My Traveling Companion

 

Will Thigpen,

Tybee Island

Will and I have shared a personal friendship for 15 years. Our friendship took root two years after his graduation in the spring of 2010 and after his experience at LaGrange College. He was the best philosophy student I taught on the High School level. Darryl and I attended his many musical performances in Atlanta: see some of the photos of these posted here. We have traveled together several times: Lookout Mountain and Cloudland Canyon, New Orleans, New York and Brooklyn, Miami Beach, Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, Charlotte, Savannah repeatedly, as well as Asheville. Will has hiked with me in the Blue Ridge Mountains, including the Graveyard Fields and Waterfall where My Mom's and Darryl's ashes remain. 

Will observes Allen Ginsberg

High Museum of Art

Our friendship began when Will asked me if I thought he should read =On the Road= by Jack Kerouac. Telling him a little about the main characters and their story, seeing his reaction, the answer was clearly yes. It was not long before he was quoting the famous:

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”

Will even called himself Neal after Neal Cassady. There are many connections. 

Will comes often to Darryl's and my Townhouse. Here he is at Christmas, giving us a performance. He always struck me as a natural for the stage and for singing. He's a natural entertainer, writing his own songs and music. 

We three shared a love for Leonard Cohen, Radiohead, Kate Bush, Rufus Wainwright, Dead Can Dance, and many others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7VYIVboWNA

One of our first trips together was to New Orleans. Not everything went as planned, but there were some fine moments. Will met and liked Katie that trip. She was always a great hostess. 

 

Katie and Will 

with Tiramisu 

Irene's

A Beignet at

Cafe Du Monde

Fabulous dinner

Galatoires

 The Nook Across from Piedmont Park 

At A La Folie

Miami Beach

with Wolfgang and Sebastian

After a swim at Tybee

Will and I took the train to NYC and Brooklyn to see dear friend Joseph Mydell perform Julius Caesar at BAM. We all had a great time together and Will loved the performance. 

On the train to NYC

Will entertained fellow travelers.

Joe and Will

Coco's Sunset Grill, Tybee

 

The West Brow,

Lookout Mountain

Will at Graveyard Fields,

Blue Ridge Parkway

Merry Pranksters at Crystal Beer Parlor

 Supper in Asheville. 

Jasper House

Will and Amber Taylor, Sexual Side Effects

Sold out performance, Charlotte, NC

Starr's Porch, Lookout Mt. 

Will at Stonewall Bar

Greenwich Village 

Will at the Summit

Blackrock Mountain

 State Park

Toast of Atlanta

Will performs in our room.

  Highlands, NC

Malaprops Bookstore, Asheville

Savannah Tongue

On the Train from New Orleans

December, 2025