Last week I met my friend Mike Dugan in downtown Los Angeles to see his new place.  It only cost him $5,000 and it is literally - to die for!  He calls it his "Downtown Condo" and it's located on the corner of Temple & Grande directly across from the Frank Gehry designed, Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Who said there's no more real estate deals to be had in Los Angeles?  Apparently there are but only for those who can really accept the unavoidable reality that one day this life will come to an end.  Why is that?  Because they are located in the mausoleum of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels.  It's true, just like my friend Mike, you too can be entombed in the cellar of the Cathedral for as little as $5,000. 

All kidding aside I appreciate Mike's new "condo" because it ironically relieves my fear of death.  And this is good news because as long as I can remember I had a terrible fear of death.  As an mere eight-year-old I was overly concerned about being drafted to the Vietnam War hoping that day would never come.  Too scared to let anyone know I was afraid, I kept it to myself.  Big mistake.  I am sure if I confided in someone else I would have been relieved to discover I wasn't the only one who was afraid of death.

Death may be inevitable but the fear of it doesn't have to be constantly lingering in the shadows.  My friend Mike is a living example that the acceptance of death adds joy to living.  I have found acceptance by changing my perception of death.  Looking at it as a part of life and not the end of it.  I also throw in that, "It can't be that bad if it's the one thing, other than being born, that we ALL have in common."  Honestly, I still get a little creep-ed out every time I fill-out paper work when I go in for simple procedure at the hospital when it refers to power of attorney and how to divvy up my organs.  In cases like these I find just diving right in and signing without too much thought (or reading) frees my spirit of unnecessary worry. 

Accepting this fact of death rather than fearing it, trying to avoid thinking about it, or denying it, helps me appreciate every moment and everybody in my life to the fullest.  In this healthy frame of mind strangers become fellow travelers and allowing someone ahead of me in traffic is a pleasure instead of an irritating obligation.  Acceptance of death has the unlikely effect of adding life to our lives.

Here is a comforting read from the book, Around the Year with Emmet Fox, that Mike Dugan gave me over 25 years ago and that I still read from each morning.  Enjoy.

"WHY WORRY?

Nothing is really worth worrying about. Nothing is really worth getting angry or hurt or bitter about. Positively nothing is worth losing your peace of mind over.

These important truths follow logically upon the following fact: You are going to live forever - somewhere. This means that there is plenty of time to get things right again if they have gone wrong. No matter what mistake you may have made, enough prayer will overtake it and cancel it. If those you love seem to be acting foolishly, you can help them with prayer to be wiser, and, meanwhile, if they suffer, it means that kindly nature is teaching the a lesson that they need to learn.

But suppose something awful should happen? Well, what then? Suppose you lost everything and landed in the poorhouse. What then? Think what a wonderful demonstration you could make there, and you would probably learn several valuable lessons there, and, anyway, it would be quite interesting. Suppose the whole universe blew up. What then? When the dust settles, God will still be in business and you will be alive somewhere, ready to carry on."

-From Around the Year with Emmet Fox, daily reading for November 21st.

Last night on Hollywood Blvd., me and my sidekick, Ed Biagiotti, were lucky enough to learn a thing or two from the epitome of 1970's cool: Telly Savalas.  With his trademark line from the hit ABC New York cop drama, Kojak, "Who loves you, baby?" Savalas gave it to us straight.  Well honestly, Telly Savalas is dead, but lucky for us he has been given the opportunity to come down from the heavens and give the paternal advice I assume God feels we all need.

Telly Savalas has been granted a limited time to come down and spread his message on what's amiss in today's world and tips on how we can set things right.  But because, as he puts it, "I don't have the pull I used to."  The only venue he could nail down was a mere forty minutes at the iO West Lounge.  This didn't seem to discourage Mr. Savalas, "I could make forty minutes purr."  And he did as he proceeded to enlighten, entertain and most importantly school us in the art of love, passion, and first-class no-nonsense masculinity.

"Telly's back so be good for teacher." as Mr. Savalas puts it so aptly.

Savalas reminded me of everything I miss about guys like him.  He didn't preach, he won me over with style and charm.  It was what we all craved; that "hit you right between the eyes" type of fatherly advice that soon after the sting wore off you appreciated.  But before I had the chance to thank him, he was gone.  Back to heaven with the rest of the gang that I am sure includes, Sinatra, John Cassavetes, Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Peter Falk and of course his beloved brother George Savalas (who made a brief appearance last night too).

Although I am sad he couldn't be around with us longer I do have good news for all my close friends.  As I drifted off to sleep my father's ghost seemed to whisper in my ear, "Hey, I hope some of that stuff Telly laid down sunk in, but just in case it didn't he'll be back one last time, same place tomorrow night, Sunday, June 26th, at 8pm.  Make sure those candy-asses you call your friends don't miss it, I'm sure they'll be glad you twisted their arm.  Oh and one more thing before I take off, I'm proud of ya kid, you did good."

Go see “Who Loves You, Baby?,” at the iO West, 6366 Hollywood Boulevard, a salute to a time gone by starring Tom DiMenna as Telly Savalas. The iconic, “Kojak,” has come back from the grave to give the hipsters of today a good kick in the pants, reminding them of the lessons of love their fathers forgot to teach them. Tom DiMenna transforms into a pitch-perfect impression of that iconic symbol of unflinching 70’s masculinity. Directed by Taylor Negron. Starring Tom DiMenna. Written by Hunter Nelson.  www.TellySavalasLive.com

This special engagement is part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
Don't miss this (last) chance of a lifetime, Sunday, June 26th at 8pm at iO West, 6366 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA, 90028.  Tickets $10.
Click here for tickets or you can purchase at the door.

BTW, I am not writing this because I got free tickets, aka "industry comps" as a bribe.  No, I paid full price and would gladly do it again.  But for those who aren't as much a gambler as I and would prefer the odds stacked a little more in their favor then I suggest you "Like" the "Telly Savalas Live" facebook fanpage which entitles you to special VIP discount $5 tickets!  Click here to "Like" and get your discount tickets for tomorrow's performance.

*(Previously) unknown fact; Darrell Fusaro's wife is a Roller Derby queen. 

It's true.  The hits just keep on coming and this is the latest.  At the early age of just forty-two, Lori Fusaro decided she wanted to be a member of the Angel City Derby Girls when she grew-up.  Just a few short months later and she's training as a new recruit, has new friends and discovering talent and ability that she never knew she possessed.  Proving it's never too late to try something new.  Joy in life comes from discovering we're capable of far more than we ever imagined.  When you feel inspired to try something new, the key is to leap before you look.  Once you do the Universe will conspire on your behalf.

So, what would you do if you knew it were impossible to fail?  Give it a shot, you'll have the time of your life and will ignite the enthusiasm in others.