ABOUT:
OK, I am not really an
‘about’ kind of fellow. Firstly it confuses me, but I
confuse easily. Is this where you post your résumé of
your rap sheet? Or rather is it where you list bio facts
as you toot your horn.
I’ll play it safe and stick with bio facts. The
horn I toot is best heard in my work, my writing speaks
volumes ‘about’ me.
Born
in Chicago 1951, a Pisces no less, a middle son of
three. Spent years K thru 3rd grade in a strict
parochial school. I learned a lot of academic stuff
there, wasn’t much else to do. In reflection the
curriculum seemed on the collegiate level. Our South
Side neighborhood was rough and tumble; nothing short of
a war zone these days.
Family uprooted and settled in So. California,
September 1960. Attended public schools in Pico Rivera
and graduated in 1969 from El Rancho High School.
Learned some good things in spite of the many
distractions.
Volunteered
for the Army in 1970, received airborne wings in Ft.
Benning, Feb 1971. Arrived in Vietnam April 1971,
assigned to Co A 4th Bat 173rd Airborne Brigade; most
all of my time in country spent in the field. As good
fortune would have it, my unit as a whole was brought
home to Ft. Campbell KY, in August of 1971 regardless of
an individual’s time in country. I make no apology for
having an abbreviated tour; hey I was just following
orders. It only takes one bad day to die in Nam, whether
it is your first day or last day there. Of course I had
some scary encounters but I lived to remember them, and
sure as hell I have some fond memories bonding with my
platoon mates. The good, the bad and the uncommon
experiences will live with me till my last moments on
earth.
I married a Costa
Rican gal in 1975 that I met on my second journey to
Central America. We have three daughters. Divorced in
1998, been single since.
Attended Rio Hondo Community College Whittier, CA,
with substantial breaks in between classes, after 35
years finally completed all required courses to enter
Cal State at LA as a junior in 2004. After the first
quarter, I never returned to college.
Most of my professional career has been in
the field of sales in one capacity or another. I did
have a stint with FEMA for three years from 1992 thru
1995. Retired from Specialty Doors On Line of El
Segundo, CA after 12 years in 2015.
Writing is neither hobby nor second career
for me, yet it has always been a passion, inspired by
the works of others. That said you are not a writer
until you have found your unique style and ‘voice’.
Which is why I am comfortable, finally, with calling
myself a writer. Damn right, and that is what I am
really ‘about’.
Some
rebels are born to ride…I was born to write.
For a more detailed summary of the early
years, 1956 thru 1973, see the Foreword of Road
Scholars.
Thanks for
visiting my website. I hope you found it interesting
enough to read my extended works.
Regards,
Rudolph
A. Barba
“Don't bother just to be better than your
contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than
yourself.”
―William Faulkner
Rudolph Barba
About