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Monday, March 30, 2009
Brief Memorial for a Friend and Mentor
I know there were quite a few people who thought it silly when I took the time to memorialize my housemate's cat when
he died last fall. It wasn't silly to me, simply becuase I feel that all good friends and companions deserve a moment's
tribute when they leave this planet whether they be human or not.
My dear friend and mentor (I kiddingly called him my "guardian angel") Skip Carsten died suddenly last week of stroke
complications. Ever since I heard the news I've wanted to make mention of it here. I think it's fair to say that
the Handyman books and all those characters so many people have grown to love would have never appeared in print without Skip's
support, shared wisdom, and gentle suggestions.
It's impossible to memorialize a man who's legacy of comfort and sharing in a cruel world is so immense. Skip was
deeply respected by so many people in the U.S., and I suspect around the world as well. I keep shaking my head as I
write this, annoyed by the fact that any skill I have as a writer is deserting me right now. I'm still in a state of
absolute and utter shock at losing such a dear friend.
For those of you with copies of The Handyman's Dream and The Handyman's Promise, check out
the Acknowledgment pages and know that the words of thanks for this gentle giant of a man are truly heartfelt.
| Father E. Brian "Skip" Carsten |
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| FATHER E. BRIAN "SKIP" CARSTEN, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Catholic
Church of America, 65, of Auburn, crossed into the arms of God Friday, March 27, 2009, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. He
was currently serving as Chaplain at Cameron Hospital, Cameron Hospice & Home Health Care, and with the Fire Arson Specialized
Team of Allen County. He previously served as Chaplain for the Steuben and Allen County Sheriff's Department, the Fort Wayne
Police Department and the Fort Wayne Fire Department. He was also serving at Crosswood Centre, in Auburn, and had a Master
of Divinity degree. Born Jan. 31, 1944, in Gary, Ind., he was the son of Earl J and Isabelle (Warwick) Carsten. His mother
survives him in Auburn. His father preceded him in death on April 1, 2008. Service is 4 p.m. Friday at Fairview Missionary
Church, Angola, with the Most Rev. Alfred L. Lankenau, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus, Orthodox Catholic Church of America
officiating. Calling is from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials to Crosswood Centre or the donor's choice. Written
in Father Carsten's own words: "The Archbishop Emeritus of the Orthodox Catholic Church of America died for the last time
in this world. He died much later than he thought he would, though certainly on schedule in God's awareness. He was baptized
on July 31, 1944, in Shelby, Ind., beginning a lifetime of dying and rising. Archbishop Carsten leaves no biological offspring,
the result of a stubborn, if faithful, belief that he could contribute otherwise to humankind and that there is forgiveness
of sin, the resurrection of the body and life in the world to come. Not unlike the bishop pieces of a chessboard, Carsten
rubbed shoulders with the high and mighty, but found his heart with the lowly ones, the little people some would dare call
pawns, where he most clearly might gaze on the face of the beloved. Left behind for now is a gaggle of ragtag folks who have
been brothering and sistering for a lifetime, all connected to one another in a bloodline that would confound any geneticist
worth his or her sodium. At least some members of this faith family will gather with those close to Carsten, especially. After
a fitting celebration of Brother Jesus' death and resurrection, doing at table what he asks us to do, Carsten's cremains will
be placed near the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. Shed a tear if you must. Carsten shed many a tear gazing at the gap between
those on this and those on the other side while tasting the hope that such a gap is but an illusion. Blessed be our Triune
God now and forever." |
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Moment With a Living Legend
I've always maintained that one of the best perks of being in the radio biz is the opportunity for free concert tickets,
and occasionally getting the chance to meet the people who have recorded my favorite records. Therefore, when I heard
back in December that one of the two stations I work for was welcoming Gordon Lightfoot in March, I knew I had to go.
I've always enjoyed Gordon Lightfoot's music, but I think it was the late 80's, when I was working Overnights at
an Oldies station, that my fondness turned to passion. Listening to songs like "Sundown," "Rainy Day People," and
"If You Could Read My Mind" in the middle of the night -- especially if someone had called in to request them -- struck a
chord deep inside me. I love "If You Could Read My Mind" so much that I included in it The Handyman's Dream,
even though it really has no business in that story, or even that particular scene. The song is so hauntingly beautiful
to me that I wanted it for Ed and Rick, even if it is a love-gone-wrong song.
The thing is, as a writer it drives me crazy as well. When I listen to a song like "If You Could Read My Mind"
I think to myself: Damn, I wish I could tell a story that perfectly in three-and-a-half minutes, and with
so few words. My admiration for songwriters knows no bounds on that score.
Anyway, after some nagging at work I found myself with two tickets to the Fort Wayne Gordon Lightfoot show
and backstage passes. I had no idea how popular Mr. Lightfoot's music was until I casually asked my friends, via
email, if anyone wanted to go to the show with me. Everyone wanted to go! Who knew? I was totally surprised,
but delighted to know I wasn't the only homo who loved those songs. I gave the extra ticket to my friend Kerry, simply
because he responded first. (Hey, you guys, I still feel bad about not having more tickets, and I swear somebody else
gets to go next time I get some!)
The concert was wonderful. Despite his age and history of illness, Mr. Lightfoot was totally on top of his game,
and I'm happy to report that I got the teary eyes and chills I usually get when I hear some of my favorite songs performed
live by the folks who made 'em so great.
