Chrispy

I am a firefighter in Ossining, NY; and also a writer and editor; and a video and internet producer. My wife Gail and I met in 1988 and married in 1991. Gail works as a costume and set designer for a performing arts center. We have two great kids, Maggie, 13, and Cooper, 11. Maggie is a talented and accomplished dancer, which is amazing because she is deaf. She likes ballet, but she loves Hip-Hop --me too. Maggie is named for the Grateful Dead song "Sugar Magnolia". Cooper plays guitar and drums, and his favorite bands are The Grateful Dead, Phish, Santana, Green Day, and Linkin Park -- his choices, I swear! Cooper is named after a brother-of-the-spirit and friend of mine and Gail's. In high school I was a total stoner. Most of my friends could live this lifestyle and function, but not me. I barely graduated HS in 5 years. When everyone else went to college, I worked at a marina, earning minimum wage for really hard work. Imagine 90 degrees, hung-over, lying on your back scraping the bottom of a boat. I went to my first Dead show, and became experienced. Best time of my life. Got home, and while laying in bed had a spiritual awakening. I realized how much alcohol was messing me up. I quit drinking, started eating right and exercising, went to community college (open enrollment), and then on to Syracuse University, and even to grad school at NYU. I was married briefly once before, but it was not a good match-up, so we did the right thing and moved on. Now, I am totally clean and sober, it will be 20 years in May. My best highs now come from watching my kids laugh and enjoy life. I do use prolonged vigorous exercise to stay in shape, to get an endorphin buzz, and for the mood enhancement. In addition to firefighting, I work with a large non-profit organization, managing the creative, production and distribution for all literature, books, digital media, and the website. I grew up with two sisters, Jane and Molly; and one brother, John. John died from AIDS in 1992. Jane lives in Florida, while Molly and her husband John live in Colorado. My best friends are Chin, Fence, Hatch, Zigweed, Malary, Peep, and Galina. I love having lots of friends, and I hope you are one of them.