"Goodbye my fine friend...Goodbye to you my good friend...goodbye"

If we are truly lucky in life, we meet someone whose very nature raises us up to a higher level. Someone who teaches us and guides us and supports us without us really even realizing that they are there at all. George Germann was this to me. I first met him at an open audition at Stage West. I was a transplant fresh out of High School not sure what I would find or who I would meet. As luck would have it we were both cast but because of other obligations he had to drop out. I regret this as we may have had an extra year or so as friends.

Our next meeting was much like the first, at an audition for a show in which we were both cast. He played Hans the Gardener, I a politically incorrect Indian Chief. We struck up conversations during the course of the show and by the end were well on our way to a friendship that would help to define me.

In a relationship lasting almost 10 years he was the Kirk to my Spock, the Han to my Chewie, the Peanut Butter to my Jelly. In other words he was the better half. When I lost my job his first instinct was to invite me over to his house for a rousing game of Dungeons and Dragons to get my mind off of it. When I first moved to Orlando and did not have much money to be able to do things, he willingly and graciously paid my way. When I got into a drinking contest with my Brother in his back room and vomited all over, he cleaned me up, saw them off, and made sure that I was alright to drive the next morning. He dealt with my shortcomings with grace and kindness. Never losing his temper, or judging me for what I had done.

After I moved back in with my parents I had every intention of keeping in touch with him, but life has ways of keeping us from our best laid plans. Like many friends we drifted apart, did not speak to one another as much as either of us would have liked, and were not as much a part of one another’s life as before. This is more my fault than his. I took him for granted, I mean this was George, he would always be there, and there would be plenty of time for me to catch up with him once I had other things straightened out. Obviously life showed me just how naïve that attitude is. This regret will haunt me forever.

But he never took me for granted that I can think of. Whenever he was in town or going to be in town he always called me to get together. When he and Connie married he must have called me 20 times to come and visit. And when I could make the time he was always there with a big smile and an even bigger hug. Such was the man who was George Germann.

For those of you who knew him I am sure you have similar memories. For those of you who loved him I know you do. To his family I offer my condolences for the loss which you have suffered. George was like family to me. He was family to you.

But George would not have wanted us to become depressed at his passing. He would have wanted us to rejoice in the wonder that was his life. So in that spirit I will leave you with a quote from the movie that he and I saw together and that became a favorite of ours.

“Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things that a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good. That honor, courage and virtue mean everything. That money and power, power and money mean nothing. That good always triumphs over evil, and that love…true love never dies. Remember that. It doesn’t matter if it is true or not. A man needs to believe in those things because those are the things worth believing in.”

I believe that George believed.

George William Germann

December 9th 1981-May 19th 2010

The Return of the Wade.

Hello all. It has been quite some time since I took pen to paper (so to speak) and gave you all an insight into my life. Sorry about that but I have been extremely busy. Since my last post I have won two acting awards at my local community theater. Interviewed and not gotten a promotion at work. Been asked to help facilitate with the person who did get the job for the next 12 weeks or so. Helped out backstage in an assistant Stage Managerial role in my local community theaters latest production, and have started production meetings for my own directorial debut in February. Suffice it to say, I am freakin' tired. But very satisfied with how my life is going at this point.

'Til we meet again.

Paul

Good-Bye Old Friend...

The last few weeks have reminded us of the shortness of life. With the passing of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and now Billy Mays, the consciousness of America has turned once again to our own mortality, and the futility of trying to escape it. What you won’t hear about in the news, on the radio, or in the newspaper is the passing of someone else. A person who lived an unremarkable life by conventional standards, but to those who knew and loved him, he was a most remarkable man.

Leslie Richards was by all accounts an interesting person, loving, devoted, and for lack of a better term, strange. In this world everyone has a drum that they march to. Leslie’s was the quintessential different one. I first met him during rehearsals for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and did not quite know what to make of this funny man with a big voice and a huge stage presence. He was a monster on stage, yet seemed fragile off. He had a big heart and a good sense of humor, but was extremely guarded. Looking back on it now it’s not hard to understand why but at the time he was, to say the least, an enigma.

Unfortunately, because of this Leslie made many bad first impressions. Fortunately once a person really got to know him those impressions were discarded. But because of them he was also misunderstood. He was opinionated and passionate about those things that meant the most to him, namely his views on his faith and family, yet was not above laughing at a well told off color joke. He was a smart-ass sonofabitch who would burn you without you even knowing it. He was subtle in his humor, yet retained a childlike innocence about him that was both endearing and infuriating. His laugh was infectious and his smile warming. He seldom complained about anything.

Yet he had a lot to complain about. His health had never been great. In the short time that I knew him he was admitted to the hospital three times. He was in constant pain and did his best to hide it. Knowing now some of the things that I know about his health problems it is surprising to me that he was able to carry on as well as he did.

I was blessed to work with him on four shows, including what I consider to be his masterpiece, “Veronica’s Room”. In this show he played the illegitimate, incest born, necrophiliac love child of mine and my good friend Jeanine Martin’s characters. As you can imagine this type of role is one that anyone would find uncomfortable with, and this was more than uncomfortable for him. However as with any role that a talented and committed actor is presented with, Leslie overcame his reservations about it and put in a performance that was revolting, touching, and tragic all at once. Those of us involved in that show formed a special bond that has now lost one of its strongest links.

There are few people in this world that can intimidate me by there sheer size but he was one of them. Not that I was afraid of him, nor that I thought he would ever do me harm, but he carried himself, with a quiet nobility that, combined with his physical stature, cut an imposing form. Yet he was one of the most approachable people I have ever known. And the man could sing. His beautiful tenor voice rang with passion, and longing that left me in awe every time I heard it.
There really is not much more that I can say about him. Except that this tragedy is compounded in my heart by two things. First he was too young to go. Leslie was not even out of his 30's when god finished his heavenly mansion and gave him the keys. Second that those in the world outside of this little circle of it that he called home, will never know just what they had and what they have lost.

