I Once Knew A Girl

I Once Knew A Girl

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599407/fan_mail/new] While resting on a bench in Goliad, Texas, a chance encounter with a young woman stirs memories of another young woman from long ago—Angelina, a spirited cowgirl from Cuero. Through humor, poetry, and reflection, My father reminds us that some people never truly leave us. They become part of who we are, woven into our memories and carried with us long after the moment has passed. In my commentary, I reflect on a simple truth my father seemed to understand so well: a life well lived is a life rich with experiences. Every place we've traveled, every person we've loved, every success, every disappointment, and every adventure becomes part of us. In the end, we are the sum of those experiences. Sometimes it's not the destination we remember most—it's the people we met along the way.

Hunter's Moon

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2599407/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Being There, I read "Hunter's Moon," written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2005. While camping alone at Enchanted Rock in the Texas Hill Country, my father finds himself caught between reality and imagination. What begins as a peaceful evening beneath a brilliant Hunter's Moon slowly transforms into an unforgettable night filled with mysterious figures, whispered voices, ghostly campfires, and an unsettling feeling that he isn't alone. Was it simply a dream? Or was there something about that ancient place that defied explanation? In my commentary, I talk about something that always fascinated me about this story. My father was a lifelong student of science and loved understanding how the world worked. So why would he write so convincingly about ghosts and spirits? I explore the science behind the twilight state between sleep and wakefulness—a fascinating phenomenon where dreams and reality can briefly overlap—and why experiences during that state can feel absolutely real. Whether you believe in ghosts or believe there's always a scientific explanation, Hunter's Moon reminds us that wonder and mystery still have a place in our lives.

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.