Highway 17

Highway 17

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599407/fan_mail/new] For decades, Highway 17 in West Texas was a road that gave my father equal measures of adventure and anxiety. From desert storms and mountain vistas to long rides beneath the stars, it became a place filled with memories. But one memory stood above all the others—the day his son crashed a motorcycle on the side of Interstate 20 after a ride through the Davis Mountains. In his story, Dad reflects on the strange relationship we develop with places that have shaped our lives. Places that both give to us and take from us. In my commentary, I share what was happening behind the scenes on that trip. I had just experienced a major setback in my acting career and was struggling to find my footing. My father took me on that ride to help me get away from it all, but disappointment and frustration followed me into West Texas. Looking back, what I remember most isn't the accident. It's the unwavering support of my parents throughout every success, every failure, and every unlikely dream I chased. They believed in me long before I had any reason to believe in myself. Sometimes the roads we remember most aren't the easiest ones to travel, but they often lead us exactly where we need to be.

Kebler Pass

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599407/fan_mail/new] Episode 18 – Kebler Pass In this episode of Being There, I read “Kebler Pass,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004. While riding alone through the mountains of Colorado, Dad spots a squiggly line on a map and decides to follow it. What begins as a scenic detour quickly turns into a test of skill, courage, and determination as he finds himself navigating a narrow mountain trail with a sheer drop-off just inches away. But beneath the adventure is a larger story about decisions. The roads we choose, the risks we take, and the unexpected experiences that shape who we become. In my commentary, I reflect on one of the most significant turning points in my father's life. After losing his job, he made the difficult decision to start his own company rather than let circumstances define his future. That decision changed the trajectory of our family and became a reminder that some of life's most important opportunities arrive disguised as setbacks. Dad often reminded me to embrace both my successes and my failures. Every decision we make, every victory we celebrate, and every mistake we survive becomes part of the person we are today. Sometimes the road you never planned to travel becomes the one that changes everything.

Reflections of You

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599407/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Being There, I read “Reflections of You,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004. While sitting outside a coffee shop in Fredericksburg, Texas, Dad becomes fascinated by the reflections moving across a plate-glass window. What begins as a simple observation turns into a deeper meditation on identity, perception, and the many versions of ourselves that exist at the same time. Are we the person we see in the mirror? The person others see? The person we hope to become? Or are we something larger—the sum of all our experiences, relationships, successes, failures, dreams, and memories? Following the reading, I reflect on a question that has stayed with me: What did my father see when he looked at me? Not the son I saw in the mirror, but the person he knew through his own experiences, hopes, and perceptions. It's a thoughtful and timeless exploration of friendship, self-awareness, and the ever-changing reflections that shape who we are.

A Fallen Soldier

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599407/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Being There, I read “A Fallen Soldier,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, on April 30, 2004. As the Iraq War dominated the headlines, Dad found himself reflecting on another generation of young Americans who answered their country's call to serve. While restoring a 1967 Triumph Bonneville once owned by a young soldier who never returned home, he wrestled with questions of duty, sacrifice, responsibility, and the human cost of war. At the heart of the story is Lance Corporal Aaron C. Austin of Sunray, Texas, a 21-year-old Marine killed in Iraq just days before the essay was written. Though Dad never knew him personally, his loss served as a powerful reminder that every casualty is someone's son, someone's friend, someone's future. Following the reading, I revisit who Aaron Austin was and reflect on a different chapter of this story—the Triumph Bonneville itself. For years, I held onto the motorcycle because it had become part of Dad's story and part of mine. Eventually, I realized I was waiting for him to come back and help me finish what he started. Instead, I chose to pass the bike on to a family who lovingly restored it and returned it to the road, allowing its story to continue. This episode is about memory, service, loss, and the things we eventually learn to let go.

What Do You Think About This?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599407/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Being There, I read “What Do You Think About This?”, written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004. Set in the old rail yard of Chama, New Mexico, the story follows a brief but unforgettable conversation between the author and an aging railroad worker named Eloy. As steam engines roll into the station and tourists gather with cameras, Eloy reflects on work, age, usefulness, and the changing world around him. What unfolds is more than a story about railroads. It’s about identity — and the realization that a person’s value cannot be measured only by what they do for a living. Quiet, thoughtful, and deeply human, this is one of the more reflective episodes of Being There. 🎧 Listen now on Buzzsprout or wherever you get your podcasts.