However, there were some good times to occur. After a brief interlude with a "Dolly", Kathy came into my life. But even there, would be some controversy - and sadly, an end. An acquaintance (David Schriner) I knew from my ARE/Edgar Cayce days would try to stick me with a couple of women - however, they would not be my type anyway. I didn't ask him to be my 'wingman', he decided to pick the women I'd know - his mannerisms suggested he was a closeted "gay", who was a little jealous of straight guys having relationships - that, and he was a bit of a mama's boy - mom was really domineering.

David was going with a young lady named Denise, who had Cerebral Palsy. She was a nice girl, and most likely felt 'gay' Dave would be the best she would ever have, boyfriendwise. It was sad, really. David would escort her around in his Plymouth Satellite that his mom gave him - but to David, it was just having someone on his arm. His mother and father were studies in themselves. Dad had a girlfriend named Bonnie who worked for Society National Bank in downtown Cleveland at their corporate offices. Bonnie was a nice individual, but kind of a loner. Mom had a boyfriend who did the things Dave's father could no longer do in the bedroom. All four knew of the other. Dave's father had been a heavy smoker, and eventually succumbed to emphysema. In his better days he had been a very successful plumber owning a block of retail rental space on West 25th Street. The family owned a very nice ranch house in Seven Hills. Mr. and Mrs. Schriener were obviously staying together out of utility - a divorce would force both in lesser digs, and David's dad was on his last legs anyway!

One of the women David would connect me up with on a blind date was developmentally disabled. I never took her out, but went to a Halloween party to meet her. It was a costume affair and I went as Noah in my beloved 1965 Chevy Malibu Convertible. It was a warm late afternoon, so I had the top down. I was low on gas, and decided to stop at a gas station in full dress. I must have been a sight for the attendant - white hair and long flowing beard, dressed in a blue toga. I was in a humorous mood and asked a very nervous cashier whether there was any rain in the forecast for that evening. Personally, I didn't know I was that convincing?-) The party was being held at my dates' parents house, a nice brick home on Pleasant Valley Road in Parma. The parents treated me very nicely, a little too nicely. Her father and stepmother were trying to get her "married-off", and in fact, that's where the conversation went - that spooked me! At the end of the party, David took me aside and asked what I thought of her? I told David I would speak with him the next afternoon. The next day I called him and said, "Look Dave, I really don't think we're compatible - and that will be the last time I see her!"

Bonnie was a member of our ARE TM group, and I knew she was close friends with the Schriner's. But David was still dating the woman with CP, Denise, and so now David decided to hook me up with Bonnie for New Year's Eve. I was more comfortable with Bonnie, so I thought it would be okay. That afternoon I picked-up Bonnie at her Cleveland Heights apartment, and we headed to the party being held at a closed pizza shop in Broadview Heights. Denise's parents were there, along with David's mother. David had thankfully taken his own car with his date. I decided it was best to stay sober that night - there were heavy snows, and the winds were howling. Denise's parents were pretty well on the way to Kentucky Bourbon land as we drifted towards midnight and New Years - and David remained pretty sober as well. As the evening was drawing to a close, David was pestering about riding with me to take Bonnie home. I told him he had a date to get safely home - and maybe he should drive Denise's parents home as well. Inside I was saying "not tonight David, you are on your own!" However, David started to plea with Bonnie as well - and she asked me to take David and drop him off first. I was really not happy with the idea, but I didn't want to be a wet blanket - all I could do is feel sorry for Denise to go home with her parents - and me, ending up with gay Dave in the back seat of my convertible. It would not be the romantic evening I had hoped for! It would just get worse. On the way back to Dave's, he would lean forward whining about how bad the weather was, and that maybe Bonnie would be better spending the evening with him - sans me of course. Inside I was fuming, but said nothing. Bonnie finally said, maybe it was better if she did stay overnight with Dave. Of course, I was not invited to do the same! As I dropped them off and drove off by my cold and lonely self - all I could think was what a shitty way to start off the New Year - my date ending up with a %#@*% fag! #@*%

At one of our meetings at Mona Forysteks' house, David invited a guest, her name was Dolly. Dolly was not a bad-looking woman - a little reserved - but that was to be expected as she joined us for the first time. Dolly dressed nicely, (but a little 'over-the-top' in the makeup department) and she followed along with the coursework. David would introduce us after the meeting, and then ask that I take her home. Let's admit it, I was at an age where my sexual hormones were running overtime - but so were Dolly's! We went back to her place, had tea, started to neck, and the rest is history. I didn't look at Dolly as a possible marriage-mate - but both of us performed a need for each other. So, we'd go out to dinners and movies on occasion - and yes, we had sex!

Dolly lived the in bottom unit of a ramshackle two-family house on Cleveland's Near West Side. The place was heated by gas space heaters - and Dolly had put sheets as doors between the rooms. One bad habit was tying a lower portion of the sheet to the inlet pipe of one of the space heaters - I'm glad she lived on the lower floor. Dolly also had cats - and they didn't always use a litter box - one even took a dump on her kitchen stove. Another time Dolly had unexpected company. Her landlord was in the process of selling the house, and asked Dolly to allow potential buyers to look over the unit at the last minute. I was in bed and knew I wouldn't be dressed in time - so I quickly pulled the covers over my head and laid very still. Its all I could do. They looked around the house and into the bedroom I occupied, and left. Dolly then came back in and we continued where we left off. Dolly would be the last woman Dave would ever talk me into seeing. Also I felt the relationship would end up going nowhere, and planned to taper it off. I really was looking for a relationship beyond sex.

