Moving to Philadelphia and beginning studies at Temple University. Temple was the incubator where I was reborn, from being a defenseless country kid to a citified, mature man.

I would say, “Don’t worry about what people say about you. Love and value yourself. You don’t need them in your life. Get out of that situation as fast as possible.”

Humility helps, knowing that you don’t know everything, and delegating jobs to people who know about it.

I’m here, haters!

That would be Fred Stefon, an associate professor at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. He saw potential in me that I didn’t know I had. I have another mentor, Harry Hyde Jr., who helped me get my feet wet in community activism.

Pretty much so. Since last year, I had my rough spots, but I had some serious blessings I’m grateful for.

I just finished on-line acting classes from Aikan Performing Arts, and I did pretty well. I will take more starting the New Year.

In March 2025, I was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Dirty Frank’s, my favorite bar, on 13th and Pune in Philadelphia. Those are my people, my tribe I’m in.

Their ability to do good for their communities, their ability to stand up for themselves and their communities.

My favorite cartoon, since I was a kid and still is, is Charles Schultz’ Peanuts. I followed the whole crew, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, etc. I read all of Charlie Brown’s travails; when I was a kid, it was like I WAS Charlie Brown.