Clyde McNeal:  

Hey, I'm in a hurry, so I'm using the Story Wizard...let's see how much fun this can be... I hope people remember me as a fun person...a good thing. Then again, as Clyde, I've never really tried to be anything other than what I am. So, it's hard to say what I hope people will remember about me. Smiles mean a lot to me, so if you remember even one, then my work here is done. I always wanted to be a priest when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a great idea. As it turns out, they were right. The way I blow off steam is to blow off steam. As an alternative to that, I just sit somewhere quietly and let it escape on its own. Sometimes the only way is to have someone pull your finger. The question asks what was the wildest thing I ever did in school...I'm afraid I cannot answer that (truthfully) because I think it might have been against the law. If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have motivation, talent, and vodka to be able to deal with the day-to-day. I do not have any heroes, though there are a lot of people I genuinely admire. I most admire my niece who just graduated from Harvard Law. She's an incredible person and always has been. She inspires everyone she meets. It asks where I have lived and why I moved...there isn't enough room in cyberland for the correct answer to that. I've lived everywhere, mostly as I was appearing in shows there or trying to get cast. Name a major U.S. city and I've probably lived there. Let's see, there's Chicago, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Denver...I usually returned to Omaha, though. You might say I based myself out of Omaha for all these years. I don't know why, but no other place felt the same. Go figure. The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is That Mugger, because I'd like to beat his a_ _!. I couldn't get my hands out of my pockets in time. I am obsessed with being in peaceful circumstances. Little else motivates me. Does that make sense? Sure I like a good laugh and a good time, but overall, the thing that motivates me most is my search for peace (and not just the eternal kind). The biggest surprise in my life (they remind us here that life doesn't turn out as we expect)...my biggest surprise was when I discovered that I wasn't necessarily going to "grow old gracefully". It's pretty vain; isn't it? But there's more to it than that. I feel sure I'm not alone in this. So, this is a surprise I get every time I pass a mirror...the Picture of Dorian Grey comes to mind...in reverse. If I could improve my home, I'd remodel the whole thing and add on a second story. My dream home would be the one I have now, but without some of its "issues".. God knew what He was doing. I have no children. I love other people's kids, though, and have always tried to help young people in my career. Which teacher would you love to see again? Why? I'd love to see several of my teachers again, but the one I'd like to see most is no longer living. It's probably best that way, because seeing him again would be one of those butt-kicking things I've mentioned. But seriously...I'd like to see Ira Evers, or Richard Meskill (if he was alive), or Harold D. Mineer...because of all my teachers, these three not only believed in my abilities, but they showed it at every turn and in thousands of ways. When you talk about people who made a difference this is what you're talking about. It's one thing to say: "That Clyde McNeal is one heck of a guy" but it's another thing altogether to prove your good thoughts in every word, thought and deed. These gentlemen presented me with opportunities that helped make me the person I am today. They refused to accept mediocre effort from me. They demanded my best. They took advantage of every opportunity to show me how to be more than I ever thought I could be back then. While others stood idly by and some even did things that deliberately hurt me, or ruined parts of my life in high school, these guys stood up for me and went WAY beyond what was required of them, to encourage me and help me grow. I hope you know what I mean. If I won $100 million, I'd give some of it to my family, then spend the rest on investments, savings and travel. Campus life for me was one big awful nightmare at first...maybe that's why I've gone back to school at my old age. My first dorm was a dump that was under quarantine my second semester. My first roommate was a mean-spirited person who is, I'm sure, gracing the halls of some penitentiary even as we speak (if someone hasn't outright killed him already). They'd had a race-riot the summer before I attended, and the campus was filled with reminders of the hatred, fear and shame of it all. This came very close to being the biggest surprise of my life...except that the Theater and Music departments saved my life. To be truly happy, I'm supposed to tell you, I would be living in a mountain retreat, and going fishing everyday (for fun and a little food). I'd be writing and submitting my work, while enjoying having my feet in the dirt and mud of my retreat. The question asked with whom...that's a very interesting question. Let me just say that my only requirement in terms of whom I'd like to have with me would be that whoever it was loved that kind of life as much as I do, or more. My current age is 55; I think. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be dead. I was so completely right. It's like when you look on Classmates and don't see a lot of pictures...it smells of death...or rotting innards. While we ourselves may not be fond of pictures we're in, other people may get the biggest kick out of it...besides, in a very short time, those people will be looking at our picture from the computer in some retirement village or old folks home. Ought we not, then, to do a little better job of things? But I digress... When it comes to career aspirations, I find that your aspirations for a career are often the complete polar opposite of yo...Expand for more