Yesterday, I wrote a couple of posts in the morning. One was “A Beautiful Day” - and it became even more beautiful as the day went on. Here is the post:
A Beautiful Day
I’m writing now because my day has been made brighter by my friendship with Rick Shapiro and our mutual friend John whose last name I don’t know. We ended up having a nice conversation at Daily Provisions where I consumed not one, but two egg and cheese sandwichs. It’s just good to be with people. We talked deeply about this and that which is a rare tre…
This morning, I got up late as it is a Sunday. I listened to a bit of “Mythos” by Stephen Fry on Audible. I am always charmed by the story of “The Children of Chaos” which is what I believe we all are, after all. We emerge up and out of the pleroma and fall back into it when all is said and done - and A LOT MORE is said than done!
That said, I received the first professional feedback on my Substack from
for which I am profoundly grateful. I’ve been subjecting my subscribers to a deluge of content. The point may not be clear — hence this post.The Point Is…
Amplification and catalyzation would be my first suggestion. I love making connections and stepping back to see what will happen. I love sending signals out into the void. I like to make a mark. This reminds me of a scene in “Wings of Desire” where Peter Falk is talking about drawing:
I’m a friend. I wish I could talk to my father again. That’s a big part of why I am here and writing. “Harrowings” - the publishing arm of the Harold B Gill Foundation, LLC.
In a manner of speaking, I am talking with him as I go through the archives that he has left behind - what I was able to pull out of the house after my mother fell three months to the day after he had died, breaking her pelvis in two places which meant that she needed to be moved to a senior living facility. I’ll call her later today and visit her next Saturday. I’m hoping that I might be able also to visit my undergraduate history professor in the bargain. I sent him a note last night suggesting that I might take him to dinner if he didn’t have other plans.
Talking to people; amplifying their voices; reminding myself of why everyone is worthy of listening to and helping others hear them through the means at my disposal. That’s the point. When I do this, I’m bringing people together who might not otherwise meet. I’m allowing those who stand by and say nothing to have something of a charming experience, it’s hoped, and whenever two people come together, if anything happens at all, both are tranformed. So, it’s an alchemical exercise.
That is the point.
I could go on and often do. Yesterday, just before writing “A Beautiful Day,” I had a lovely conversation with
who, if you don’t know her, is an actress who made a mark as one of the first, if not the first, strong female leads in the horror genre. She also made an impromptu appearance on “The Passing Show” on Thursday that led to our call yesterday. There is much symbolism in the Zombie genre that came out from George Romero, the director of the Living Dead trilogy. It was ground breaking cinema, to be sure. Lori mentioned that the horror community has become “chosen family” and that is what you all are as well.I have other irons in the fire, but I’m going to work over the next four months to get things better coordinated in hopes of making “Harrowings” even more attractive. I only can churn up the surface of the field of imagination and want to be open to whatever might emerge. After all, the mission of the Harold B Gill Foundation, LLC is to collect, protect, preserve, and promulgate the creative works of all three Harold B Gills who have graced this earth with our presence. My grandfather worked quietly but steadily as the proprietor of Gill Electric Company.
Gill Electric Company
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My father poured the bulk of his life into putting flesh on the bones of those who made my hometown; Williamsburg, Virginia seem worthy of preserving as a living museum as a “historian of the inarticulate.” Most of the work done thus far on his material is collected in our anniversary edition:
There is much more to be told but, as I get underway on the recommendations made by
, it may be a while before I post more than the “Harrowings Podcast” - there’s fun to be done!I’ll leave you with a clip from yesterday’s show down on the DC Wharf in which my vocal coach
shows her prowess:Onward!
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I love your substack. Keep on doing what makes you happy! That is the most important "point" of being a creator. 😊
Thanks Hal for the update on all that's happening. It sounds like you definitely have some things that will be unfolding. You do put out a lot of content and I understand the point. For me, it can get overwhelming. I get it though and you must live your purpose. I support that!