Now, I've worked in radio long enough to be thoroughly sick of lots of songs that I've had to play over and over and
over and over, and on and on. Can you imagine what it's like for an artist to have to go out on stage night after
night, year after year, and perform those songs over and over again? I muttered to Kerry at one point: "I'll bet
that poor guy could go the rest of his life without even thinking about 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.'" Still,
he introduced it and sang it as though it was something new and fresh. That, my friends, is the mark of a true
artist.
The after-show Meet & Greet turned into an unexpected mob scene instead of the quiet radio gathering I was expecting,
but the very genial Mr. Lightfoot autographed my LP copy of Gord's Gold, and I got to say thank you. Sometimes
that is all you get with a guy like that, and I'd like to think that the greatest musicians know that a heartfelt Thank
You suffices for the thirty minute monologue anyone can do about their favorite songs, and how much they mean to them.
Okay, so this blog is my thirty minute monologue on Gordon Lightfoot and how much I love his songs. That's the
beauty of technology; you can get your thoughts and emotions out there so someone can hear them.
And if for some reason Gordon Lightfoot himself should read this, I'll say it again: THANK YOU.
Kerry and Nick get to meet The One And Only Gordon Lightfoot!
P.S. After I finished writing this blog I pulled some laundry out of the dryer and put it away and pondered why
I felt the need to blog about last night's concert. It finally hit me. I have readers who LOVE the music in my
stories and those who hate it. This blog, I think, is my way of showing once again how much the music means to me, and
why it will always be a part of my stories. I simply can't imagine, nor write about, characters who are immune to the
glorious soundtrack of our lives.
NP
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When I'm Not Writing...
UPDATE: If you are on Facebook I hope you'll join the NICK POFF Author of
the HANDYMAN series group for discussions, updates, and more.
The sad but honest truth is that most writers need to supplement their income with something other than writing.
I've worked in the radio industry since the tender age of sixteen, and for the same two radio stations for the past fourteen
years. We call it The Hotel California -- you can check out but you can never leave! It's amazing how people go,
but then seem to come back at some time, including me. Radio has been good to me, and although there are still times
I regret not sticking with the writing thing at an earlier age, it's been an interesting ride.
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Things I'm Enjoying....
In The Handyman's Dream Ed and Rick spend time at a cabin on a small lake in southern Michigan.
In a weird fiction-meets-non-fiction kind of way, John Sellers writes about just such a place in his latest
book, The Old Man and the Swamp. It is a must-read for anyone who, like me, has been intrigued by that strange part
of the world at the borders of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio; fears and respects snakes, and has enitrely too much
memory space dedicated to the 70's & 80's.
I enjoyed Joyce Maynard's latest, The Good Daughters.
I still can't believe All My Children is leaving ABC this September. I was a SLAVE to this
soap opera for 27 years. Even though I stopped watching every day back in '01, I've checked in occasionally, and talked with
co-workers about what was going on in Pine Valley. I mean......a world without Erica Kane? That, to me, is scarier
than facing the end of the Mayan calendar! I have, of course, read Susan Lucci's recent memoir, All My Life.
It's a nice, breezy read, but for diehard AMC fans only. Still...Ms. Lucci is on my list of people I hope to meet someday,
if only to say "THANKS!"
The wonderful thing about "All My Children" is that it was, for many years, more than "just a soap
opera." It was a second family of sorts to its most loyal fans. We can thank the amazing Agnes Nixon, the show's creator for
that, but I also think thanks must be given to the entire production staff, and those incredible actors who made those characters
so special to us. Did I learn some basic facts about life from watching this daytime drama? Yes. Did I learn how to write
a good story from watching "All My Children?" You betcha. Anyone who reads and enjoys the HANDYMAN books can be grateful
for the hours I spent in front of the TV, absorbing the finest writing in daytime television.
Just below is the link to the YouTube video from the intro of the 20th
Anniversary special from 1990. It contains some brief clips from the first 20 years of the show. Although AMC soared wonderfully
into the 21st Century, I gotta admit the best stories were from the first 20 years.
This show ain't dead yet, but it will be in September. Yeah, I'll probably be watching those
final episodes. In the meantime, I want to celebrate some of the best creative writing classes I ever attended. Thanks,
"All My Children!"
And I'm truly finding a great deal of joy in producing and broadcasting my little internet radio
show on www.live365.com. I hope you'll tune in some Wednesday evening for some wonderful old music and chat.
It's all RETRO here at the House of Nick. I also love the occasional old game show clip on YouTube.
I'm all about the retro fun stuff. I'd like to think it reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously in the here
and now. I celebrate old pop music on my internet radio show, NICK POFF RADIO 45.
As most writers do, I love word games, so I always enjoyed the game shows dealing with words. I loved the
$10,000 Pyramid (and the $20,000 and the $25,000 Pyramid, etc.). For those with a short attention span, here's Billy Crystal's
record-breaking trip to the top.
"I can't even watch The New Treasure Hunt anymore because you give me so much shit about it!"
(The above line of dialogue was deleted from the final draft of The Handyman's Dream. Ed's enjoyment
of game shows and Rick's dislike of them would continue to be a source of irritation.)
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Meet two potential victims of global warming.
If you want to save the bears as much as I do, vote wisely in each and every election, and check out the link
on my Favorite Links page.
Nick Poff
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