Though many of the
names listed below may not mean a thing to you I do want to publicly
acknowledge them--will try to tell you who they are/were and how
they influenced me.

(In no particular order but trying to
remember back :o) )

Mrs. Levy--my 6th grade teacher who
encouraged my love of reading and writing and made me first aware of my
self worth as a human being.

Paul Orr--was a producer of a late
night talk--showed me that being gay wasn't a 'jail sentence' (this was
back in the 40s) and that many smart, sophisticated, talented,
accomplished men were/are gay. (And took me to my first Broadway opening
night!)

Joe and Albyn--my gay 'parents'--together for 52 years
when Joe died--guided me, taught me right from wrong in relationships
(though I didn't pay heed) and that love was love gay or non-gay.

Flo--the
first person to love me unconditionally and accepted my unconditional
love

Pepe--my first love--taught me how to love, how to have
fun--and that someone my own age could be ambitious, have goals and that
I was more than I thought I was.

Carol--my sister-in-law--who
insisted and kept a tie between my brother and me though we fought (and
still do) her the whole way--perseverance!

Ronnie--a fellow
waiter, theatre-goer, friend who was always there for me.

Jean
Nidetch--founder of Weight Watchers who changed the course of my life.

Joe
Cassius--a
therapist who traveled murky waters with me and steered me through them
to a better understanding of who I am.

Gene G.--a friend who has
been with me through thick and thin--she helped me financially at one
point without a second thought--asked me an earth shaking question that
made me face my life as it was and go for a better one.

Bernie
A.--another ex-lover--helped me become the 'star' I wanted to be--took
me from NYC to Memphis a city I came to love--also made me realize that
the 'game playing', the destructiveness, the hurt we gave/showed each
other wasn't love.

Johnny T.--my third ex--who showed me that a
'country boy' could take a 'city slicker' and play him for a fool if the
latter was willing.