While this was going on, I got a strange call one day from a woman I never met. She told me Dolly was jealous I had met (I hadn't) someone else - and if Dolly couldn't have me, Dolly would make sure no one else could either. It was a chilling call - and I took it very serious! What the voice on the other end would tell me is Dolly would wait until I was in the bathtub, and would then pitch in a 'plugged-in' toaster! I called Dolly and told her it was better for us to end the relationship.

A few days later, this mysterious voice called back and introduced herself as 'Suzy' and asked if I'd like to meet her?  Still a little 'toaster-shy', I reluctantly agreed to have coffee at her place. Suzy was a very rotund lady with balding red hair - looked like she spent too much time with a curling iron! She wanted to introduce me to a friend who had three kids and lived in an old mansion in Wickcliffe. A little hard to believe about the mansion part - but I decided to go along. She said Kathy was divorced and living with a friend who had his own 'Century Realtor' franchise. It was a little exciting to think about - after all, I had been in only a few mansions - and one that was built in the late 1800's sounded intriguing indeed!

Pulling onto Ridge Road in Wickcliffe we passed large homes mixed-in with commerce. Finally, Suzi said "pull-in here", and the site of the stately old Mansion with a tower house next to it on a hill loomed before us, I felt like I was stepping back into another era. The place was really large! Kathy was there by herself, the kids were with their aunt that weekend. So Kathy, Suzi and I got acquainted over coffee as we talked about the mansion and her life - and I explained what I did in the radio business. Kathy was about my height, and very attractive - and I'm not too bashful to say, I was really turned-on...then again, so was Kathy - the electrified feeling was bouncing off the walls between the both of us! It was really strong! While Suzy continued drinking coffee in the servants' kitchen, Kathy showed me around the three floors of the mansion - including the dugout basement. Kathy then introduced me to two older gentlemen, Jim and Marvin, she shared the estate with - Marvin who worked for Bailey Controls as an engineer, and Jim who was a retired business executive who had two young daughters who lived with their mother. According to Kathy's daughter Margaret, Marvin tended to be a bit of a pervert with a drinking problem. Each had their own large room with a fireplace, a kitchenette and a bathroom. The owner - a Robert Caldwell - had an area for himself off the huge living room. Kathy rented the servant's quarters along with three bedrooms, kitchen and a library with a large fireplace that served as her living room. As it got into the night, Kathy and I kissed and slipped each other our phone numbers. Electricity continued to crackle between us. And we both agreed, our next visit would be sans-Suzie!

As we pulled-out of the long drive, all I could talk about was Kathy - I was that excited! Suzy let me know she was there too! However, I was floating on Kathy all the way home - I didn't even remember dropping off Suzi Lee at her place. Soon as I was back home, I called Kathy and we talked late into the night!

Meeting Margaret, George Jr. and Karl the first time was with trepidation on all parts - her kids were not sure what to make of me, and I was uncertain how the kids would feel about me. So, we chatted a little, played ball, and talked some more. One thing I noticed were child sexual abuse pamphlets on the end tables in the library/living room. And I began to realize kids have seen and experienced some pretty bad stuff in their young lives. I could relate to physical and mental abuse from my own childhood. Margaret was the oldest at eight years-old - she was very studious and generally quiet. Yet her eyes said she'd been through quite a bit. Her later behaviors would say a lot. George Jr. was active and could be mischievous towards his younger brother, Karl. Like the other two, George Jr. had been a victim - and had his own way in reacting to the implications of a dysfunctional household. Karl, well, young master Karl was a typical two year-old - he liked throwing golf balls into toilets, and as Kathy would call it, going through the "terrible two's" stage.

You have to understand, I had not planned to be a biological father to begin with. I didn't want to pass down to future offspring my malady of Vitamin D Resistant Rickets that had been passed onto me by my mother. If it affected her - affected me and my brothers - well, there was a pattern here. Yet at the same time, I really wanted to be a dad. It didn't have to be biological for me to be a father. Initially, I was afraid my children would have the same problems as I. And I really didn't want them to undergo the same rejection I had witnessed during my youth. I was also very cognizant about what they could expect as adults, no matter how smart they were. I had not had a fun childhood with this 'rickets' thing! And even in the adult world it wasn't easy!

I took Kathy and the kids with us to different places, we even visited with my cousin Kevin and his wife Pat. Unfortunately, George Jr. could be a handful - it wasn't the best first meeting it could have been. But then, with what Kathy's three kids went through, I was quickly learning it would take some patience to work with them. George Jr. as I was finding out, could be a little rough at times. At one point, he had broken Karl's arm...gee, I wonder where he picked-up that kind of behavior from? George would spend a lot of time in juvenile hall over his youth. He had taken on the role of the aggressor as had my older brother Dan towards me. I could recognize the behavior and feel sorry for Karl. He would be in for a rough ride of his own before he could defend himself.

