ABOUT RICK BASSMAN

I oftentimes don’t know if I’m coming or I’m going, but I can tell you this…I’m dead set on living…living hard, living good, living fun, living committed….or I’ll damned-well do my best to die trying. I’m sure many people would think it would be cool to be called a “contradiction in terms”, or ”an enigma.” I’ve heard it many time in reference to myself, and think it all the time, but I’m not so sure it’s cool….at all. It means that even in my world-weariest moments, I just haven’t grown up. When I think these thoughts, I like the idea of finding even-keel; maybe even “settling down.” Then just as quickly, I love the idea of moving to Alaska to train for the Iditarod, or to the North Shore of Oahu to chase big waves, or to the forest of Oregon to learn the art of lumberjacking (tried that one and believe me when I tell you, I wasn’t so good at chopping down trees).…Life can change for me that quickly, and often has.

Contradiction in terms. Juxatoposition. In just about all things…

I’m just as apt to dig a bullet out of my belly as I am to cry at a ridiculous love story.

I don’t watch TV. (well, at least since Steve Carell left “The Office.”) I wouldn’t recognize Snooki or The Situation if I ran their asses over in my beat-to-hell 4×4. While the world sits on their collective asses playing video games, watching bad porn or watching the umpteenth spinoff of the ridiculous “Housewives” franchise, I’m outside DOING SOMETHING.

I am the first to jump to defend the weak. With action. But hell, I’ll even help the privileged, if they suddenly find themselves a victim of a pearl-jacking.

My best friends are career criminals. And spiritualists. And quick-on-the-trigger, hard-drinking street brawlers. And business leaders. And environmentalists/conservations. Illiterates. Prolific authors. They all have one thing in common. They are good people. Good, good people.

My table manners suck, and if Mr. or Mrs. Manners doesn’t like it, then let’s debate the fine art of literature. Or Theatre. Or what’s happening environmentally.

Obstacles are placed before us to be overcome. Disease to beget greater health. And enemies to be made into friends. CONFIDENCE. FORGIVENESS. LOVE.

I’d like to say that I live my life without FEAR. But that’s not true. I have an inordinate concern about something bad happening to Ramone and GoGo, my beloved dog babies. Once I learn to deal with this, then I will truly be free. In the meantime, all else be damned.

God made me short. And funny-looking. And bald. And now he has made me old. And I swear to this gracious God, who has given me life after life after life, I will do all I can with this precious gift that continues to give. Limits and all. Because…at the end of the day…I truly believe that our ONLY limits are the ones we place on ourselves.

Life: [ lahyf ], plural lives [ lahyvz ], adjective, noun

1. the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.

2. the sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, especially metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment.

3. the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one’s life; a short life and a merry one.

See what my famous buddies have to say about me…