Do you believe in destiny? Whether or not you do, what we believe shapes our life. Here I am in Santa Fe, New Mexico with an artist I had just met. I’d graduated from high school and had pieced together a wild trip across the United States to celebrate. I was staying with Robert Love, my step-uncle at the time. I loved that he was openly Gay which was a rarity at the time. I’d kept my Bisexuality hidden, in fact, this might be only the second time I’ve ever referenced my sexuality publicly, so his openness made me feel so free. I know friends and family will read this, so please don’t think less of me, but the floodgates opened that summer and I not only enjoyed the sights, sounds, and vibes of the earthy, dusty browns and rich turquoise of the Indigenous, Spanish and artist influences of this magical town, I also enjoyed the unrestrained sensuality and sexuality of a young friend Uncle Robert introduced me to. It was fun. About six years later, I was invited to join a college friend, a fellow filmmaker, to attend the Santa Fe Film Festival. In this case, my focus was exclusively on learning more about filmmaking, but my friend had another idea. I apologize if I misled him in any way. My disinterest in anything beyond friendship hurt him and he wanted nothing to do with me. I attended the festival alone. I found Mr. Coppola at a reception. I asked him for advice on the best next steps towards becoming a director. He said, “That’s like asking the owner of a washing machine company how to fix a washing machine.” I felt as though I had been knocked across the head. I stood dazed and lost in the hum of conversations. A man soon approached me with a warm greeting. He said, “I just want to let you know that one day you will do something great for the world. I can see that in you.” He smiled kindly and disappeared into the crowd. Was he shaping my destiny with his vision for me? I don’t know. But I’ve never forgotten that kind stranger and his powerful proclamation. PS: There is so much more about my Santa Fe experiences that I want to share with you. Another time…