Margaret was a quiet individual for the most part, but she was very intelligent. I got along well with her and we built a lot of trust between us. She had two older brothers that she dearly missed. Her world was turned upside-down when her brothers were removed from her life. They were her protectors, and now they were gone. Her two older brothers were from Kathy's first husband, from what I understand, a Jewish businessman. In Kathy's divorce, she gain custody of her older sons, and they ended up living with George and Kathy on Aspinwall Avenue in a dingy dilapidated house on Cleveland's East Side. How did I know the place was dilapidated? I unfortunately had been there one time...more on that in a little bit!

George Sr. was making Kathy's kids from her previous husband's life hell. They were badly punished and ordered out into the cold. The two boys father legally wrestled custody from Kathy in order to save them from the brutality they were subjected to from George. Having seen George's demeanor first hand and the effects on his own biological children, I could only begin to imagine how he treated Kathy's kids from her first husband. Hearing this saddened me, and made me wonder what the attraction was with George in the first place? Here's the thing, if you get involved with someone who has had children from a previous relationship, you don't treat them like 'bastard' baggage - they should be considered equal as any children you two would have together. George didn't think this way - George was only thinking of George - period! Kathy was crestfallen that she had lost contact with her two oldest son's. It hurt a lot, but the damage had been done.

When Margaret got upset about something, she'd go and hide - it was her only defense - and even if it rarely worked, she couldn't think of anything else that was better. The first time her mother and her had a little disagreement while I was there (i can't remember what it was, save it wasn't serious), she went upstairs to the servants' bathroom and locked the door. Kathy went up after her, but Margaret was not in the mood to let even her own mother in. She was scared! Over what? I would never find out. Kathy asked me to talk with her. I went up the stairs and stood by the door for a little bit. I realized she was upset about something, and I had no intentions of upsetting her more - my feelings were whatever she went through in the past, were more than any child should have to go through. I had a lot of respect for Margaret - still do, no matter wherever she is now. (Update: Margaret is happily married with two beautiful well-adjusted daughters and a great husband - I'm very happy for her, her husband and their children...there is a happy ending for Margaret, and I'm greatly relieved to know about it!-)

I finally knocked on the door, letting her know it was me. "Margaret, I don't know what upset you this much, and whatever it was, I'm sorry. When you are ready, I'd like you to open the door to let me and your mother know you are okay...whenever you are ready, I'll be here...you call the shots", and I waited. About fifteen minutes later, Margaret opened the door, and made a beeline under the sink, cowering underneath - something told me this happened before, and the results were not very nice - she was terrified! I decided it was best to not get any closer. So I sat on the floor at the other end of the bathroom and we just looked at each other. Next to me, I spotted a child's toy ring. And I decided to gently kick it towards her with my finger. After a while when she saw I wouldn't come any closer, she got comfortable, and flicked it back to me. I immediately kicked it back in her direction. Being under the sink was her fort, and I understood that - and would honor her space. There was nothing I could say at that point to make her feel better - I'm sure she had heard all the words before - and I was not going to add to them. Margaret had been through more than enough. So, for at least a half hour we flicked the little toy ring between us both, and she began to break out with a smile, and later a laugh - whatever dark cloud was over her, it was now past. Finally, I said, "I guess you're okay. I'm going back downstairs - I think dinner is close to being ready - join us when you feel up to it, okay, Margaret?" About ten minutes later, Margaret indeed did join us.

Margaret, George Jr., Karl and I were gelling nicely. They knew I didn't show anger, and was not a threatening presence in their lives. They also were not afraid to talk with me about the issues each had. We made it through the transition from being strangers to being friends. It was not easy, but I had a lot of patience - and I didn't yell, nor hit. Well, except on one occasion, And in the end, I felt a little guilty...and still do these many decades later. Margaret was sick in bed and her mom and I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up her prescription. We left George Jr. to watch over her older sister. We thought it best to take Karl with us to keep the two out of mischief. Karl was at the age when anything he saw in a store was potentially his. We barely had enough money to get Margaret's prescriptions. Kathy was busy with the pharmacist, so I watched over Karl who went into a whine - "I want this, get me this" I told Karl I couldn't afford to buy anything now, and neither could his mother. Karl then put up a tantrum - and I kept trying to reason with him. However, Karl was tired and cranky - and two going on three years-old...and he simply didn't understand what money was - and how hard it was to come by. Finally, my patience was wearing thin, and Kathy told me to swat him if my reasoning with him didn't work. I really, REALLY, didn't want to do that! So I kept begging him to quiet down, telling him as soon as the medicine was processed we'd head back home. I tried explaining to him why I couldn't get everything he wanted - but it was what HE wanted that counted! Kathy was busy with the pharmacist - so I was on my own. "Please Karl, please, I beg of you to settle down! If you don't, you'll force me to swat you - and I really don't want to do that!"  "Come-on Karl, please!" Karl was actually a pretty good toddler for the most part, this just wasn't his best moment - and it wasn't my good moment either. Finally, I told Karl if he didn't settle down, I would have to swat him...I begged him to quiet down, but Karl was busy testing my patience. So I told Karl he was leaving me no other choice (inside I was dying), and to bend over my knee. I felt sick at that moment, knowing what I had to do next! I looked him in the eye, and said, "I'm sorry Karl", and I swatted him. The fact that I followed through on my course of action, surprised him, and we both fell silent. Even then, on the inside, I felt I had failed. It had always been my desire to never yell, threaten and swat a child...and here I just did! That hurt me more than the momentary shock Karl felt. As I said, to this day, I still feel bad it ever happened at all. We got back into the car, and Karl reached over and hugged me, saying "I love you!", life went on from there, and there was nothing more to be said - we became even greater friends after that. I imagine even as young as Karl was, that what happened bothered me even more than it did him. Guilt, I know ye name!

