With my dad at Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH 1973
Happy Father's Day!
June 6, 1968 at 2:47pm = 56
Honored and excited that I was asked to speak and participate in a corporate pride event with the topic of mental health. ☺️
Tonight was the first show but you can still see them...
Atlanta City Winery-
May 22nd
June 19th
July 5th
Aug 14th
@CraigTheWriterStewart @TheRealTsMadison
Eclipse 2024 🌒
Generally speaking, I base a good hotel experience on a few things: 1) the elevators being quick. This might sound like a small trivial thing, but until you've stayed in a hotel and waited for even 5 minutes (which seems like an hour), it's not. 2) The noise in the hallways. There is nothing like the sound of slamming doors to ruin a nights sleep. 3) The water pressure. A great shower head with great water pressure will start your day and your mood in the right direction.
The Hoxton in Brussels did not disappoint in any of my personal categories. The elevators are quick and efficient with a keypad that alerts the rider which lift number will opening for you. The hallways are so quiet you are sometimes left wondering if you are the only guest on your floor. The water pressure made me look forward to my daily shower and felt less like a necessity and more like a luxury.
The front desk staff is friendly and engaging. The coffee at the coffee bar is great but pastries were the star for me. If I stayed any longer, I would have had to pay extra for my flight home because of the additional pounds I would be carrying. I ate a cinnamon roll every day! My guilt was assuaged by the 20k steps I was taking every day. Tope is the rooftop restaurant/bar. The "Tope Margarita" was my favorite. One night, the entire waitstaff disappeared for about 30 minutes. I watched as they all got on an elevator and didn't return until later. It was noticeable to me because I had to get the host (maybe he was the manager) to order. It wasn't a total inconvenience, but again it was noticeable.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay at The Hoxton in Brussels and would recommend it to anyone and would stay here again!
@thehoxtonhotels
When we first moved to Tallahassee, FL I attended Hartsfield elementary school. After school, I stayed at Roosevelt and Cathy Wilson's home. I played with their kids Van, Vaughn and Tiffany until my mother or father picked me up. The Wilson's lived a few doors down from Mrs. Adderley. We often played in her yard and she would give us candy. Mrs. Adderley was the mother of legendary jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley and trumpeter Nat Adderley. One of my mother's closests friends was Jeanette Driesbach, Jeanette's sister Dorothy was married to a LeRoy Eley who was a Tuskegee Airman. His daughter Wendy, who I have known since I was 13 and I remain close friends to this day. There have always been accomplished people who were examples of excellence in and around my life. They have fed me and shaped me in a way that is indescribable.
I shared these stories hoping that the people who know me would have a better understanding of how I am and the way that I am. I know how my family and their stories have defined me and impacted how I navigate the world. Because of them, I know who I am, from where I come, and all the stories that have traveled along. Once when I worked in corporate America, a lady (black) stopped me in the hallway. "You always have your head up in the air," she said to me out of nowhere. I knew what she was trying to imply but I didn't take the bait. I paused for a moment then asked "Would you prefer my head lowered with my body slumped over while I walk?" I could tell she was surprised by my quick volley back to her court. "No, I guess not," she replied. "I am proud of who I am," I said and walked away. I shared these stories hoping that the people who read them would look for the stories in their own lives and families. I cannot think of a better time to close this out than right before Valentine's Day. I have loved sharing a portion of my story...my family with you. With love, Scott
Pics 1) me 2) my dad throughout the years 3) me with my parents at my cousins wedding 4) me with my parents at my house 5) me
Sharing all of these stories has been fun for me. At times, it has been nostalgic and has brought tears to my eyes. Other times have been a learning experience for me. Not only did I learn something about my family, I was given a window into myself.
I do not want to conclude this series of stories leaving the impression that my family is perfect. Like all families, like all people, we have our secrets. However, it is not my role or my place to reveal the secrets of others. I will say that we are perfectly imperfect. We are functionally dysfunctional. Aren't all families though?
One of the things that I most appreciate about my family is that I was never told "You cannot do that!" They could not tell me that because there were too many examples everywhere- accomplished, successful, thriving men and women. Because of either their own accomplishment or just circumstances, historical people have been around throughout my life. I've met Woody Hayes, the legendary Head Coach of The Ohio State University football team. Joe Paterno wanted my father to come and work for him. He called our house and I answered the phone. In retrospect, I am glad my dad did not accept that job. One day I came home from school to find Carl Stokes, the first black Mayor of Cleveland, OH naked and standing in my bathroom. He casually reached out and shook my hand. I met 1936 Olympic Gold Medalist Jesse Owens who won his gold medal in front of Hitler. I've been in the home of legendary football coach Jake Gaither more times than I can count. Part II- next post.
Pics- 1) my mom & dad 2) me at 3 years old 3) me with my cousin Lori 4) my dad and I 5) my mom throughout the years
Carl Allen Bogan, Sr. was born in 1944 to John and Emma (Shaw) Bogan. John Bogan was the brother of my grandfather, Samuel Allen Bogan, Sr. Emma Shaw Bogan is the sister of my cousin, Michael Lottier's mother, Karen Shaw Lottier. Carl had one sister Sandra (Sandy) and brother Sherwood. Sandy passed away in 2020.
Carl was a community oriented person for his entire life. He was constantly doing things for the community. From 1963 to 1967, he served his country in the Vietnam War in the Army. After his service, he married Betty DeLoach Bogan. They had three children- Carl Jr, Wynn and Alexis. He worked at General Motors and built a home for his family.
The thing that I remember most about Carl is his total selflessness. He would come and pick me up and take me anywhere I wanted- Idora Park, Handel's Ice Cream, anywhere. It wasn't just me though. He did this with most (if not all) of the kids in our family. When I was around 10 or 11 years old, Carl received his pilot's license. I was (and still am) fascinated by this. One morning Carl came to my grandmother's house to pick my father and I up. We drove out to Landsdowne field (airport). We boarded a twin engine plane (I don't remember if it was his or not). We were supposed to fly to Indianapolis and have lunch but the weather conditions would not permit that trip. Instead, we flew around Youngstown looking at the aerial views of the city where we all were born.
Carl was the personification of "Give the shirt off his back" to help anyone. Carl was a funny man who would defend his beliefs fiercely. Carl passed away in April of 2016. Today, I am celebrating my cousin, Carl Allen Bogan, Sr.
Pics- 1) Carl Allen Bogan, Sr 2) Carl & my dad 3) Carl's sister Sandy Bogan 4) Samuel Allen Bogan, Sr my grandfather & Carl's uncle 5) Jimmy Lottier and Karen Shaw Lottier
Writer. Citizen of the World. Advocate of Kindness. Sharing my friends, my family, my home, my travels, my cooking and how I navigate my life. Sharing a glimpse into The Scott Of It All.