I
wrote the beginning 3 or 4 paragraphs of this as an email to my older kids in
2001:
When I was in the 4th grade, a
new kid moved to town and into my school. His name was Mike Mund. He was a little
guy who never grew to be more then 5’6” I think, and he was my best friend for
most of my early years, at least through 10th or 11th
grade. We graduated from the same high school and were in the same high school
fraternity. He went to Antioch, and I only saw him sometimes, as his parents
had moved to near Johns Hopkins University. He stopped by (the last time I saw
him) to invite us to his wedding, but we didn’t attend as Mom was pregnant and
it was a very far ride that we didn’t want to make. I hadn’t seen him much for
a few years before that, as he was living in Europe or something exotic. His
wife went on that show about the waitresses in a hotel in Los Angeles where she
was one of the waitresses, Barry Youngfellow. He had graduated Antioch and went
on to Graduate School in Theater.
In 1976 or so I ran into a mutual friend
who told me Mike had changed his name, gone to law school, become a lawyer and
worked for Melvin Belli in San Francisco and was moving to Hawaii,
This week (2001), with the Internet, I
found him! We’ve had a few great
interchanges, and it’s great to find old friends. I do know all this has to do
with all of my old friends and my all turning 60 soon. I know when all of them
turn, as we’ve all discussed it. He did change his name (his middle name was
Youngfellow which was a secret that only his parents and I knew) and
Youngfellow was now was his last name. He was an attorney, having left the
theater. (He was a really good child actor, which was when I saw him perform.)
He did work for Melvin Belli (a law folk hero sort of) and had moved to Hawaii.
The “rest of the story” is one of a great
practice, some problems, redemption, resurrection, a return to the world with
the help of some intervention, several marriages, retirement to bicycle through
Europe and continuing retirement for 6 more years. He now sells real estate in
California and lives in a cabin with his dog. He is a skier and snowboarder.
I love this story! It’s really interesting
to find out what happens. I can’t imagine who will pop up next!
About
2005:
Later, he took a trip to Thailand, and loved it! He
framed his return ticket, and bought a condo, he sent me photos. He talked
about planning a new marriage and was delighted in his new life.
He said, I was married about six months ago in a
Thai ceremony. It was my fourth and definitely the best marriage I’ve ever had!
I just went along for the incredible ride. I definitely prefer not
understanding a word or a thing that’s going on!!! I did understand that this
beautiful, magnificent woman was actually hooking up with me., for life. And a
few days later, after a short honeymoon, we went off to amphur and signed on
the dotted line. I’ll send you my Yahoo Photos Wedding Album (never received)
From
the Ex Pats, Chiang Mai Thailand Newsletter in October, 2006:
It’s hard to believe that a whole year has
passed since CEC’s first meeting. We started with a small space above the Art
Cafe with 35 people attending. Here we were in the Grand Ballroom of the Chiang
Mai Orchid Hotel with well over 200 people in attendance. What a year it has
been – many growing pains, with many new friends made, a few exchanges of
differences, and a whole lot of learning. We couldn’t have done it without our
volunteers and our constantly growing number of attendees. Almost everyone with
whom we were in touch contributed to the success in one way or another.
Chiang Mai Expat’s Club President &
Founder, Jim Cox cuts the club’s First Birthday Cake…
Jim became more somber as he read a letter
from a friend of a former board member, Michael Youngfellow, who died in a
bicycle accident 2 weeks ago. He asked for a moment of silent respect.
I
have since communicated with his wife to express my condolences and my personal
grief. Life sure throws us some funny curves.
I knew Michael Youngfellow when we were both young attorneys in Melvin Belli's office -- think 1970s --- Michael was always fun to be with. He attended a course on trial law and imparted some important information I have used throughout my legal career. It had to do with where you stand in the courtroom --- based upon his knowledge of theater. Never met his wife Barre, but recalled she was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years passed and I was having a drink at the Royal Hawaiian (I was already a member of the Hawaii bar by this time) and who should wander through, but Michael Youngfellow --- he had just come from taking the Hawaii bar. We had a good time and promised to stay in touch, but it did not happen.
I dated Michael when he lived in Sausalito and worked for Melvin Belli during the Watergate years, which fascinated him, and wondered over the decades what had happened to him.
ReplyDeleteHe ended our relationship rather inelegantly and then disappeared entirely. I felt then as now that he was searching for something I could not and still cannot name. But during that time, I lived fully and completely, and I loved him.
Nothing he was or did was small.
I would like to think his search ended in his lifetime, and if not, then surely now so far from home.