Things as usual were bustling at WERE Newsradio 1300 AM. My day would start at 5 in the morning as I rolled out of bed, shaved, and ate an impromptu breakfast. I'd climb into my beige 1972 Hornet Sportabout Station Wagon and make my way to East 15th and Chester. First was grabbing a station car and driving by the Wall Street Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland Press picking up the bulldog editions hot off the presses, heading back to the studio where each of us would grab parts of the papers seeing what had been making news overnight. I'd settle into my studio-office off the newsroom and start monitoring the Regency police scanners, both for traffic information - and for calls that might turn into a major news story. It was common for both the print and broadcast medias to feed off each other for information. I'd then put on my headset and key the microphone to make sure our traffic 'copter made it into the air.

We would huddle at the beginning of the shift to discuss how the day might go, based on the stories of the previous day, and how they might spill over into the present. Then we went to our various stations working on what we knew, but a willingness to break away from routine when a major story broke. The media was never a '9 to 5' job - and being under contract, our pay was the same no matter how long or short our day went. Sometimes we'd end up putting in a fifteen hour shift - other times we would not make it home for two days. We had a set number of people to work with, we had a news format, and we had a dedicated team. If a story broke near the end of our theoretical shift, anybody who left before it was covered was not considered part of the team - we were an ensemble in the best term of the word! ...and we had to maintain or better our ratings. Newsradio itself was budget intensive!

About a few months after we met, Kathy had the urge to go back to her ex-husband's house to pick up a few items she wanted. Personally, I felt that was a really bad idea that was just inviting trouble. Part of Kathy's reasoning is she wanted to show me what conditions her kids and herself had to live under. Believe me, I was more than willing to take her word for it. George didn't know where she was living, and I felt that was the best course of action. I warned her if she went back, that even if we didn't run into George personally, his neighbors might notice, and might get a little too nosey. I said whatever she left, we could most likely replace. However, Kathy was adamant about going over there, and if I really loved her (i did), I'd go with her. So, off we went to Aspinwall in a dangerous area of town on a winter's day. To say I was nervous about the whole thing was well underestimated - I was scared shitless!

When we arrived, there was thankfully no sign of George. Walking into the kitchen, I could see he was heating the place with a dilapidated wood stove with piping that wasn't properly sealed. I could tell that soot covered most of the walls and an acrid dust filled the air. How could a person live like this, I thought? Kathy showed me around - a lot more than I needed to see - it was a real trash bin - and I told her it was time to leave...like right now! We were in a very dangerous area and it was getting dark...wherever George was, he was soon to be home, and I was not in the mood to be greeting him at his house - especially without his prior permission. I was trespassing, and I knew it! "Kathy, its time to leave - NOW!", I'd hear myself saying. Little did I know we'd be followed all the way back to her house.

Soon after, George showed up unannounced and walked into the living room 'all friendly' and sat on the other end of a large couch. He was on his best behavior. Since I didn't know George's (I would soon find out, check the paragraph below) demeanor, I thought it only fair to be opened-minded. Kathy was in the basement doing laundry and was unaware he had stopped in unannounced. Remember, up to that point, she didn't tell George where she was living - my worst fears about a trek to his house on Aspinwell were now well-founded! George Jr. and Karl walked in to see what was going on, and George took on a fatherly role and I began to relax a little in my false sense of security. After a few moments, they left the room and Margaret walked in, seeing her dad, she froze, turned white as a sheet and trembled - I could see she was terrified, and in my own mind, things were coming together. George asked her to sit next to him. Margaret had only known me for a short while, but she took one look at George and another look at me, and she got as close as she could to me - shaking as she sat down! George was not to be deterred, he reached out and grabbed her by the thigh, dragging her over next to him - Margaret's eyes were red with terror - and George realized the jig was up and started making some threatening motions, talking in a low growling voice. One of the kids went to the basement to tell Kathy what was happening. She ran upstairs as George stood-up, jumped on his back, tearing away at his dirty blond tasseled hair, beating him on the head. In a dark comedic sort of way, it was kinda of funny, just not at that moment! George decided to beat a hasty retreat as Kathy continued to pummel him in the head. At the kitchen, Kathy jumped off of George as he ran out the kitchen door!

...we both knew George would be back!

