Simply Put!: Thoughts and Feelings from the Heart

By Bob Feldman

Tony Orlando says of Simply Put! “This book is a guide to love, family and friendship that gives insights from one man’s lifelong search for love, acceptance and laughter.” He goes on to say “Johnny Mathis, David Bowie, Neil Diamond, and Dion are but a few icons who have recorded his thought

• Language: English
• Publisher: Voila Music, LLC
• Release date: Aug 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733205412

Book preview

Opening Thoughts and Feelings (About Me)

A Day Without Laughter

Is a Day Without Sunshine.

I grew up in a household totally devoid of laughter and sunshine. I was a shy, introverted stutterer and stammerer who was verbally and emotionally abused (physically as well). I was made to feel I was worthless and useless, a disappointment—and such an embarrassment that until his dying day, my father treated my sister (unfortunately for her) like the son he never had. Too many nights I went to bed thinking, If I hadn’t been born, (maybe) my father would be happy.

Fortunately, and thankfully for me, God (in his infinite wisdom) has a unique way of leveling the playing field. In my case he did a hell of a job of not only instilling in me the feeling that I was special but that I was truly blessed as well. Knowing how much I and needed the sound of laughter, I was given the ability to make almost anyone laugh or smile (even at my own expense) … and every day I make a conscious effort to do just that.

Sidmply Put! It makes me feel good.

Write It, Read It, Recite It, Repeat It

Four two-word phrases that changed my life forever. The key that turned a chronic disability into my greatest asset. Given to me by my grade school English teacher (a former all-city goalie and captain of the girl’s high school hockey team) who, for whatever reason, took me by the hand and transformed me into a hopeless romantic (like herself) … in with the magic, beauty, and imagery of the written and spoken word. More than a teacher, she was a confidant, a friend, and my intellectual soul mate …

  Miss Ruth Byrn.  

Write It!

Robert, whatever it is you can’t say, write it. Whatever you feel, think, imagine, dream—no matter what—write it. She allowed and encouraged me to express myself openly and honestly without fear of rejection or ridicule.

Read It!

Everything she brought me or suggested, I read cover to cover. She introduced me to the romance and pageantry of Keats, Lord Byron, Browning, Percy Shelley, Sir Walter Scott, etc.—the greatest poets and authors of all time.

Recite It!

Almost every Saturday and some evenings for most of my senior year (eighth grade), Miss Byrn came to my house and stood beside me while I recited poetry and soliloquies—looking into my dresser mirror with marbles in my mouth (she brought me all sizes).

Repeat It!

I did. Every spare minute I could, over and over and over again, day after day after day. Would you believe I’ve even been a paid lecturer and featured speaker at conferences and seminars? (Without marbles in my mouth.)

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I played a lot of sports—anything to spend as little time as possible at home. Stickball, punchball, softball, basketball, and even touch football. My dreams and fantasies were mostly sports oriented, like hitting a bases-loaded home run to win the seventh game of the World Series, scoring the winning touchdown in the NFL championship game, or bowling a 300 perfect game on TV. Subsequently, I become a pretty decent bowler. I was elected captain of my high school bowling team. I even bowled a 245 on national TV. Unfortunately, my opponent, Hall of Fame icon Don Carter, bowled a 278.

However, upon entering high school, my dreams and fantasies changed drastically thanks to Ms. Byrn. I imagined myself the prince of Camelot with the looks and speaking voice of Sir Richard Burton (in my opinion, the most magnificent voice of all time). I’d stand alone in front of my mirror for hours, trying to emulate Burton’s soliloquy from Hamlet (To be or not to be …) then of course going home to Elizabeth Taylor. Sometimes I was Sir Lancelot, who, after defeating the evil Black Knight in mortal combat, deflowered the beautiful and seductive Lady Guinevere (my hormones were just starting to blossom).

Today I dream about becoming a successful author and being recognized as a true romantic poet. (I’m still working on it.)

Simply Put!

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