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03 $1.00 DONATION
Traverse City’s
Street Magazine
> Better Than It Seems
> The Cost of Booze
> Robin Wiliams & Me
…and more
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What is a street paper? In North America, street papers have
been established in over 30 major cities,
The gaunt faces of homeless men and including Seattle, Chicago, Denver,
woman in Chicago have haunted America Charlotte and Montreal.
for many years. But no longer do masses One major organization called the
of poor line up in heavy coats and freezing International Network of Street Papers
weather and wait for the soup kitchens to (INSP) loosely binds these 120 culturally
open. No longer do we see the exodus of and socially diverse publications together.
families looking for work. In Traverse City, as in other parts of the
Today our American poor have a world, Speak Up Magazine is a partnership
different look or no look at all. Somehow between working volunteers and working
we have found a way to hide the poor poor. It is a visible and practical response
and hide the long lines of unemployed to an immediate and pressing need.
and underemployed. We have a myriad
of programs to funnel aid, and to the TC Speak Up Advisory Committee
best of our ability we make it invisible. It William Shaw
has become all about discretion, because Mike Nolan
discretion equals dignity, does it not? Glen Petersen
So why a street paper? It isn’t a Corban Shaw
government program. It certainly isn’t Jeff Joubran
invisible. It doesn’t give a handout. It Deborah Shaw
requires individual effort, visibility, and Chelsea Bay Dennis
occasional discomfort. It’s a job. It does Melissa Sprenkle
what our social programs don’t do. It Benjamin Shaw
requires poor people to work and working Aaron Dennis
people to confront poverty. Mark Wilson
Street papers have now filled the Ryan Hannon
cities of Eastern and Western Europe. If Whitney Larsen
you have traveled there you may know
the names: Surprise, Megaphone, Big Contact Us
Issue and =Oslo, to name a few. They William Shaw
are creative publications, organized by Speak Up Board of Directors
social workers, artists, businessmen, and billshaw@speakupmag.org
journalists, spawning a culture of self-help
and communication. speakupmag.org/TC
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INSP-iring change
Speak Up’s co-founder Lana Shaw conference fees for Speak Up and other
spent last week in Glasgow, Scotland, grassroots magazine delegates to attend!)
at the 20th Annual Meeting of the Lana came away from that conference
International Network of Street Papers inspired by the innovations and successes
(INSP). There are over 100 street papers that our street magazine friends, in
and magazines around the world; Europe, Africa and Asia, have pioneered
the INSP is a UK-based charitable over the last few years.
organization that connects, supports and One of the key conference themes
networks many such papers. related to the vendors, the homeless
Speak Up has frequently tapped in the or vulnerably-housed individuals who
INSP mindshare and network, but this is decide to become micro-business owners
the first conference we have been able to by selling magazines.
attend since our launch in 2011. (Thank Below you can see a photo of “the
you to the INSP, who paid the airfare and Smart Bib” from The Big Issue in South
Africa. Its unique design both simplifies
cashless sales for vendors and easily
communicates a series of personal
messages to potential customers.We’re
excited to implement similar ideas in the
near future.
Thank you for purchasing this
publication. By doing so you’ve helped
a specific person move closer to
accomplishing their goals.
Your feedback is crucial to us. Please
give us 30 seconds of your time and visit
speakupmag.org/survey.
Happy reading!
—Matt Shaw
Executive Director
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Requiem
(for Jeffrey Donalson)
In this alley stinking of urine
littered with cigarette butts
waste-water pools,
mirrors the contours of clouds
blue sky
the sun–
a single point of brilliant light.
He could speak to this
until in shadow
beneath the bridge,
unacknowledged,
he was beaten to death
for a pint of gin.
—Robb
I sleep on these streets
Concrete and fear are my friends
We won’t stop fighting
—Michael
Another Memorial Service
(Jerry M.)
Another service today
Another friend gone
Another one come
Another service planned, but yet not
But yet not long and one will be gone
And another one come
And another service, another day.
—N.T.A.
Although I’m homeless
I will never ever quit
No sore loser here
—Tony
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Parcher
Randy
by
When You See Me, What Do You See? 06
Take Time to See! 07
Better Than It Seems 08
This is the Life I Want for My Baby 09
One Year From Now 10
Fear: A Second Perspective 11
Memories, a Cardboard Box, and a Full Moon 14
The Cost of Booze 15
Tales from a Rubber Tramp’s Dashboard Light 16
Classified Ads 17
Restaurant Review 18- 19
Insects and Idiots 20
Code of the Street 21
Remembering Robin Williams 22
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WHEN YOU SEE ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE?