It would take about a week, but one day we had a few unexpected visitors appear from her old neighborhood on Aspinwald, two white and one black guy would pop over to say "hi", big ugly-looking guys who were acting a little too friendly...I was getting a little queasy about this surprise visit! They decided we should sit around the kitchen table with my back against the window. Two of the guys sat between me, and Kathy sat next to the other guy. They were excited about telling us about an upcoming 'Lubrizol' company picnic they wanted to invite us to. As they talked, a voice said inside me, "get out of the window, get out of the window", the voice was creeping me out enough. Still, the voice got more urgent, "Get out of the window, GET OUT OF THE WINDOW!" Suddenly the voice was now screaming at me, "GET OUT OF THE WINDOW, RIGHT NOW!" Nervously I excused myself saying I had to go to the bathroom, and I'd be right back. I made it up to the second landing in the servants' area, and looked out the window to see a black Chevy Impala pull up, and a big heavy set guy jump out with a shotgun! You could guess what would have happened had I remained where I was sitting. I was able to sneak around into a better position, copied down the license plate number and the make and model of the car on a small piece of paper, and went back into hiding. After a short while, Kathy convinced George and the other men to leave. On George's way out, he tried hitting Kathy with the bumper with Karl in her arms. We were both shook up and the kids were scared shitless! Then again, so were we! 

George drove an old beat-up Chrysler Cordova. So I knew the nicer Impala he drove in, might not be his. My suspicions would prove correct. I had a police contact research the owner of the car. I would find out it belonged to his boss at the construction company he worked at! To say I was scared would be factual, but I was also pissed and wanted to send an indirect message to George about his visiting with a shotgun! I called up his employer from the newsroom and read him the riot act!

ANDREW: Hello, is this Ed Gunding (I don't remember the real man's name)?

ED: Yes?

ANDREW: Hi, my name is Andrew Boggs from WERE News, and I'd just like to ask a few short questions - we'll be taping this for the interview if you don't mind?

ED: I suppose so?

ANDREW: By any chance, do you own a black Chevy Impala with the license number (again, fictitious because I don't remember the number) KZR-793?

ED: Yes?

ANDREW: Did you happen to loan the car out earlier today?

ED: Yes, to an employee?  What's this all about?

ANDREW: Mr. Gunning, was this individual a George Zahler by any chance?

ED: Yes...what is this all about?

ANDREW: Your employee attempted to commit a murder yesterday (i was beginning to lose control) in Wickcliffe using your Impala with a loaded shotgun in hand! He also tried knocking down a woman and her child with the car!

ED: What!!!

ANDREW: Do you freely loan out a car to employees without a background check (i was really rolling now) on  the individual?  We're sending out a camera (we're a radio station) crew to interview you about your company policies! We expect you to be there!

...at that point we both hung up...

Of course, I had no intention of sending out a news crew, but it had its intended effect! According to Kathy, George walked into the office to clock in, finding a note telling him the boss wanted to speak with him! Walking into the office, his boss read him the riot act, firing him on the spot! It would be a few months before George showed his face again! He was stunned that I found out who the car belonged to. And that I had the balls to call his employer to ball him out for such a stupid act! Had George followed through on offing me, he had an alibi and four suspects beyond himself. The three men who paid the unexpected visit to Kathy and me in the kitchen, and the construction boss who lent him the Impala in the first place, unaware George was planning a murder. George thought he was covering his tracks well! Well, as well a man who most likely hatched the idea while downing beers and shots!        

Later, I asked Kathy how she met George? She told me her first husband hired him to put in a cement driveway - as it is, George botched the job! He didn't take the proper precautions on watering down the concrete work while it was setting, and didn't lay down straw to keep it from cracking when the temperatures dipped overnight. By-the-way, the house he had on Aspinwell is one he inherited from his aunt. Funny, a free house, and he lets it look like crap! In any case, he gets interested in Kathy, and while hubby is away at work and the kids are in school, he's having afternoon delights with Kathy! Even funnier, he was married at the time according to Kathy!

I had a lot of fun working with Art Fantroy and Walt Harris, our traffic 'copter pilots/reporters both on and off the ground - sometimes between traffic reports and live news flyovers it could get really wild in the cockpit and the ground. One day up in the air on a warm summer afternoon, we'd fly over the gold coast and catch some nude sunbathers overhead. We'd pause for a few moments and enjoy the view, before duty called us back to our day.

Practical jokes were common between live-shots, and one comes to mind. Engineers had rigged a hidden microphone in my studio/office without my knowledge. We had a stripper as one of the talk show guests - and the reporters in the newsroom talked her into giving me an impromptu performance....

ANDREW: Okay Art, you might want to check around Jefferson and Tremont. We got a report of a house fire, if something's there - we'll go with a live shot from the air and send a reporter to the scene...

ART: Okay Andrew, we're a little west, it'll take us a few minutes...

About this time, the costumed lady walks into the room and shuts the door. I glanced out momentarily into the newsroom seeing everyone grab for headsets at the recording bays - oblivious to what was really going on...

STRIPPER: Hi, I'm Dusty, and I was told I could watch you work...

(...a pretty lady in a revealing outfit wants to sit with me...who was I to argue?)

