| It was one of the worst periods of time in my life. | | | | one-dollar bills. |
| Recently separated, I had just lost custody of my 2 | | | | We walked onward. |
| daughters andwas forced to vacate my | | | | As he repeated this gesture along our long route, even |
| newly-renovated home (with 3 days notice)that | | | | walking halfa block out of our way to greet and hand |
| contained the well-equipped recording studio I had | | | | yet another homelessperson a couple of bucks, I |
| spent 2years building prior to selling my drycleaning | | | | noticed Doug's right pocket was bulgingwith what could |
| business (in order tobuild a long-desired music | | | | only be one dollar bills. I didn't ask him about thisritual, |
| production company). | | | | preferring to know that Doug just did this 2-buck thing |
| Divorce - Canadian style! | | | | everyday. |
| Two years before, I discovered that a *friend*, a | | | | Finally, and as if in another world altogether, we |
| music contact I hadworked with and even spent time | | | | entered thisstunning building and were soon going over |
| with in Hollywood a decade prior,had stolen a song | | | | the infinite details of ourcase in his impressive office. |
| that I and my music partner had written andpresented | | | | Suffice it to say although this case was settled |
| to this budding writer/producer at that time. He had | | | | somewhatsatisfactorily in the end run, this initial hearing |
| sincebecome a major player in the music business and | | | | did not go well. Afterthe hearing and while Doug was in |
| had lifted *somuch* our song, placing it on the album of | | | | chambers with the judge andprinciple lawyers trying to |
| a multi-million sellingfemale artist. | | | | negotiate a fair settlement, the otherparticipants/all on |
| After much consideration and consultation with a | | | | the other side (some came with an |
| prominent Detroitattorney, we decided to proceed with | | | | entourage)gathered into the hallway. I made my way |
| a lawsuit against this recordproducer. And, as these | | | | to each one of them andoffered my apologies for |
| matters usually go, we had to retain highprofile legal | | | | having to have them and their clientsinvolved. They all |
| representation in California and also sue the | | | | accepted. Even the defendant's high-poweredfather |
| 'innocents',in this case the recording artist, record | | | | was understanding and exceptionally cordial. We |
| company and publishingcompany, with the hope (at | | | | startedchatting about sports and he even made some |
| least mine) that they would bringpressure upon the | | | | off-the-recordremarks about his arrogant offspring. |
| sole guilty party to get a just settlement. | | | | While this conversation was taking place, a loud voice |
| And of course, I was counter sued for over a million | | | | angrilybounced off the marble walls, "So dad, you |
| dollars and hadto begin dealing with that ugly business. | | | | switching sides now? " |
| Now, living with friends during this confusing, dark period | | | | My former musical friend was now in the hall, obviously |
| of time, acall came from my California attorney. I was | | | | witnessinghis dad and myself acting civilly. I walked |
| forced to confront theinevitable - a trip to Los Angeles | | | | over and with a simplegesture of peace, offered my |
| for a legal hearing. | | | | hand to him. It was readily andviolently slapped away. |
| I had neither the heart nor the will to follow through | | | | I am what I feel most would say, a peace-loving, |
| with this. | | | | passive humanbeing. But having the physical sting of |
| Neither did I have the money for the flight and hotel as | | | | an assault like this broughtthe instinctual animal out in |
| all myassets had been frozen by the divorce court at | | | | me, to defend, and I began to reactaccordingly . . . |
| the time. | | | | good thing for Dad who rushed to the scene |
| I recall, as if it were yesterday, how Doug somehow | | | | andushered his son back into the courtroom. |
| sensed myemotional turmoil and just matter-of-factly | | | | Doug soon emerged with the bad news that anything |
| told me to pick up theairline ticket at the terminal and | | | | approximatinga fair settlement was not going to |
| then invited me to stay with hisfamily. This is where the | | | | happen this day. Thatdisappointed me,but didn't seem |
| real story begins. | | | | to surprise my esteemed lawyer, as he assured |
| Immediately after meeting Doug in person for the first | | | | methat we would need to apply more pressure in due |
| time at theairport on a Friday afternoon, I felt so | | | | course. Not anice business. |
| unusually comfortable. Thehearing was on Monday but | | | | After our *tough day at the office*, Doug was soon |
| he had no intention of discussing thecase at all on the | | | | digging back intohis right pocket on our way back to |
| drive to his home. Instead we talked about ourfamilies, | | | | the parking lot, even placingcurrency into the hands of |
| friends, careers and hobbies. His was mountain | | | | some of the same indigents. I then cameto the |
