SIX YEARS AGO TODAY

Here's a picture of Bill (with the infamous mannequin girl) from June 28, 2000. In the news that day: Elian Gonzalez was returned to his native Cuba, seven months after he was cast adrift in the Florida Straits.

FORTY YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

This evening while going through some pictures it occurred to me that Bill graduated from St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, sometime in June of 1966. Here is his graduation picture.

BILL AND JIM 1988

Here's Bill with his friend Jim McCalmont, whom he knew for about 30 years.

L.S.D.

As promised in a previous entry, I have begun scanning photos and other items which will be posted in the coming weeks and months. For starters, here is the business card for the first band that Bill was in - Lost Souls Of Desolation.

A MESSAGE IN A DREAM

I had a very interesting dream on Saturday/Sunday evening. I believe that the dream should be shared based on the ending. I hope it brings you as much comfort as it has brought me.

My dream begins in a room, possibly in a funeral home. I am sitting there with my nephew Joe. Apparently we are at my brother’s wake, as he is lying in a casket. Something falls on his leg and suddenly he sits up to remove the object. I turn to Joe to see his response but he is no longer there. As I turn back toward my brother, the casket is gone and he is sitting in velvet covered arm chair.

We talk for what seems like hours. He answers every one of my questions and we talk like we did when he was alive. Then, when our conversation is over he does the strangest thing.

In order for you to understand what made his next action so peculiar, I need to provide a little background. When my brother would visit when I was 10 or 11, I would always ask him to play catch. Unfortunately, he never had the time. However, after we had finished our conversation in my dream, he says, "Let’s play catch".

We play catch for a little while and then he makes a throw that gets past me. As I turn to get the ball, I hear him say, "Sorry. Please tell everyone that I'm all right." When I turn, he is gone and I wake from my dream.

So, I leave you the message that Bill sent in the dream - he's O.K.

BILL FACTS, NUMBER 12

Today marks the 62nd birthday of one of Bill's favorite recording artists, Ray Davies (of The Kinks). Bill once met Davies at a party and had a humorous encounter with him.

Click here for the details:

Bill Facts, Number 12

BILL FACTS, NUMBER 11

Do you what Bill's favorite games were? You will if you click on this link:

Bill Facts, Number 11

RANDOM NOTES, VOLUME 2

I've begun scanning images of Bill. I plan to start posting these on a regular basis sometime after July 4. The other night I watched a video that Bill had created which feature him and our uncle Joe interviewing my grandfather. While most of the tape features my grandfather, there are a few moments where Bill is asked to reflect on his own life. I will be converting these to audio for inclusion in the blog.

As always, if you have anything you would like to include, please forward it.

Thanks.

DELAY IN DETERMINATION OF DEATH

I found out yesterday that the final determination of the cause of Bill's untimely death could possibly take another 6 months or more. There will be a temporary death certificate issued within the next month which will classify the cause of death as undetermined.

Along with not having the normal closure of saying goodbye to Bill while viewing his body (since he was cremated), we now have to endure a delay in this determination. This has, of course, increased the stress level for my parents and I hope you will join me by voicing your disatisfaction with such a delay, by writing to representatives from California, for Bill's family or any other family subjected to this injustice.

Many of the forms referenced below require the entry of a name and address. Please use Bill's information. May I suggest entering the following information in the response forms:

In the First Name field, please enter:
On behalf of Bill


In the last field, please enter:
Bukowski, deceased


Bill's address was:
11953 Hart St
North Hollywood, CA 91605-5785



Please write to:

California State Legislators

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

California State Assemblymember Cindy Montañez

California State Senator Richard Alarcon
(click on the your feedback link in the left column to send an email)


US Senators From California

Barbara Boxer

Diane Feinstein


US House Of Representative Member From Bill's District

Howard Berman
(you will need to enter Bill's zip code + 4 to send an email)


YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.