Then she indicated she was a little warm and wanted to take things off. Well, what could I do, but go along...

ART: I checked it out, nothing major...I'm heading back to the hanger at Burke...

(by now, the stripper has removed her top, and I'm starting to hear laughter in the newsroom, while I'm trying very hard to maintain my professional demeanor and not stare...)

ANDREW: Hey Art, you are not going to believe this, but I have a nude woman sitting across from me!

ART: Ah, Andrew, stop pulling my chain!

I let the stripper talk into the microphone and introduce herself. Meanwhile I'm hearing convulsive laughter coming from the newsroom.

ART: Is this Kathy?

...the stripper says, no...

ART: I'm telling Kathy! I'm telling Kathy!

I press the key on the microphone saying...

ANDREW: You do, and I'm telling your girlfriend who gave Rusty Cramer (a female traffic reporter) her hickeys!

ART: I'm NOT telling Kathy!!! I'm NOT telling Kathy!!!

At this point, the stripper puts back on her outfit and walks out of my studio/office. At least two recording bays were monitoring the conversation for their blooper collections. The stripper got a standing ovation from the guys in the newsroom! The female reporters sat there in dead silence!

Bob Caldwell had two sons from a previous marriage. It was summer time and they were coming of age. Bob decided to hold a party for his two sons, and those that lived in the mansion were invited - including me. I liked Bob, he was smart and easy to get along with. I always wondered why he and Kathy didn't get together. Bob had been good friends with her first husband, so maybe that might be a reason why? Then again, with George lurking around, he might have decided hands off! But Bob did have a girlfriend in Brooklyn that he collected rare books with - so it might have been more of a reason. Bob ordered two kegs and quite a spread - thankfully the day cooperated - but just in case, he had the great room in the mansion set up as an auxiliary in case of bad weather. After dusk, we headed in to dance, and converse and have fun. Again, a great day at the Caldwell mansion.

When Bob Caldwell found out George Zahler was making appearances, Bob was upset and told Kathy, if he made problems and endangered his other tenants, she and her kids would have to move. First, Bob didn't like the fact George ruined her first marriage with his close friend. Second, George was a low-life with a street reputation, and slight ties to Cleveland's underworld. With the way George lived on Aspinwall, it was very slight, but he would boast of his friendship with Danny Greene, a gangster who died from a car bomb in October 1977. After that, anyone associated with the one time Irish mobster was said to be lying low. Had I known about this in the beginning, I would be too scared to even meet Kathy originally. After all that happened, as much as I loved her, I wish I hadn't! Kathy had got herself mixed-up with the wrong crowd in befriending George - and I have to think after leaving him, she had a lot of regrets herself in getting involved with him initially! But it was too late, and she was under pressure to keep him away from the mansion. George was not concerned that Kathy would possibly find herself and her children potentially homeless - George was only thinking about George!

...Kathy would have many run-in's with Mr. Caldwell over George's visits...

I guess you could call me gutsy and stupid by continuing to spend time with Kathy and the kids...but I was really in love with her, and she was really in love with me. And the kids and I got along well - I was non-threatening, and would bring a little magic into their lives - I was a voice in their radio that materialized in the flesh - a real live living human being. Where George brought fear, I brought peace. Had George gone his own way, we would be a solid family - sad to say, it didn't happen!

Margaret heard her dad would be stopping by later in the week, and she dreaded the thought - so much so, that upon hearing the news, she ran up to her bedroom and barricaded herself by pushing a dresser in front of the door so no-one could get in. George Jr. came down to tell us her door was blocked - and since I had luck calming her down last time, Kathy asked if I could do it again? True enough, Margaret was barricaded in her room, refusing to come out, I knocked at the door, telling Margaret it was me. Since things worked out okay last time, it didn't take long before I heard the dresser being moved, and the door opened. Then she walked back over to a round kids table, sat down quietly, and started working with some math cards. She sat there as I came over and sat across from her as she muttered the answers, then slap the card down on the table, repeating the act several times - she had a  great deal of anxiety about her father's visits, and this time, she was really nervous...well, so was I! After she exhausted herself in anxiety, she put the last card down - and we sat in silence. I could understand her fear - I had my own of the situation. There was no real way I could calm her down by promising to keep George away. How Margaret was able to hold it together, I don't know, she was a real trooper! But this couldn't keep going on - Margaret would get very little sleep over the years, and who could blame her! It showed in her eyes...

After the kids went to bed, Kathy and I sat in the living room. I told Kathy that this couldn't keep going on - the kids were being affected, and Margaret was downright terrorized! We decided to get a restraining order against George. While the kids were in school, I drove out to Kathy's place and picked her up and we went to the Wickliffe Police Department filling out the necessary paperwork. We then let the law enforcement agency serve George with the paperwork and Kathy left with her copy. I was hopeful, but somehow, I got the feeling it was much to do about nothing. I didn't think a paper was enough to stop George - and I was soon to realize I'd be right!

