It was a beautiful evening in 1984 in Hyde Park, Tampa, and Jennifer and I decided to take a walk. We found ourselves on Kennedy Blvd where we ran into Rev. Ralph. He was hanging out with Steve and his wife Heather. They had just landed at Tampa International Airport from Ohio a couple of days prior. Ralph introduced Steve to me as the guy who had sung the 60's hit, Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke. Steve seemed displeased with the way he was introduced to me and reacted by saying, " Aw, Ralph, I told you not to tell anybody !" Steve seemed a bit anxious and he really wanted to smoke a joint.  I began selling books on the sidewalks of New York City in the Spring of 1990. When I was a sidewalk bookseller in NYC, sometimes I would get a 'real job' for awhile just to take a break. I didn't care if I quit or was fired. I would just go back to bookselling. I blew more money in two hours than any job could have paid me for a week of humiliation.   The Bookstore wa...

All my friends are far and few I won't be goin' to no barbecue Christmas trees are out of vogue Santa is a corporate rogue Mom has gone to be with God There won't be a Christmas card Trying to hold back the tears Grateful now for all the years I had with you I'm having hot dogs a...