Charlie Rose: Living His Dream

Charlie Rose: Living His Dream

 

 

I woke up the year my father passed and realized that I was broke.

I wasn’t broken, just penniless and unfulfilled.  My parents had lived their dreams and ended up with something to show for it.  My brother had lived his dream and ended up with a multitude of blessings.  Vanessa had compromised her dreams and ended up with nothing, except what was in my memory bank and a storage locker that I could no longer afford. Somewhere along the way, I had stopped living my dreams and started living the dreams and chasing the goals society had placed upon me.

Life.

Sometimes, life doesn’t work out the way you imagine.  You end up 75 years old, not married and without any children.  Many people might find that type of life miserable, a failure, extremely unimaginable and disappointing, but not me.  And not Charlie Rose.

To be honest, I had no idea that Charlie Rose wasn’t married or that he had no children to inherit his incredible legacy.  It was only in researching for my tribute to him that I learned these aspects of his life.  Funny.  I thought I was the only person who wasn’t going to let the absence of typical existence hold me back from living out my dreams.

I knew Charlie Rose was on my radar for decades for some reason.  I always felt a connection to him, as well as a high-level of respect.

Having no passion for the field of medicine, Charlie Rose changed his life mid-college at Duke University.  At first, he graduated in history and then law (finishing the Juris Doctorate) then later changed to pursue business in New York, but then finally realized what his first and only wife was doing was far more interesting.  Her field of interest was broadcasting.

After working for various stations, making a name for himself along his journeyed path, Charlie Rose found himself divorced and living in Dallas, Texas.  Texas wasn’t an awkward place for him, I bet.  He was born in the South, in Henderson, North Carolina.  He was apparently comfortable enough with the Southern scene that he was given his own namesake show.    

Living out his dream in the “Big D” went on for years.  Although, New York beckoned again for the bigger opportunities being offered at NBC, PBS and CBS.  Working as a team player moving into the role of producer and executive producer, Charlie Rose at the mid-life age of basically 49, ventured back into the host chair and anchored his own namesake show, The Charlie Rose Show.

 

Over the past 26 years, since 1991, Charlie Rose has interviewed and challenged several experts and gifted people in the fields of Humor, Brain Studies, Performance, Technology and even recipients of the Nobel Laureate.  From George Carlin to Google’s CEO, Rose has prodded the minds of our most intriguing humans.  Hosting panel discussions on President Obama’s Brain Initiative to the ins and outs of the internet, Rose has made us aware of the most complex and emotional topics many are afraid to face.

 

Charlie Rose is now roughly 75 years old.  He faces each day with a sense of accomplishment.  Rarely, I’m sure is there time to feel defeated for not having children or getting married again.  For like Charlie, I too, find very little time to stop and wish I coulda, shoulda, woulda. 
 

My life, I hope, is at mid-stream now. I’m just realizing I must face the world of social media and lay claim to my space.  I, like Charlie, have already ventured deep into my first loves of fashion, entertainment, writing and teaching.  At this time in my life, I want to express my thoughts, my opinions and my views.  I want a chair at the table.  In fact, in a few months, I will launch my new YouTube Channel under the name Wroxfair 395 Communications.  And, my first video will be the premiere video of my new talk show, entitled, “At the Table with Vanessa Brantley.” 

I’m not going to wait for someone to write my obituary for the world to know my story.  I’m writing my story.  I’m documenting my life…the good, the bad, the unconventional, and the just plain me.  I’m inviting you to take the journey with me.  To ask me questions and to challenge my mind. So reread my blogs and get your questions ready.  For beginning in a few months, I’m stopping the mass market chatter and walking in the path of one of my intellectual heroes, Charlie Rose. 

Soon, I will bring you exceptional and deep monologues from the intriguing and intellectual crevices of my mind.  No more fear about what others might say about my beliefs and opinions.  No more fear about my losing my livelihood and career because I disagree with some boss or politician.  And definitely, no more fear about going broke if my house doesn’t sell.  Let them have it. 

No more stress. 

I have a life to live and oh so much more learning to do.  I want to know more, do more, meet more people and talk about my experiences to the world.  Like Charlie Rose, I’m prepared, credentialed and ready.

So, let’s talk.

 

*Vanessa Brantley  Style395.blogspot.com  April 6, 2017,  "Charlie Rose: Living His Dream", Volume 5, Blog 1a [vol. 5, 1a-1c].