The rest of the week went by peacefully, and we started to relax a little. The kids were as hopeful as Kathy and I when we told them. You could see a few smiles coming back. And it looked like normalcy would re-enter our lives. I had a habit of stopping by Kathy's between morning and afternoon drive times at the station, and we'd sit and talk at the kitchen table. We heard a car crunch the gravel, and both of us felt a lump in our throats as George walked in the door with his copy of the paperwork, sitting next to me and going, "this is bullshit!" "No damn piece of paper is going to stop me from coming and going", we both smelled he was drinking. He walked over to the stove and grabbed a sharp knife, looking me in the eye, asking if I loved Kathy? Without a beat, I said yes! The spirits in the house must have been with me, and it didn't hurt, that the spirits in him wanted out! He took the knife with him and went to the bathroom closing the door behind him. As he pissed, Kathy told me quietly it would be best if I leave, she could handle him. I'd have to get back to the studios shortly anyway - and as he went to turn the knob, it fell off, and we could hear him swearing! "Are you sure, Kathy?" "Yes, go!", as George struggled with the door, I quickly left, hearing Kathy tell me she would call me at the studios later.

I went into the newsroom and sat down, tired and a little tense from the events that took place earlier. I decided to act on my own, calling the police in Wickliffe to tell them George was violating the restraint order. They sent a car around, and George left peacefully. Kathy then called me after it was over. I then called the Wickliffe Police back and thanked them. I also asked what else could be done, but they told me all they could do was send a car around asking him to leave each time, unless he committed a violent act in front of them, or Kathy had fresh bruises when they arrived, and only if George were with her when they arrived. Otherwise, there was not much they could do! Poor Kathy, hearing about the police cars coming up to the mansion didn't put Bob Caldwell in a good mood!

Kathy was getting depressed! And the aggravation was showing!

One evening after I left Kathy's house, I started having a sinking feeling that something bad was about to happen, I just couldn't shake it. As I walked in the door back at my parents home, the phone rang, and my mom called out saying Kathy wanted to talk with me - she was having the same dread as I, and for both of us, it was getting stronger - I had to get Kathy and the kids out of the house that night. I said to my mom, Kathy and the kids are going to be needing to stay the night, please understand it is important. Thankfully mom said it was okay, and in one of those rare moments of lucidity, my dad didn't argue. I told Kathy to pack up some clothes for herself and the kids - be ready to move fast when I got there! We hung up, I made a beeline for my car, while Kathy got the kids dressed and packed some overnight clothes. It was near dusk when I pulled up. I gave Kathy the keys and she popped the bags into the trunk, climbing into the front seat with me in the Audi. The kids could sense the tension between us both, and it didn't leave until we made it downtown on the Shoreway. Was anything going to happen that night, did anything happen that night? We wouldn't know, but I'm glad we wouldn't find out the hard way.

It was night now, before going to my parent's house, I stopped at a gas station to fill up the car. Then it was off to meet my parents. The kids would be sleeping down in the living room with blankets on the couch and the floor, using the back seat cushions from the couch as pillows. Kathy and I got the kids settled down and I introduced my parents to Kathy and the kids. Thankfully things went well, and my mom had her first chance to try out the 'grandmother' role, and my father, the 'grandfather' role. Then, when the kids fell asleep, Kathy and I went up to my room to close the door, talk and rest in each others embrace. We were both tired from the adrenalin running high earlier in the evening.

The next day, my parents kept the kids busy and happy, allowing me and Kathy to just relax and talk about what took place. We were really bugged! We also knew that George's follies would continue to haunt us and the kids. Margaret was in good spirits having the first real rest she had in a long time. George Jr. and Karl were pretty good and kept my dad occupied. As the evening approached, I knew I had to get the kids back home, I was due back at the studios early the next morning. The dread we felt the evening before was gone - for now!

There would be a power failure in downtown Cleveland, and it would effect the broadcast stations along with everyone else on this hot summer day. We had a diesel power generator, but it wasn't well maintained. As the morning 'drive-time' shift was coming to an end, we lost power for a moment until the generator started up. It was hooked-up to power the on-air studios and very little else - not good where there were no windows to allow in light, like the newsroom, production studios and the bathrooms. Also, no air-conditioning. After about an hour, we knew the power would not be on for awhile, and I was sent out in a station car to pick up candles from the department stores...lots of candles. The news editor handed me a wad of money, and I was on my way! One place that did have power (they were on a different line) was the Trailways Inn next door. We gave the bus terminal and restaurant a lot of business, so the engineers talked the restaurants owners into allowing us to run a heavy duty power line into their circuits - promising to pay their electric bill for the day. And while I was running around for candles, they were using flashlights around the building. I was hitting the May Company, Hallies and Higbees grabbing candles. Later, I learned the engineers had plugged the line into an AC outlet behind one of the restaurant's coolers.

