Of all things related to Christmas the lights have always been my greatest fascination.  Even in kindergarten I knew how to repair the series lights on our little tree. In 1967 General Electric issued a brief news release of Christmas lighting history that was published by a small Nebraska magazine.  It officially began my collecting passion and I began knocking on elderly homeowners' doors to see if they had any old bulbs.  I also pestered the miniature lighting departments at GE and Westinghouse with endless quesstions. Two years later (at age 14!) that same magazine published an article about my collection which lead me to another collector, Gil Kaufman.  Our friendship and interests eventually lead to our self-published book, The History and Catalog of Electric Christmas Light Bulbs in 1978. With correspondence from other collectors I began thinking of forming a club.  So in June, 1980, a handful of people became members of The Golden Glow of Christmas Past and received a crude newsletter typed and photocopied at my office (after hours!).  One year later members Diane and Bob Kubicki hosted our first get-together in their dusty bee-infested barn near Dayton, Ohio; 23 people attended.   Today's GLOW has come quite a distance from those early days of innocence and charm.  About 1,200 members around the country (and world) now receive a newsletter that is professionally assembled with color photographs and articles on a wide variety of Christmas antiques.  A Board of Directors governs policies and convention are held in large hotels to accomodate 650+ people.   Now that The GLOW is over 25 years old, I sense us growing "apart" and I feel a little abandoned by its need for independence from its Founder.  However, The GLOW will always be something I'm profoundly proud to have started.  It has connected hundreds of people interested in Christmas antiques and formed countless friendships (hopefully based on the Christmas Spirit) among people who would not otherwise have ever met each other (and how can I type this without getting goose-bumps?).  Many of these people I cherish as my second family and life-time friends. Link to THE GOLDEN GLOW OF CHRISTMAS PAST
Link to Insulin Pump information	Career-wise I don't have a whole lot to brag on.  I attended a tiny business school in Colorado which helped me in various bookkeeping occupations from clerical to banking.  In 1994 an early mid-life crisis lead to a career in cake decorating (!) where I became head decorator for wedding and specialty cakes at an Italian bakery catering to the banquet industry.  However, they offered NO benefits.  To acquire necessary health insurance I returned to office-type work at a not-for-profit apartment referral service in nearby Oak Park.   The health insurance was crucial to assist in my diabetes.  I was diagnosed in 1989 as Type 2.  Had I educated myself more fully I probably would still be on oral medication.  However, things progressed and I ended up needing frequent insulin shots.  Now my life depends upon an insulin pump (that I have named Elf).  He delivers necessary insulin via a tiny hose embedded under my skin (which I change every three days) based upon carbohydrate intake and current blood glucose readings (involving harpooning sore fingers about 12-15 times per day).  Diabetes is so very complicated, trying to strike a balance between avoiding carbohydrates (ice cream, fruit, ice cream, cookies, ice cream, pasta, or ice cream!) and needing them now.
Link to local Gay/Lesbian organization	And, yes, as a matter of fact I am gay (though you most likely guessed that already!).  I'm grateful to write that I'm recently attached (January, 2007, thanks to much hard work via my Guardian Angel!) to a good elf (who is occasionally bad.....) known as Bob the Keeper.  He is spoiling me rotten.  (I'm grateful for every moment.)  THANK YOU for taking time to read over my web page.  I appreciate your time and hope that you found some of your own forgotten childhood Christmas memories that you've not thought of for years.  Best wishes, and Merry Christmas, no matter what the date on the calendar.

You are welcome to e-mail me at the address below:

xmashouse@earthlink.net