When you see me, what do you see? Do hand. I have also had three people give me
you see a woman walking on the streets money out of the blue just because they saw
and roads of Traverse City just carrying a me carrying heavy things, and I needed a
backpack? Do you assume I’m just going ride and/or they see how hard I’m working
about my daily business? If this is so, then it’s to achieve my goals. Those people are the
just part of an assumption. I may be going humanitarians.
about my daily business with my backpack I have had my share of dealing with the
on my shoulders, but my brain and body are state of Michigan for 21 years. I have had my
focused on achieving goals. share of ignorant and snobby people. I just
I’m a 39- year- old woman with three take a moment when these irritations come
kids: one son, two daughters. My children into my life to touch my silver cross I wear
are being taken care of by family members around my neck and say the Serenity Prayer.
while I’m out in the real world getting things God does not let me go without. I utilize
done. his resources. I treat people with kindness,
I have been homeless for 2 ½ years. care, honesty, respect, and compassion.
I have stayed at motels, state parks, two God and I have this unspeakable
“shelters”/ “concentration camps,” a friend’s unbreakable relationship. Through him,
couch, and in the woods. I have hauled I have strength, endurance, good health,
things on my shoulders and back while lightness, happiness, sanity, and peace. I also
walking through all kinds of people, traffic, help others any way I can so they can stay on
and weather. If I’m not walking, then I’m the positive path.
using the bus. So when you see me now, what do you
Over 2 ½ years, I have heard all kinds see? I will smile a pretty smile and say, “Hi,
of things and words at me or around me I’m Jenny.”
because I’m homeless. My response: “You —Jenny Koons
have no idea.” I have been given rides by a
number of people that I can count on one
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TAKE TIME TO SEE!
I wonder what you saw when that man walked by.
Did you see any more then a man with a sigh?
What was your thought when you caught your first view?
Did your heart go out to him, or did you see him as taboo?
I wonder if when you saw how he was dressed,
If it made you smile, or feel some distress?
If you had looked twice when you saw him the first time,
Would you have seen his emptiness, or that he needed to dine?
I wonder if you’d paused to really look at him,
If you’d seen his old shoes or his hurting grin.
There’s no way to know what one might see.
There’s no way to know what might be the key.
The key to what you might now be thinking,
I noticed the man; he looked like he’d been drinking.
Now I’m not joking, I’m telling you straight.
The key to our life is simple but great.
We all need each other in one way or another.
When we see someone on the street, they’re our sister or our brother.
We all need each other, that right there is the key.
The sooner we get that, the sooner we can be free.
So next time you pass someone on the street,
look a little closer and don’t be so discreet.
Just smile and say hi, cuz you never know,
He might be an Angel without his halo.
He may need your help or you may need his.
He may be named John, George, Mary, or Liz.
There’s one thing for sure if this is the case.
We all need each other, whether in rags or in lace.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength,
and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30)
—Carl
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BETTER THAN IT SEEMS
I was at my post selling Speak Up Zine
yesterday. Some strangers walked up, and
I heard, “There’s Uncle Chuck!” To my
amazement it was a nephew and a niece,
Jason and Hilary. I hadn’t seen them in
at least eight years. I told them I wouldn’t
have recognized them—they used to be
teenagers. We hugged and talked—they
couldn’t believe I was in a homeless shelter.
When they knew me, I had a great job,
owned my house, had three cars, a riding
lawnmower and a bass boat. They gave me
a love offering. I told them it wasn’t as bad
as they thought.
This magazine is giving me a job and
an opportunity to do what I’ve always
desired: to launch a writing career. I’m
getting disability after a year out in the
woods, and I have a clear shot at getting a
place to rent and a laptop. I’m devoted to
giving Traverse City all I’ve got and being
a part of Helping Hands. Traverse City, I
love you. Thanks for helping me believe.
