Thursday, September 15, 2005

A Flash... From My Past….

Every once in a while, things happen that just make me wonder if we all, really are, connected in some way. A way that's not visible, tangible, but there all the same.

Years ago, I had this friend, now weren’t ‘best friends’ as in did everything together, but we were good friends. We shared some common interests, even worked at the same place for a while.

He moved around 1976, and honestly, I don’t think I’ve heard a word from him since.

Well, recently (as in the past few weeks) I’d been thinking about him. I don’t really know why I’d been thinking about him. Maybe it’s been all the talk about how talent is not always the doorway to success, and that he was the most naturally talented guy I knew back then.

Regardless, I’ve been remembering the great ‘ball point pen’ drawings he used to do. He’d sit, with a blank piece of paper and a ball point pen (like a “bic”), almost anywhere, and create these incredibly shaded drawings.

I’d seen other artists work in ‘pen and ink’, but never with a “bic”, and not like this.

Alan was a very talented artist, but like many talented folks, he still had to make a living. So possibly I was wondering if he ever made a living from his artistic talent.

This morning, while checking my email and deleting the always large amount of spam, there in the ‘In Box’, was an email from Alan Hailston. It seems his Dad had gone up to my Mom and Andy’s to check out Alan’s new website and he'd gotten my email address from them, and then sent it to Alan.

We’ve been emailing off and on all day, getting caught up on what we’ve done over the years, and talking about us all getting together.

If you should go to his website, be sure to check out this section as he uploaded these examples of his ball point pen work so I could see them.

I’m hoping Maryan is feeling well enough to travel soon, and that we can find a good time for us all to get together, hang out and swap some stories. It’s been far to long, and this reconnection too big a surprise to let it slip by.

It’s funny what you remember about folks…. I obviously remember his drawing ability.

He was also a very creative ‘Ad Man’ and while he and I worked at National Auto together he really did some amazing print ads. It turns out that he continued in the advertising business after leaving National and today has his own Ad agency on Virginia Beach, Va.

Another of the other things I remember was his ‘Nova’, now it wasn’t the ‘baddest’ car on the streets locally, but he wanted it to look sharp and I remember working with him on the pin striping layouts. Amazingly enough, in his original email, he mentioned he recalled that and how I’d helped.

I wonder sometimes, about the universe and how things come to pass. Here I was, thinking about him and out of the blue, along comes that email.

I’ve been thinking all day about how many times in my life, that kind of thing has happened. Where I’ve been wishing for something, thinking about something, or in general, just had something in particular on my mind, and how often the next thing I knew, there it was, right in front of me.

Is it all just ‘Universal Coincidence’? Is it just the mere randomness and chaos of life coming together, on occasion, and looking like it’s something more?

I know, I’ve written about this before and pondered about how things seem to happen, just because, when you’re ready for them, and not because you’ve specifically done anything special to ‘make’ it happen.

Maybe I did something recently that charged up the karma wheel, or it’s all just random happenings… I really don’t know. What I do know is that I’m glad he sent that email, and we’re back in contact again!!

14 comments:

Nina said...

That is wonderful, I have had this happen as well. The internet has made the world a much smaller place.
Your friend, Alan is very talented, thanks for the link.

Bill said...

I'm going to have to work up a post dealing with this "Universal Coincedence" theory of mine... if nothing else it'll give me somethign to focus on!

Thanks, I'm glad you liked his work... I'm still pretty stoked we connected today!

Ilene said...

Of course, you know in your heart that it was no coincedence - this is the way the universe works. You put the thoughts out there - energy - and there it is - like magic. Isn't it wonderful - ask a question and it is answered. I have to agree with James Redford in "The Celestine Prophecy" - there are no coincedence - all things are for a reason - of course what we do with that information is entirely up to us - we can choose to ignore it or respond to the nudges of the universe!

This is so exciting -- can't wait for the next update.

Whitney said...

I love that you have reconnected with an old friend...and in such an odd way. I love hearing stories like that...gives me chills up and down my spine.

And what an incredibly talented artist...oh my goodness!

Bill said...

Ilene - Yes, you're right I do. However, there's a part of me that wants to somehow understand better how all of this works. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to harness this kind of thing?

Whit - Truth is, it gave me that same kind of chill... followed closely by a very heartwarming feeling!

*I* have always thought he was very talented. I remember all through school he seemed to always be drawing, something. I've never had any real artistic talent like that and marvel at those who do.

Lois Lane said...

It's great that you are in touch. I thought my old man was the only one who still called them ball point pens. LOL! He also calls his baseball hat a ball cap. He's odd. Anyhow, call it fate. You know everything does happen for a reason. :)
Have a great weekend!
Lois Lane

Bill said...

Hi Lois, there's definitely a difference between a 'ball point' and the 'roller-ball' types that are so popular today :)

And... the reason they're called just 'ball' caps is that back in the day... the only ball you played with a 'cap' was baseball :)

Fate just sounds (feels?) too deterministic for me... it needs a more 'grand' name I think :)

You have a great one too.. and keep an eye out for more teeth (there's money in them ya know!!)

Patrick M. Tracy said...

It's great to talk to someone after many years and find that there are still elements of commonality between you. It generally doesn't happen to me in that way, though. I tend to move on and be unreachable, I guess.

Watching a real artist, you know that it's them, not the equipment. A really great sketch artist can make a portrait with cardboard box and a rusty nail, I think.

I was at an art show a few years ago, and I bought a couple prints for the artists to sign. When it was quiet at the booths, they would sketch out dragon heads and pixies and so forth around their signature--all with the humble ball point. It's amazing to see them create a really well-detailed work from something that I can hardly write a legible word with.

Your friend's work looked impressive in the thumbnails at his site. Thanks for putting up the link.

Bill said...

"It's amazing to see them create a really well-detailed work from something that I can hardly write a legible word with."

Firehawk, exactly my feelings as well!

My overall life experience has been more along the lines of yours... lately though it seems I'm connecting again with folks from my past... and in a very enjoyable way.

Trevor Record said...

Yeah, a true artist can prosper with any medium. Once the foundations are mastered, seems people can use just about anything. I've seen some pretty impressive pallpoint pen pictures myself.


And I can barely use conte! But then, I'm not an "artist".

Unknown said...

I'm hoping that my upcoming reunion will engineer one of those long-lost get-togethers. Your friend is a talented artist. I so admire people who can draw.

Bill said...

Trevor - Thanks, I'm lucky I can get the cap off!

CA - I hope so too, if it does, I hope you'll share them with us!

I was sorta hoping Alan would grab an account and leave a note himself, maybe one day.

There are actually more than a few 'ballpoint' pen artists today, 30+ years ago, it was fairly rare, and some of the stuff he did was truly amazing.

Karyn Lyndon said...

That sort of thing happens to me all the time, especially dealing with electronics like the phone (I can't tell you how many times I've gone to dial and the person is already there), phone mail and e-mail.

On another note, you sure do have a lot of friends, Bill! You're a very lucky man.

Bill said...

Karyn - I've said it many times, I've truly been blessed. I've never had a ton of money, but almost always enough to 'get by'. I have had however, a richness in people.

Each has shaped my life in their own way. My only regret, and I;m not actually sure I'd call it that, is that we don't all live within a few miles of one another.