Friday, February 25, 2011

I'm dedicating this blog to my late and dear friend...Frederick Q Bass.

frederick q bass: memories last a lifetime, give or take

Frederick Q Bass was born into a poor immigrant family on the cold dark night of February 29, 1973. His father was a rodeo clown while his mother excelled as a professional hypochondriac. Fred spent much of his early life escaping the hard chores of rodeo life by reading Harlequin Romance novels that he personally translated into his native tongue of Wendish. He never allowed his inability to speak or read English to prevent him from excelling in school. He once remarked to me that his proudest moment was when he graduated from college. Unfortunatly, neither of his parents could be there as his father had recently been gored, and his mother had taken ill. Despite these family tragedies he carried on and soon had a succesful career as cheif editor of Pennsylvania's popular Wendish language magazine Der Elsass-Sorbia Konnection. It was at this time that Fred made his first forays into politics. But alas tragedy struck again and he was forced to resign in order to take care of his ailing mother. His mother passed away just days after Fred's twenty-fifth birthday, but avoided burial by staging an incredible recovery. Fred was devasted, momentarily, and soon took to drinking. His friends, including myself, attempted numerous interventions, but he was never able to completely wean himself from the soothing relief of No-Doze and Sam Adams (an incidious combination he liked to call the Insomniatic Patriot). Despite the addiction and his stressful relationship with his on-again, off-again mother, Fred was able to find continued success in the magazine business. February of 2000 saw the successful launch of Celebrities and You Journal magazine. Tapping into the Oscar Buzz, Fred had found his calling. His insightful pieces delighted readers and stroked the egos of many fading stars. It was at this time that Fred and I began to grow apart. By 2002 our friendship was over and his relationship with his once again departed mother was severly strained. His tragic death, like Sharon Stone's career, went unnoticed by the press. Yet, I still remember our time together in college and at rodeos accross the country as the happiest times of my life. His mother, though, took the tragedy exceptionally badly and soon passed away. I visit her on Sunday afternoons and we reminisce about the good times we had with her wonderful son. Frederick Q Bass was and will always be my dear friend...FQB.
It's alive!!

Once again I am trying to revive my blogging. So far I have been very unsuccessful.

We shall see what becomes of this new effort. Stay tuned.