—C.L. Engle
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THE LIFE I WANT FOR MY BABY
beau
Whitney’s
Charles,
by
Illustration
I want my baby to be smart and well loved. but many mom’s overcome it. I hope to be a
I want my baby to know right from wrong. good influence for my baby and to learn the
I also pray my baby will be real healthy and right things to do so I can teach my baby.
in good shape. I wish to teach my kids how I believe my baby will be a strong minded,
to live in God’s ways and to honor our God. fast learner, brave individual. I have faith it
I am going to look into my sweet baby’s eyes will be smarter than its dad, Charles, and
and I know the first time our eyes meet one also that it will be the smartest kid in its class
of us is going to be crying for joy and for the because I’m going to try to teach the baby all
life that we will have. It is the beginning of I know and more.
a friendship, a family, and a new lifestyle. I I’m going to be a good mother to my
hope to learn many things while becoming baby. Also, Charles is going to be the best
a mom. I look into the mirror and say what dad. I know that as a team we can teach our
will I do? I’m a little scared and I don’t want baby to overcome many things about their
to be a bad mom, but I do hope to learn everyday life.
what to do. It’s going to be hard and a hassle —Whitney
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ONE YEAR FROM NOW
One year from now, I want to be caught up
with my child support. I want my daughter
and I to have a close relationship. I want to
be enrolled in an associate degree program,
working on an associate degree, on the
way to a bachelor’s degree. I want to be
set up with my disability and Medicaid. A
year from now, I want to have saved up a
substantial amount of money in order to get
a place and other necessities.
—Michael
A year from now, I will graduate from
Southeastern Institute as a masseuse, and
my disability will be done with. I will have
my own home. I will be happy just to be
alive another year. I will be done with legal
problems. I will have more spiritual growth.
I will be closer to God. I will be more of a
blessing to someone. I will be sitting in this
chair one year from now.
—Michal
One year from now I want to change
the world with my music. The guitar is a
very well known and loved instrument.
Almost immediately you can understand
why. When you hear the harmonies of the
instrument it relaxes the mind and keeps
you in tune with yourself, and in that action
alone you remember the joy and beauty in
life. Music helps shape the lives of many
people, and because of this I have always
wanted to see how just a regular everyday
person can change the world.
—Stefan
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FEAR:
A Second Perspective
For the first 42 years of my life, I was a exacerbated my panic syndrome. I was
person “with a home.” Then at age 43, I so scared during those two months that I
became a person “without a home” due to could no longer hear God’s voice for the
circumstances beyond my control. I had a first time in my life. But the homeless
complete nervous breakdown that lasted people that I once feared were not afraid
seven months, resulting in a severe panic of me. Most of them were kind to me and
syndrome that cost me my job of fifteen tried to be helpful.
years, my marriage, my beautiful home, my That was ten years ago. Today, I am a
vehicle, my friends and family members, college student and enjoy a full life with
and every personal possession that I have my new husband, family and friends.
ever valued and worked hard to obtain. I I spend weekends playing with my
was forced to file bankruptcy and move grandchildren and savoring time with
away from the area. my son and daughter. I no longer fear
Prior to this experience, I had a fear of homeless people. I have empathy for
homeless people. I think this was because them and try to help them whenever
I did not know what to expect from them. possible. Today, I know that the fear I
I avoided and ignored them as much had of homeless people prior to becoming
as possible. When I became sick and homeless is nothing compared to the
homeless, I was afraid that instead of trying fear that I felt while being homeless. I
to accept me and help me find solutions to have returned to being a person “with a
my “homelessness,” people “with homes” home” and have continued to be one ever
would fear, avoid and ignore me. My since. I thank God for teaching me how
panic syndrome made me look and seem to have empathy for others who are less
scary. I remember looking in the mirror fortunate than most. I also thank Him
and seeing the panic monster in my eyes for enlightening me by giving me the
and realizing how disconcerting I must opportunity to experience fear from the
look to others. When I would meet people perspectives of the homeless people that
in the community, I could see their fear I used to fear.
of me, including one of the professionals
that was working with me to overcome —Connie Haney
my panic syndrome. When people either
looked at me with fear or avoided me, it
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Up
Speak
about
more
learn
to
smartphone
your
with
Scannotbegging
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MEMORIES, A CARDBOARD BOX,
AND A FULL MOON
When I was a teenager going home from to get the sleep that we badly needed.
work with my parents, I saw a lady in this As we reached the woods at the edge of
fur coat. It was black and white striped town, I spotted a cardboard box, so I went
like the one from “One Hundred and One to check it out. It was big enough for us
Dalmatians.” It was a cold, blustery, winter to curl up in and try to get some sleep,
day. She was walking on the sidewalk which did not come because of the cold.
