I know NOTHING about blogs....this is a journey

Just decided that this is probably not a blog at all.  It is, instead, a way of communicating my feelings, thoughts, views and of course memories.  It is also very importantly, an avenue to share my life with my brother with his widow, children and friends.  It seems that everyone that knew Roy knew a different Roy, and few if any knew what his early life was all about.  Even fewer knew the things that shaped his life into some of the withdrawn and stoic feelings he often threw up.

To many, he was an ecentric dreaming genuis.  Which of course he was.  To some, he was a candle making, traveling hippie, selling his wares to fund his travels.  Which of course he was.  To some, he was completely and openly different and determined to live his life his way and do things that no one would even think of doing.  Which of course he did.  For example, did you know that he decided that he would go to college for his entire life and make sure he NEVER had enough credits in anything to get a diploma in anything?  This hippie genuis  was bound and determined to throw newspapers for the rest of his life and go to college full time and learn everything he could about everything....but never get a job so he could use what he had learned.  And you know what?  He almost succeeded!  Unfortunately his one real love sneaked in and offered him the chance of a lifetime and he took it without checking out the entire consequences of his actions.  I personally believe it was an act of God, for it indeed, as time went change his life in every way.

He was attending Central State University, in Edmond, Oklahoma and had been for several years.  He had, because of his desire to never get a degree but attend college for his entire life, once again changed majors.  He went into drama.  Play acting, a way to be himself, but never allow anyone else to know it was him.  Then he worked behind the scenes, built props, did set direction....everything and loved it.  Then the opportunity opened up and was offered to him to tour the Scandanavian countries and other countries and perform in plays and drive the tour bus.  He accepted the position and set off to see the world for three months.  It was his chance of a lifetime, he took it, he loved it, he came home and it bit him right in the behind.....it had, unknowingly to him, given him the exact number of credits he needed to get a degree in drama, with enough credits to have minors in several things.  He was a success in spite of himself.

His life at most of the time he was attending school was, let us say clouded, by the unfortunate use of what a lot of men his age had gotten into at that time.  

I am just going to put a few photos here with little caplines to guide you and I will go into some details next time.  Always, keep in mind, Cathy and Erin that he LOVED you....but he wasn't just crazy about himself.

   Here he says, I am creating, trying to grow a mustache and you want me to smile as well?

 Okay, changed my mind a bit, decided to let my hair grow, forgot the mustach, ditched the shorts and short sleeved shirt and look I have a wonderful, genuine smile.  He was happy in this picture.  It is one of my personal favorites....his eyes are smiling...not cloudy.

Here, with Daddy, he is pretty layed back.  Hair is growing longer and longer and look....the mustach has reappeared.  Daddy is in his shorts and short sleeved shirt and Roy is wearing his Don Johnson outfit, long before it was a Don Johnson outfit.  For those who don't remember there was a show called Miami Vice......oooppps, where is that smile?

Well, we are getting more and more long hair and that mustach is back and he is a happy camper, having dinner at Mom and Dad's.  I see his tattoo peeping out from under his sleeve.  Don'tcha just love that purpule shirt.

Good night all and good night my sweet Roy, I have thought about you this entire day and written about you and looked at your pictures.  I am now just sitting here staring at this photo of you....mesmerized.... captured and drawn into it.  I must say good night.  I love you sweet boy!