| climbingand he has since scaled the tallest peaks on | | | | conclusion that they weren't all strangers. |
| the continent! | | | | We pulled in to get some gas just around the corner |
| He told me about how much his wife and daughter | | | | from theparking lot and were standing at the pumps |
| were lookingforward to having me stay with them. | | | | when a disheveledfellow approached us. This time it |
| And, that he had planned get-togethers with some of | | | | was me who engaged him inconversation. He was a |
| his rather famous friends. See, we had builta rather | | | | Vietnam veteran with a severe chip on hisshoulder |
| unique friendship over the phone during the time building | | | | and he seemed to be glad just to have someone to |
| upto this hearing, but I had no idea Doug would be | | | | listen. |
| going all out duringour short visit. | | | | As if by magic, penniless me turned to Doug, who, with |
| I arrived at his beautiful home in the Hollywood Hills to | | | | a big smilehad his arm outstretched with 2 dollar bills |
| the warmhugs of Doug's wonderful wife and | | | | just dangling for me totake. |
| cuter-than-cute little daughter. Ifyou've ever visited | | | | My thoughts immediately ran back to several months |
| someone's home for the very first time | | | | before when Iencountered a homeless man begging |
| andimmediately, and truly felt right at home, well, this | | | | on the downtown Detroitstreet that led to the tunnel to |
| was one of thoserare instances. Mi casa es su casa. | | | | Canada when I was returning homefrom a meeting |
| All of us had a great amount of fun getting to know | | | | with my Michigan attorney. I had a few U.S. dollarsin |
| one anotherand, as promised, we had most enjoyable | | | | my pocket and handed them to this man, but, with the |
| Friday and Saturdayevenings with Doug’s crazy | | | | following,loudly spoken condition: "this is for food, not |
| but wonderful friends in theentertainment world. After | | | | booze!" |
| all, I was in my element | | | | But, this was not the way Doug gave - he gave as |
| Sunday night was sleepless however. Although I was | | | | Giving shouldalways be — without condition. So, |
| very confidentin Doug and his abilities (I'd love to be | | | | into the hand of this man wentmy 2 bucks along with |
| able to tell you who he hasrepresented in the past but | | | | my most sincere wish - "Good Luck!" Hehobbled |
| the terms of the ultimate settlement inthis action | | | | away, mumbling to himself. |
| prohibit me from sharing any details that would | | | | Doug and I have remained friends over the years. We |
| identifyany of the parties involved), I was still very | | | | exchangeemail and he sends me a Christmas card |
| concerned about being incourt with 4 sets of | | | | every year as well as hisarticles that have been |
| high-powered attorneys against, well, just meand Doug. | | | | published in the top law journals. |
| Rumor had it that the defendant's father, a very | | | | His giving though, went well beyond helping those souls |
| highprofile attorney from a major U.S. city, was also | | | | on thestreet. |
| flying in for theshowdown. | | | | In the end, and with the final decision left totally to me, |
| On the drive to downtown LA on Monday morning, we | | | | we made asettlement agreement that would not even |
| finally begandiscussing the case. Doug had put my | | | | come close tocompensating me and my music partner |
| mind at as much ease aspossible as we headed | | | | for having created a songthat was a vital part of such |
| toward the magnificent skyline. If you'veever seen the | | | | a successful, worldwide recordingproject, and he, for |
| skyscrapers of Los Angeles in person or in | | | | ALL his time, effort and expertise in trying to getjustice |
| movies,you will surely remember the tall, white, rounded | | | | for me and my music partner. In Doug's |
| building in thecenter. Doug's office was near the top | | | | heart-of-hearts, heknew it would simply end the great |
| floor. | | | | stress that this caserepresented for me at this totally |
| He didn't park anywhere near it however. He pulled into | | | | tumultuous period of time. Andthat was good enough |
| this pay-per-day lot in a less than fashionable | | | | for him. |
| neighborhood many blocksaway. Strange. Homeless | | | | I've never made mention to Doug of our long walk to |
| people populated the streets. We startedthe long trek | | | | and from theoffice in all this time but I fully suspect he |
| towards the ivory tower but suddenly Doug stopped | | | | still leaves home eachday with a pocketful of one |
| tospeak to an old man with a wind-weathered face, | | | | dollar bills, parks far from his office sothat he can bring |
| crouched againsta building clutching a "mickey" of | | | | a little joy into the lives of the less fortunate, and,takes |
| cheap “Thunderbird" wine in hisdirty, gnarled hands. | | | | on clients that are in the same position as I was a |
| He simply asked this poor soul how he wasdoing and | | | | decadeago. |
| if he had anything to eat recently. The reply | | | | In other words Giving - as Giving should always be. |
| wasincoherent and Doug just smiled and handed him 2 | | | | |