downtown looking for food in the trash Instead of sleeping, I lay there wondering,
cans. I looked at my dad; he explained to “Why me? Why is this happening?” I felt
me that she was homeless. The rest of the lost and forgotten like I had just lost my
way home I sat there trying to imagine what best friend. I was lucky to have gotten an
it would be like living that way, wondering hour of sleep because it was so cold. I told
how she stayed warm at night. There were myself to keep a positive attitude, that this
so many unanswered questions on my mind is only a temporary situation. This won’t
that I found it mindboggling. I was told that go on forever. Since that time, I now have
this lady was released from the state hospital. a vehicle to live in. It has a bed, and I have
She had a few mental problems. Years later, a cell phone to keep in touch with my
I found out that she had gotten the help she family, friends. I was happy to hear about
needed and had gotten off the streets. She the Outreach program at a church where
now how has a home of her own. we can eat, shower, and get our mail. The
Now I am experiencing homelessness volunteers for Outreach are so wonderful
myself, and this is one story of one night to talk with. They help us in many ways if
on the street. It was a crisp, cold night with we have concerns.
a full moon. We had lost our home and
vehicle and were on foot walking in town —Laurie Koelsch
to stay warm and trying to find a place
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THE COST OF BOOZE
Six dollars and fifty cents. That’s the going It wasn’t long before police questioning
price for a fifth of cheap vodka. Any self- led them to the hired man, who was
respecting abuser of “spud juice” makes sure arrested, and at the time of this writing
there is a steady supply, but when supply is is in jail on murder charges and a million
difficult, due to lack of funds, one turns to dollar bail.
other ways of obtaining his “medicine”. In an The passed-out man knew it was only
alcoholic induced panic, morals go out the a matter of time before Johnny-Law came
window. All thoughts of right and wrong do calling again.
onto others or turn the other cheek, cease to He was a chronic alcoholic, but his
exist. death the next week was drug-induced,
This is a story that left two men dead not his drug of choice. On the morning
and another headed to prison for up to of the thief’s memorial we learned the
twenty years. Try to find some good out passed-out man had died too.
of this and please let me know what that The code on the streets, which is a strict
might be. code, was broken. Thou shall not steal! It
A man was witnessed stealing a is a situation of great sorrow, and anger,
bottle of vodka from another man, who grief and questions. Numerous people’s
was passed out. The thief died shortly lives have been affected. Our street society
thereafter as a result of a severe beating. is on display to all, once again.
The beating was administered by a man This is our cost of booze.
hired by the passed-out man. It was a —Brad Huston
beating of retribution. The hired man got
carried away.
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Tales from a
Rubber Tramp’s there myself, that food out of the trash
would have looked to me as a feast fit for a
king. I could not turn my back upon this
scruffy human being.Dashboard Light Going outside, I talked to him while
other people walked by us choosing not to
One summer day back when we could see him or admit he was there. I offered to
use our food stamps at Kentucky Fried buy him a meal and something to drink.
Chicken, we decided to get something to This took some doing, but his hunger
eat, as there was no meal that night. We had finally won out. Once inside, he acted
ordered, finished eating and were enjoying as if he had never been inside before or
our drinks when I decided to go outside for that they would ask him to leave, perhaps
a smoke. While I was smoking, I saw this because of the way he looked. “I’m paying,”
person with hair and whiskers disheveled, I told those behind the counter, my voice
wild, and unkempt that would have made a echoing in a room that had been full of
caveman proud to call his own. His clothing sound, but now had gotten as quiet as a
had seen better days, having holes and rips graveyard at midnight. Yet he kept looking
in them. to me as he ordered, looking as though
As he leisurely ambled to the main he had done something wrong just by
entrance, he gradually went to the trash walking in the door, still not quite sure if
and began to rummage for something to he would be served. When his food came,
eat. This made me wonder why—with all he hugged it to his body as though he held
the meals here in town—he would have something very valuable and was afraid
to look in the trash for something to eat. we would take it back. Leaving faster than
Had no one told him about the Outreach he came in, he left me to wonder from
meals? I went back to my girlfriend and time to time if he found his way or fell by
asked if we could spare the price of a meal. the wayside. Does he still survive?
Would it be wrong to offer him a meal?
She said, “It’s up to you.” Having been —Randy Parcher, the Rubber Tramp
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SINGLE MOMM
helps single mothers go
from surviving to thriving
Here are some ways you can get involved.
I am a single mom and I need an Electric A box of size two diapers for my newborn.
Dryer.