...And Thank you.

Leslie Jacob Richards
1972 - 2009

Til' We Meet Again

Paul

An Epic Experience

So this weekend saw the end of another play, and I have a few things that I want to say and a couple of pictures to share.

First off Epic Proportions is the stage equivalent to movies such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Kung Pow: Enter the Fist. It is a stupid, predictable, laugh out loud riot of a show that I was both fortunate and unlucky enough to be a part of. This show gave me the chance to do something that I never get to do, be the funny man.

Usually in comedies I play the straight man. This is a combination of both my acting style, which tends to be understated and subtle, and my natural sense of humor. Those who know me can testify that I am nothing if not a smart-ass. But I was given the wonderful gift by our director and my good friend Peter Clapsis, to step outside myself and truly be wacky, zany, and funny. Looking back it was something that I will always cherish because I got the chance to really stretch myself as both and actor and a person. So to Peter I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To my fellow cast mates, I took something away from each and everyone of you that I will hold dear for the rest of my life. Chris, in you I found a kindred spirit who I both respect as an actor and was awed in watching. Jess, I have seen you blossom a lot from the young actress that I met during Veronica's Room. Your sense of urgency and professionalism were an inspiration to me, and your legs ain't half-bad either :p. Juan you are one of the few people whom I have met who not only has a passion for theater equal to mine but also a love of life and questioning of the status-quo. Michael, I have known you for a few years now and I must say that if I did not my life would be less interesting than it is. Lezlee, not only are you extremely talented in dance and acting, but you have a love for life that is inspiring to see. Dalton I have marvelled at your talent for several years and feel as though I was blessed with a glimpse at a true master at work. Mitch, in you I have found a brother. I have only known you for a very short while but feel as though we have lived a lifetime of friendship. Cheryl and Jeanine, you both raise me up to a higher level of consciousness. Barbara, Linda, Carol, and Lauren, I feel truly blessed by God to know you and look forward to being friends for many years to come.

That's pretty much all I have left to say. So I will let the pictures say the rest.

'Til we meet again

Paul

The Crazy Uncle. Every Family Has One.

I was going to make this post a recap of the day my niece was born, but I don't think I could say it any better than my brother already has. Maybe write it better but not say it better. Check out this link if you are interested.

http://www.dutchgirl-irishguy.com/

Then go to the link Grand Rapids has a Skyline.

Much Ado about Awesome!

This weekend marked another milestone in my dramatic endeavours. It was my first time doing a legitimate version of one of Shakespeare's works. Before now the closest I ever got to the "Bard of Stratford on Avon" was in "Kiss Me Kate" which is a musical retelling of "The Taming of the Shrew".



It was an experience that I will never forget. But to truly understand what this weekend meant to me it must be put into perspective. First, if you have ever read Shakespeare then you know how difficult it is. Now imagine sitting down for your first read through with a group of actors you have never met before aside from the director, and reading lines like these.



"Then is courtesy a turncoat, but it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted, and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart for truly I love none."



Or...



"Sir I will meet your wit in the career, and you charge it against me, I pray you choose another subject."



or my personal favorite...



"Against my will I am sent to bid you come to dinner. There's double meaning in that. I took no more pain for those thanks than you took pains to thank me. That's as good as saying any pain you take for me is as good as thanks, if I don't take pity on the lady I am a villain."

Yes it was enough to make my head spin. How in the hell was I going to be able to successfully pull this off. It was very daunting doubly because I was picked to portray Benedick, the male lead. It was most interesting because for weeks I couldn't get through the majority of my lines without tripping over my tongue every third word.

Slowly but surely however, and with the help of some very good friends and talented castmates, I finally was able to get a grip on the meaning of the lines and by extension how they should be said. We put in alot of time and were able to put on a very compelling and entertaining show that will be remembered by all who were apart of it for many years to come. To my castmates I extend my everlasting thanks and congratulations for a job well done and for making me look good on stage as Benedick. There is no way I could have done it without you all.

'Till we meet again,

Paul

Melancholy Baby.

I would like to start this blog post with a thank you to a very special friend of mine who has a true gift for listening. A couple of weeks ago I fell into one of my bouts of melancholy over the fact that I am a 28 year old single man who lives in a town with no apparent romantic options because the average age of the members of the opposite sex is dead. But seriously, those of you who know me can vouch for the fact that for the most part I am a person who enjoys life and is always there to give an encouraging word, laugh with a well told joke, or generally be a good friend. And though I am a confessed realist, I would say that I lean to the side of optimism instead of pessimism.

However, every now and then I look around me and see my friends with their spouses, or girlfriends and wonder to myself, why not me? It depresses me to think that I am a person with a lot of love to give and no one to give it to. Now I love my friends and I am very liberal with the love I have for them but that is a different kind of love. I want to know the kind of love that exists between two people who have become one. The kind that I see when my parents or grandparents look at each other.

The platitudes of it will happen when it happens sound more hollow to me the older that I get and it gets extremely frustrating because for all my bluster and realistic philosophy the truth of the matter is, I am a hopeless romantic at heart. I know that I am probably making more out of this than there actually is but this is how I feel sometimes, and I am not one who usually verbalizes feelings like this because of my masculine conditioning of internalizing such feelings.

Anyway I really just needed to vent. To my good friend again I say thank you for being able to listen to me when I do externalize these feelings and to all my other friends who read this blog, I am sorry I have not trusted you enough to tell you these things before. Hopefully you won't think less of me.

'Til we meet again.

Paul