Family and Friends
In Redgunk, Mississippi, it is not an insult to say you are related to everyone in the county. In my case, in real life, I AM, but most of them moved here around the time we did. Some of the coolest, neatest people I know are related to me. First, my in-laws. Somehow I lucked out (and helped the genetic diversity of the area at the same time). My one-time in-laws are the Wades. Les and Jane, Cody, Anne and the others are hard to beat.
One of the Wades is Holly. Synchronicity or what, I don't know, but she's also a writer, with an NEA grant and a bunch of great story publications to her credit.
My own brother and sister are rather interesting and neat, too, though on completely opposite sides of the politico-religious-and-you-name-it spectrum. But very talented!! Sean is now working as a business jack-of-all-trades for the gospel-singing Blackwood Brothers, no less. Elizabeth Ann is founding member of Hell's Kitchen opera company, does one-woman shows of Gertrude Stein and--lots more. Visit her website, too!
To my Mom and Dad, I credit my heart, mind, good looks and--to Dad--my restless desire to wander beaches under the stars. Wish I could reproduce for you the reason he stayed a weather man in the Air Force so long: he claims the sunrises seen while flying through the eyes of Pacific typhoons are the best in the world. Thanks, Dad, for my early life in Japan, Guam, Okinawa, Maryland, Georgia, Texas, etc. etc.
The greatest part of my life, I must confess, are Redgunkers. Then there's the danged children. Here is a photo:
Benjamin, Hannah and Dylan
Benjamin, Hannah and Dylan are brilliant stars, top-of-the-charts students, writers, poets, singers, artists, baseball players. Incredible. Makes me cry just to think of them. For them, I am "Daddy Bill."
And here's someone else. Not too long ago, my sister-in-law Karen, one of the bravest, most beautiful and bold women I know went to China and brought back----Ellen! For her, I am "Uncle Da-Ba."
Bill and Ellen
And in the midst of the chaos of cancer treatments, Karen--perhaps the bravest woman I know--went back to China for a second daughter, Rosie! Karen is thus far disease-recurrence free and her daughters wonderful and helping to define the meaning of family.
And several years after my own divorce, taking care of my three children full-time, finishing a PhD full-time AND working full-time as a professor of philosophy and art and other things, I reconnected with my high school sweetheart, Kody Margo Million, the absolute love of my life, whose own divorce was timed miraculously with mine. There have been a lot of miracles this way, not the least of which is our engagement to be married. And not the least of which: my Hannah will have something pretty close to a twin sister, Kody's (also) twelve-year-old cool writer and artist daughter, Savannah.
Kody and I reconnected because--she found me on this SFWA website!
Kody, then
Kody and Savannah
And finally, my children now at 12, 12 and 15 and me and---my gosh--45!!!
Bill, Benjamin, Hannah and Dylan
Very little else anyone needs for happiness.