sounds like a fascinating book. I wish you all the best.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

It sounds like you're just a teensy bit excited, eh? And well you should be. It sounds like an exciting project. Congratulations!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Oh wow!! Congrats on having the honor of writing Kay's memoir. So brilliant!

And thank you so much for your kind words on my blog. Hugely appreciated.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

I'm so happy to hear this!! You're the perfect guy to give someone's life the love and attention it deserves. It reinforces my belief that there are no accidents and good things can be turned to good. If your condo hadn't been crappy, you'd never had this opportunity.

H. R. Sinclair said...

That. Is. Awesome. You never know where the inspiration will come from. Happy Writing.

Julie Flanders said...

Wow this is so exciting!!! SOOOO happy for you!! I know you will do this amazing woman's story justice. Congratulations!!

Jo said...

Sounds like quite a woman. I am sure you will make a great job of telling her story Michael

Liza said...

Congratulations! What fun you will have writing this unique woman's story!

DMS said...

YEAH! Sounds like a fascinating writing project. So glad you have been inspired and the story seems like one that will keep your fingers flying over the keyboard. Wishing you all the best with Kay's memoir! : )
~Jess

Chrys Fey said...

Good for you! Your muse was just waiting for the right story and you had to "get there" and meet someone in order to find it.

Cathrina Constantine said...

YES!!!! I tell by this post how absolutely psyched you are!!! I'm so excited for you. Keep it up!!!

Nicki Elson said...

Oh, hooray! I'm so happy you're back to it. Your enthusiasm gushes throughout this entire post. Inspiration comes from the most unlikely of places, eh?

So...you're still in Orlando?

Michelle Wallace said...

I'm ONE MONTH LATE to this post!!
Apologies...
Wow! Talk about inspiration! Kay is such a colorful character!
Now, I'm off to read the WEP post!

Anstice Brown said...

It sounds like Kay's story is really worth telling and I'm sure you will do a great job.

Deniz Bevan said...

I can't believe I never commented on this. I thought I had! Very belated congratulations! :-)