Whispering Dan

I want to apologize if you can’t follow my thought process. You wouldn’t be the first. My blog is my journal.

I have no intention of making money with this blog. As a matter of fact, I’ve made more money in my life trying to avoid the rat race. It would seem silly, to be in hot pursuit of money, at this point in my life.

When I ran from Amelia Island, in 2001, I was fleeing from all the sales and marketing BS, the real estate agents and people comparing your status by, which end of the Island you lived on. I thought that I was going to live the life of a hermit and seek God. I was going to separate myself from people and meditate. (and surf, of course)

That didn’t happen. Kind of, but not exactly.

Today, due to circumstances, I am staying on the Island. For the last ten years, I have drifted back and forth, letting life call the shots.

When I’m in the jungle, I’m in the jungle. When I’m on the island, I’m on the island.

And that brings me to telling you about Whispering Dan. Dan was a snow bird who settled here, after retiring from General Foods as a patent attorney. We were unlikely friends. But he enjoyed debates and discussions, about every topic, like myself. So, we started hanging out. He went with me to poetry readings and art shows. He tried to paddle out on a boogy board, one day, but couldn’t make it. He ended up with a bloody nose.

In a way, I was his audience. Yes, I kept up my end of the debates, but he never really listened to me.

When Dan retired he considered himself to be a big success. He had a beachfront condo, a stock portfolio, some money, and a pretty wife to be. He eventually got married, sold his condo at what, he came to believe, was the wrong time and he lost all of his money in the stock market.

That was the end of our friendship. He would not return my calls.

Dan was his money and without his money, he didn’t know what to say.

When Dan lost his money he lost his health and then his breath.

I learned a lot from Whispering Dan.

The most important thing being, I’m glad I’m me.