I got the candles and their holders upstairs to the newsroom and down to WGCL FM, and we had light - just like the colonial days. After about two hours, the regular power was restored, leaving the stone age behind. Of course both stations kept their candles for the next time we would have a power failure. I had a laugh with the Trailways Inn owners when they showed me where the power had been plugged in to run both WERE AM and WGCL FM - wish I had my camera for that!-)

In an afternoon meeting concerning the recent ratings book, we all sat on our desks listening to the GCC chairman talking about how the latest numbers affected the stations. For the chairman to come to town, it was important. I was about the third news desk back when the call came through from the operator downstairs. Linda Buscher was on the other end, and she needed me to rescue her from Lyndhurst. Apparently she had a spat with her girlfriend, and needed to have a fast exit. "Listen Linda (I whispered), I'm in the middle of an important meeting, I gotta go." The chairman started looking in my direction - not a good thing. I took down the information of where she was at and hung up. Thankfully it was a quick call, and I apologized to the chairman and the group, and the meeting went on. I was lucky the matter was never brought up - and I was not about to push it.

Linda Busher was a lesbian, and pretty open about it. But gay woman couples can be just as combative as heterosexual couples - and this was the case. Linda was living with her significant other in Lyndhurst, an eastern upper class suburb of Cleveland. I pulled up to a very nice house as Linda had been sitting on the porch waiting for me to arrive. She threw her stuff in the backseat and ordered me to go. On the way back, she told me they had a big argument, and Linda was told to leave. Linda asked me what took so long? "Geez Linda, I was in an important meeting with the chairman, you just don't get up and leave at the drop of a hat!" Linda was not in an understanding mood at that point, and because I didn't appear magically at her call, she was a little grumpy. So, I just became a good listener while she vented. At times like this, I knew to keep my mouth shut and simply look concerned as I concentrated on my driving. I told her next time to give me a quick call, and if I was busy, I'd give her a time to call back. Thankfully, there was not a next time.     

With all the successful commercials I wrote for WERE AM and WGCL FM, the stations decided to reward me with a weekend at a fancy hotel with all the trimmings for two - I couldn't wait to tell Kathy where we were spending the weekend. We were already talking marriage, and both of us were trying to assemble furniture for our first place with the kids. And we talked about having a child of our own. Conceiving a child at a Ramada Inn in Beachwood sounded like the perfect spot - the weekend would include room service and dinners in the dining room! Kathy called her aunt who agreed to keep Margaret, George Jr. and Karl while we were away. I packed a few clothes, and Kathy packed on her end - including a nice evening gown. I drove up to her place in my Audi Fox to pick up her and the kids up at the mansion she lived at in Wickcliffe. We then drove out to her aunt's place in South Euclid to drop the kids off. Next it was out to Beachwood and paradise - life was good!

Kathy and I picked-up our key at the reservation desk, and headed for our room. We were like two little kids in a candy store, not knowing where to start. After we unpacked our clothes, we decided to make love - lot's of love! Afterwards, we took a bath together, splashing each other still acting like kids and being lewd in general. Hey, it was nobody else but us two - and this was a weekend to make memories. We were skipping the birth control and going for it! We went downstairs for dinner, dancing and (hey, we had a room) sharing drinks. We got back upstairs and made more love! We were both having a great time, laughing and making life plans and, well, gee - a lot of whoopie! It was there, we would conceive a child. The whole weekend was a romantic interlude that I doubt both of us would ever forget...ah youth, where have ye gone?

After the end of the weekend, we picked-up the kids at Kathy's aunt's house, and I drove her home - I had to get some rest for work the next day!

Kathy called me at the studios, excited to share the news - we were going to be parents! After work, I drove out to Kathy's to celebrate. I had been looking for a house in the eastern (Kathy wasn't into the westside) suburbs. I found a really nice four bedroom house with a den in Willoughby. It was a 1920's guest house for an old estate that was about to be demolished to make room for a development. I talked with the developer about buying the home, and moving it to a parcel that was open. The developer was willing to sell me the house for $1.00 (they were going to tear it down anyway) - and a lot for which I'd pay market value. For Kathy and I, it would be a lot of sweat equity.

Kathy called me upset - she told me her ex-husband George found out (she told him), and he was going to make trouble - lots of it! He was pressuring her to have the baby, then abandon it to me to raise alone - Kathy was torn up at the prospect, so was I. She told her aunt and mom, and they said maybe it wasn't a good time to have a child with George kicking up dust. Reluctantly, I had to agree with her aunt and mother. Kathy was going to be in anguish all the way through with George Frederick Zahler's interference - and I was worried about the physical and mental damage he'd do to Kathy and our unborn child. Kathy was now close to her third trimester - we had to make a decision. Kathy looked around for an abortion clinic she felt comfortable with - in this case, a Cleveland Heights facility.

She didn't want me to come in with her - she wanted to do this alone - I was to wait for her. She kissed me, we both broke into tears, and she was out the door. I pulled into a parking place and waited as she asked. Eventually she came out of the building, getting into the car - telling me it was done. There was a great stunned silence - she told me it was a girl. We both didn't say much back on the way to my parents place on Woburn Avenue in Old Brooklyn. I didn't think it was a good idea to take her home with George lurking around - and neither of us wanted to be alone. Having my father around wasn't an ideal location, but it was the lesser evil. We went up to my room and shut the door. We could only look at each other. Sometimes Kathy would go into hysterics, and I would have to bring her down - it was a role I was never used to, and thankfully one that was never repeated. We could hear my parents arguing downstairs - it really didn't help matters. The kids were with her aunt - giving us time.