Casting about

Book excerpt: Born in New York City in 1924, the author is the product of a broken home. From his mother and her mother before her he inherited a lack of ability to share his feelings-and his affections. Singularly aware of his attraction to men at an early age his life has been a constant battle between finding a man he could love and respect, yet turning away from those who might have brought love into his life. Achieving early success as an actor's agent, that he was open about his sexuality put him constantly on the alert against those jealous of his success. Well thought of though he was his innate lack of self-worth caused him to give up an opportunity to open his own agency. Switching careers to casting for films and television, he was well respected by his peers and served as a Governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for two terms. When the graying of the industry brought his career to a sudden halt, David volunteered in various organizations whose purpose was to support people with AIDS. Peppered with true accounts of his romantic escapades in a seemingly futile search for a man to love, he eventually found peace through a stud of metaphysics. It is to his two felines, Dickens and Princess whom he credits with teaching him the meaning of unconditional love! After first Dickens and then Princess had to be put to sleep he thought long and had about adopting other cats. Concerned as to whether he would be around long enough to see them through their lives, in October 2004 he adopted littermates Tommy and Cookie. They have brought further love and understanding into his life!