DejaVu Blogfest

D.L. Hammons is at it again. He's hosting the DejaVu Blogfest Today. To learn more about it go HERE

The basic idea is that you repost a blog bit that you posted sometime in the past year. Preferably, one that you feel didn't get the attention it deserved. Or one that was your favorite, or whatever.

I went through and basically looked at every blog post of mine from the last year, and I narrowed it down to FOUR. In light of the Alex J. Cavanaugh Blogfest that recently stormed the blogosphere, I find it interesting that my FOUR are each a Tribute post to someone else. I like writing about my friends.

Anyway..I just gotta cheat a little bit and if you want to see the Three that I did not choose go HERE or HERE or HERE . All three are tribute posts that I really liked.

My choice is another Tribute.

15 Minutes of Fame ~Tributes ~ Life ~ the Cover of Rolling Stone

This morning I’m fueled by Chocolate and Coke Zero. My favorite breakfast. Not really, generally I try to eat healthy, start the day off right, do things that are good for me. Blogging is the same way for me; I try to stay healthy, start the day off right and do things that are good for ME. I blabber on about a lot of things, but don’t really tell you much, just some silly stories. I like ‘flying under the radar’. I don’t mind drawing attention to myself with mindless silliness, but rarely do I give meaningful credit to someone else in my blog.

On Monday I was a mess remembering Michael Patrick Gordon, my godson. I said very little about him, but I did want to pay tribute to the life he didn’t get to live much of, in some small way. Your kind comments are greatly appreciated.

This made me think about paying tribute to people I know today who are real life heroes of the everyday variety. Make no mistake, they aren’t famous (in the way you normally think of fame) and maybe you have never heard of them, but for me they are heroes none the less. I have a list but, I’m starting at the top. At my number 1.

Today, I want to tell you about Stephen T. McCarthy (not his real name, but read the explanation of this pseudonym – it doesn’t get much more real than that.) Stephen is my friend. Some of you might wonder at the off the wall comments he occasionally makes in my comments box. Generally when they seem really off the wall, it’s because we’ve had some email discussion about something that I don’t have the courage or integrity to discuss publicly. I have made him crazy by commenting on his blog and then asking him not to publish my comments (he has that comment moderator enabled) he has always complied with my requests and never embarrassed me. He has come back to me in an email and ‘called me’ on my cowardice and encouraged me to say the things I believe in OUT LOUD. In other words he has helped and encouraged me to be a better person. He has definitely helped me to be a better writer.

Stephen is outspoken about the things he believes in and has or will probably step on more than a few of your toes. He is also courageous in his beliefs and will go toe to toe with anybody to defend his position, but he is not afraid to learn new things. I do have to admit that with the intensity this man delves into his subjects, there probably isn’t much you’re going to teach him. I know that’s particularly true for me.

If I could or would teach him anything, maybe it would be to be a little more kind to himself. To look back at his life (consider that all I see of his life is what he reveals through his blog posts, some older posts on Amazon and the emails that he writes) and see his many amazing accomplishments. I would say to Stephen, “I applaud your ‘intensity’ and willingness to study out a subject. I applaud your devotion to ideals, and your integrity in sticking to them even when they are not ‘popular’ in the world of today. I stand in awe of your devotion to your friends (read some of his older posts about his ‘buddies’) and sincerely hope that you count me as one.”

Stephen’s current blog post is about the years he spent as part of the cast of MASH. Yeah, that’s right, the popular TV show MASH. Stephen lets you ’back of the scenes’ to take a look at filming an iconic TV program through the eyes of a serious young actor (OK, he’s not always serious). It’s funny, informative and will give you a whole lot of OMG moments. Go take a look. I’ll give you the link at the end of this post. I, of course, don’t want you running off too soon. I’m not finished talking.

Stephen may never have been on the cover of Rolling Stone, unless of course that’s a blog post he’s saving for a later date. But, he has way more than fifteen minutes of fame to his credit already and I’m convinced he ain’t done yet.

BLOGGING – what is it good for? (Keep in mind I finished the chocolate, but I just opened another can of Coke Zero.) Some days I’m not sure. Some days I come here to spew my frustrations, hurts, excitement and just plain stuff all over the place. Most days I come here for you guys to put your arms around me and tell me it will be alright. My friend Stephen, he does that in more ways than you can imagine. That’s what being a ‘Good Guy’ is all about.

Now, believe it or not, I’m finally through talking. Go visit Stephen and learn about him and MASH. I promise you won’t be sorry. Here’s the link to his blog site: Stephen T. McCarthy Now that you've read that, let me warn you that since I originally posted this, Stephen shut this blog space down, but you can find him currently at Ferret Faced Fascists

ENJOY!