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Category: Blogging
I am the world's worst procrastinator. I will turn 52 next week, which reminds me that it was one year ago this coming week that I received this amazing MacBook Pro computer, that I am right now typing on, as a gift from some pretty amazing people.
I made a big fuss about it in the Gram the week I got the computer, just to make sure that everyone who was so kind and so generous knew that what they contributed toward had indeed come to fruition. I also made a big fuss about it in the Gram in order to buy myself some time, as I told myself, "I really must take the time to write each and every person who helped make this gift possible a personal thank you note".
If you are one of those who contributed to this gift, and are wondering if your note was lost in the mail, I can tell you it wasn't.
I purchased the cards.
I purchased the stamps.
I have managed to use up all the stamps on other things throughout the year.
The cards have made their way to the bottom of a huge heap that masquerades as an out-basket on my desk.
Not that it makes things any better, but, the actual card that accompanied the computer gift, has remained in plain sight, conspicuously tacked up on the wall over my desk. Every now again I look at it and think "what a lucky boy am I". I seriously do that and do think that. Every now again when I'm a little blue (It happens. Not often, but it happens.) I'll see that card on the wall and think, "get over yourself mister. Look at the people with whom you have been blessed to have in your life." And then I can't help but feel better.
My life has been a struggle in many respects. Trying to be a playwright in Orlando is not the wisest of life choices. But my life has been incredibly rich, and full of love and laughter as well as a certain sense of security that many people attempting to do similar things as I may not enjoy, owing entirely to my family of friends.
I feel dreadful that I have never gotten those Thank You notes out.
Jeff Horn, who never misses an opportunity to send a hand-written thank you note in recognition of even the slightest of courtesies afforded him, makes me look like such a slouch by comparison. Jeff sends out a thank you note in response to a "gesundheit" after he sneezes. Val and Gary are in a similar league.In my defense ... or rather to my further discredit ... you should know this about me; I am a writer who has an aversion to writing. I'm not sure how much I actually enjoy writing but rather that I really enjoy having written.
Many of you may be aware of my penchant for submitting a Fringe play-title that Kenny and I, or Doug and I, simply think will sell tickets, and then not coming up with a plot to go with said title until the day before the deadline to get your 30-word blurb into the Fringe master program in upon me. This is not Fringe lore. This is, unfortunately, how I operate. There has been more than one occasion (and Kenny will verify this) where Kenny has come to me to say, "Michael we start Fringe rehearsals next week, don't you think you should write the play?" So I hole up in a hotel room on I-drive (thank you David G) or go to the beach for two or three days and write a play.
So, I guess what I'm saying is; if the Thank You notes were going to be in last years Fringe they would have eventually gotten written?
Here's something to confound you:
I used to love to buy Florida-themed Christmas cards. Loving kitsch as I do, I so love those tacky Florida Christmas cards with Santa wearing Bermuda shorts and holding a cocktail, with a paper umbrella in it, in his hand, or the card with flamingos pulling his sleigh,  or Santa water-skiing, etc. Every time I would come across those cards I would buy them. A few years ago when I had a yard sale just prior to going to Las Vegas, I sold 14 boxes of unopened, Florida-themed Christmas cards that I found stashed anywhere and everywhere. I no longer buy Christmas cards at all as I have come to grips with the painful truth: I'm never going to send them anyway. And why don't they get sent you may very well ask? Because I think it's tacky to send a card without a personal message in it. I tell myself, "I'm not just going to sign the card and put it in the mail. I'm going to write something terribly clever and sincerely personal in each and every card". And then it's Christmas Eve and there they sit, midway down in the afore mentioned huge heap that masquerades as the out-box on my desk. So ... I just don't buy them anymore. I mean who am I fooling?
But, I'm really grateful for this computer, truly I am, and I am truly stunned that a year has gone by and I have not gotten the Thank You notes out and for that I am truly sorry, and I am going to make the commitment to send out at least one card a week ... I'm bound to miss a week or two here and there ... but by this time next year I will have gotten a card to everyone involved in the giving of this wonderful, life-saving gift, that is, if you will be so kind as to send my your home address, because I go through address books like I go through cell phones and reading glasses. (For whatever talents I may truly possess, I am so  special-needs when it comes to everyday things). But really and truly, do send me your address. Hold me to my word. Send your address if you fall into the category of WANZIE's wonderful friend or family member who has been egregiously overlooked, and put me to the test.
Obviously I require pressure and deadlines in order to write.
And just so all those kind souls who pitched in to give me this fabulous computer (for which not a day goes by that I am not grateful) will know that whether or not they were present to sign the gift card - that Barry and Kenny and David and especially Rich (who secretly managed the online contributions and managed to totally keep it from me) did indeed make sure I knew of your involvement by affixing your name to the card on your behalf - I am including your names herewith, you lovely, lovely people:
Don Granatstein & Susan Unger
Brian Westmoreland & Rich Charron
Frank McClain
David Lee
Karen Brown
Kevin Stewart
Mike Nesheim
Kathy & John Walsh
Margaret Nolan
James Wolf and Lisa somebody or other
Patti Gaines
Rai Liauw and Jeff Horn
Mike & Emily Dorman
Channing Bolick
Kenny Howard & Barry Miller
Monique Byrnes
Val and Gary Bungart
Jack & Margo Dixon
Thomas Fincannon
Shaun McLaine
Kapt KarenAnn Bunce
David DeLoach
Benjamin McGeoch
Thomas Skye
The Singhaus Clan
Pamela O'Bannon
Jeff Kern
Cindy Hart
Mark Holmes
Scott Penyak & David Dorman
Anthony Borka
Jeff Jones
Kevin Eagan
Jean Ferris
Sean Harrington & David Goodermote
Bill Woods
David, Amber & Judy Miko
Donald Stovall
Doug Fish & Richard Brady
Dominik D'Ambrosio
Cid Stoll
James Lussier & Nancy Jacobson
Penny Creech
Drew Sizemore
Mike Wozniak & Eddie Frye
What a lucky boy am I!
Come to Bingo this coming Wednesday and have a drink with me and eat birthday cake if you like, but -
ABSOLUTELY NO PRESENTS PLEASE. REALLY. I CAN'T TAKE THE PRESSURE!I’m WANZIE and That’s All I Wrote!
2:26 AM
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