A woman’s bike and a tag along baby seat
I am a single mom and I need a safe vehicle for a bike
that can get me around town, to and from
work.
A couch that has been used in a place with We also have many moms in need of practical
no pets (I have a severe allergy and cannot help. A ceiling fixed in her bathroom, help in
have anything that pets have been around). fixing a hot water heater, etc.
I am a single mom that has been through The contact number for all of these is our
the Single MOMM “Moms 2 Work” office number 231-944-1710
material and have completed my Associates
Degree in Business. I am looking for local www.singlemomm.org
employment in my skill sets. I have high
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the areas of communications, administration
and program evaluation. I have a resume
and letters of recommendations upon
request.
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SPEAK UP
RESTAURANT
REVIEW
BY FRANK AND NTA
FRANK Sandwich, dear john mustard. NTA Wonder how long it will take to get
Holindaze . I pretty much know what I want. another cup of coffee? That is one of those
It tells you right here what it is. I’m gonna things that’s way up on my list.”
have the French omelet. I’m into French,.” FRANK “Me too me too, I gotta get coffee
NTA “I’m into French.” and I like it filled up on a regular basis.
FRANK “Yeah.” NTA “Oh look at this, look at this, oh wow.”
NTA “Dalphin-noise. Yeees dalphin noise, WAITRESS “I got this esp message from
what the… I don’t know, aprican. I’m having you.”
a hard time. What’s the pronunciation of FRANK“We were just saying how delicious
this place, Pitsisori Anni?” is this coffee.”
FRANK“Patisserie Amie.” NTA “Oh is that what we were talking
NTA “I’ve always wondered the name of this about? Ha ha”
place.” FRANK “Thank you dear, appreciate it.
NTA Horse devors, what is horse devors?” Listen dear, excellent coffee and I appreciate
FRANK “That’s hor devours.” good coffee.
NTA “Haha.”
FRANK “Ok you suckered me into that one. NTA “Wow! That is some serious hollandaise
Oh well.” sauce.”
NTA “Horse dorves, I want some horse FRANK “I like the presentation first of all.
devors. Should I ask her that? So what is this This looks really nice.”
omelet ratatule? How do you pronounce NTA “Yeah, yeah, this is like awesome.”
that word?” FRANK “Very buttery. Umm They nailed
FRANK“It must be just a vegi omelet. I will it. This is a great omelet. I love the texture.
have the French omelet I believe. I don’t like dry eggs. I love the buttery taste.
WAITRESS “One of our specials is eggs Excellent. I love the potatoes. It has a tart
benedict. It’s really good.” sauce to it. Redskins, thinly sliced. I think
NTA “So that’s real hollandaise sauce? That’s I am tasting the potatoes, redskins are like
what I’m going to do. that. This is awesome, swiss cheese and
WAITRESS “Would you like potatoes?” ham.”
FRANK “Sure. Thank you dearly Miss.” NTA “Very good.”
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FRANK “Yeah so far I would give this meal FRANK “Everything’s great, everything
a pretty good rating.” fresh, everything wonderful.”
NTA “There is hollandaise sauce and NTA “Really everything’s wonderful, thank
hollandaise sauce.” you! This is the real deal on the sauce.”
FRANK “Yeah pretty good?”
NTA “This is hollandaise sauce!” FRANK “I might bring my date here.”
FRANK “The guy knows what he’s doing.” NTA “I will tell you now the only thing I
NTA “Best chefs in the world are men. Don’t want to say about the service here was that
get me wrong. My mama could cook, man it was extraordinary.”
could she ever cook, but the best chefs, in FRANK “I thought she was slow on the
the world, are men.” coffee, but she came on.”
FRANK “Ever eat my spaghetti?” NTA “She was only slow for a second.”
NTA “A man knows how to make spaghetti. FRANK “Yep she got it.”
You got to have my spaghetti.” NTA “She was there every time I wanted a
FRANK “This is good food.” coffee. Three things I look at when I go to a
NTA “Really good.” restaurant. #1 do they serve coffee before the
FRANK “I could come back here and eat cup is empty. My cup was never empty. #2
again for sure and you know what the prices Is the food good, I mean is it more than just
are really good. I don’t mind paying for edible, but is it good. If it’s edible its fine, but
this. I’m done talking I want to eat. This is good. This was good.”
definitely a breath of fresh air to sit down to FRANK “Really good!”
excellence. Everything’s fresh.” NTA “And number 3, and this is most
NTA “Really good.” important, the person who is serving you
FRANK “The herbs on these potatoes are …”
fresh. I was hungry. This is a most excellent
meal.” Tape done. See you next month Frank and
WAITRESS “So you guys are enjoying it?” NTA. Restaurant review. Patisserie Amie
NTA “Everything is good, really good.” three stars!.
FRANK “This is the last cup.”
NTA “You are absolutely spoiling us with To see the full review visit Speak Up
this coffee.”
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The insect is there. The idiot is me. Another
night spent idiosynchronizing with the
local ecology on South Airport. I spent the
day at the 7-11, panhandling for hotdogs,
talking about the value of organic eatingINSECTS and ecological limits. Speaking of limits, the
cashier reached his at about 8 PM and asked
me to leave. He was promptly headbutted
by a homeless gentleman I had shared a
coffee with. I mediated the situation until
the police came. The homeless man went toAND IDIOTS jail and I had a conversation with the cashier
about job risks.
Now I’m having fits of paranoia as
moths hit the lamp above my head. I lie
awake for forty-five minutes listening
to the tap-flack of moth wings on metal.
Close my eyes for fifteen minutes and
dream they’re in my sleeping bag- for the
fourth night in a row. I mean to make it
back to my tent but I got a craving for a
cigarette around 11 PM and now it’s too
dark to walk through the swamp.
So I go to the Cherryland Mall, sleep
on the pavement. Rolly-polies begin
bombarding my sleeping bag. Giving up
on sleep, I notice a gentleman sleeping
in his car. I circle the mark, hoping for a
nicotine fix. I draw closer, he rolls down
his window, and I approach.
My hopes recede to the dark side of the
moon as the rolling milk smell overcomes
my nostrils. “Oh, Hi,” I squeak. He says
“Hello” in a low foreboding manner, a
crackle at the end of the greeting. I feel I’ve
met death in a mall parking lot.
I wander on.
—Tyler Catton
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CODE OF THE STREET
I’m not always delusional. Sometimes I’m just wrong.
Don’t let the things you own own you.
—Tyler
Be kind.
Be respectful of everyone you meet.
Try to make someone smile.
—Randy Parcher
You cannot fake it till you make it on the street. You must be you, or
else people who live on the street will first distrust, dislike, and just dis
you. The street has a code: Be yourself—warts and all. Do not try to fit
in. Do not try to force yourself on others. You have to be open and have
to be respectful.
Do not try to be someone else if you are new to homelessness.
Then look for the strong ones. They will be there—those that I call
watchmen. They will be gracious and more than willing to help
you. But do not put your guard down. Be aware. Be awake. Be alive.
The street can be mean but it can also be very loving. You can meet
people who will love you without judgment, without prejudice. On
the street, mos. Guard your spirit and body. This is the code of the
street. Just be who you are. No faking.
—Frank
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I was in a
twelve-step
meeting with Saxon/AP
ReedRobin Williams
It was a few years back. That is a segue into my story. Our
I was sitting in a local twelve-step recovery society wants us to recover. They call the
group in Traverse City, MI. I sat by a window places we go to as correctional facilities
to get fresh air, being a non-smoker. I looked and rehabilitation centers. You do the jail
out in the parking lot and saw this nice limo time, the probation, and all the classes.
pull up. I thought it was one of the local You do all this stuff along with millions
yokels who got his tax money in and was of other people, and then society doesn’t
trying to showboat for the rest of us. Then take the foot off our backs to see if all this
I saw Robin Williams get out, and I thought rehab will work. That is the problem I am
this is going to get crazy. Never before have running into, and I am one of many.
we had a celebrity come into the meeting. I think Robin Williams had a foot on
So he walked in and sat down, and probably his back too. I think his success was a
20 of the 25 people got up and went outside. foot. If the meeting in Traverse City was
I looked out the window and they were all like every other meeting he went to, his
on their cell phones, just dialing. It wasn’t 15 success was his downfall. After the melee
minutes, and there were hundreds of people started, the meeting just defaulted because
in the parking lot. people wanted to see Robin Williams. He
We carried on through the meeting, but had a very firm handshake, and you could
essentially it was over. As I shook his hand tell he was a humble man from the way
and apologized for what had happened, that he talked. What a shame it was that he
because we aren’t used to anything like couldn’t come somewhere and take care of
that around here, I remember he put his himself.
head down said, “That’s ok. It happens all —Mike Gillespie
over the place.”
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