From the Journey Family and back to normal life
During this time, we still continued our groups, though not with people outside of the family. The groups became more directed, focusing on blind obedience to Nick and sacrifice on his behalf. This was around 1973 (I am not sure of this date). About half of the group left as a result of this. The remaining members were Nick's most loyal followers who by then were carrying a heavy burden of guilt for driving out people they loved. Bonnie and I left during this time. Once you left, you were dead to the remaining members. Those of us who did leave, stayed in touch and maintained our friendships. Over time, as more and more left, people were forgiven and friendships resumed. A group of diehards remained for another two or three years. During that time, a farm was attempted, a roadside fruit and vegetable stand, and a restaurant. Debts grew, survival became more difficult until the group disbanded as Nick, the founder fled to Greece to avoid creditors.
Sadly for me, in 1984 when my marriage to Bonnie ended, so did my contact with Dennis and Evelyn David and Margaret, Eric and Bobbie, and others. Happily, since Bonnie maintained contact, my kids have had the chance to know these people and their children.
The reason this web site exists is due to a couple of happy accidents. In late 2006 I moved from New York. I had been living in Westchester county, just a few miles north of my precious Manhattan. I moved to Seattle. The move was my first as an adult. I have spent my entire life in New York. After the move, I discovered some old slides I took in 1970 and 1971. They were of some of the people in Journey. Just for fun, I did a Google search on Journey Alert. To my amazement, the first listing was for the Journey Reunion Homepage. Eric Cohen and his wife Bobbie met with Bonnie, Donna, Dennis and Evylen and others got together in 2003. Some, like Donna, Dennis, and Eveyln look exactly the same. Seeing the pictures of them in 2003 was for me like looking back in time. Dennis has aged a bit, I think, but Eveyln looks exactly as I remember her.
Now I am 63. I live a bit east of Seattle and have the job I dreamed about for so many years. I work for a very large company helping to humanize their contact with the hundreds of millions of customers they have around the world. Things have come full circle for me; from a young man searching for a connection, to an old man working to share some of that early wisdom.
A lot of people are angry about their experiences with Journey after it became the Journey Family. There is certainly some justification for anger. That's not true for me. I am sad that people I still love are unreachable. I am happy that the summer of my life was spent with people who still mean so much for me. I am grateful for my time with Bonnie and for my two wonderful kids, Betsy and Robby. I am especially grateful for the fact that thanks to Journey, I have not allowed my fears to stop me. I may not have always made the best decisions, but I had the courage to act on the decisions I made, and got to experience a rich life full of adventure and feelings, both good and bad.
I think that too many people in my generation make choices based on safety and security. It seems strange to me that my generation's kids didn't inherit the social conscience and sense of adventure that we had. The world has changed a lot since that night Irv and I showed up at 64 West 21st Street. My life was changed by Journey. Irv, thanks for bringing me there. Bonnie, thank you for being my best friend all those years. Dennis, Evelyn, Marg, David, Eric, Bobbie, Donna, Bob, Kate, Sven, and all those I didn't name, thank you for your love and friendship. I would welcome you back into my life at any time if you would like to know me again.
One of the penalties for courage is the opportunity to do stupid things. I did plenty of those. I did good stuff too. When my father died when I was 16, I made a promise to myself. I promised that I would never have to say, "If only..". My dad was an investment banker. He worked for Goldman Sachs for over 20 years. He finally left to become a partner in a Chicago firm. He did that partly because Goldman never sent him to the American Bankers Convention in Hollywood Florida. It was a condition of his employment at his new firm that he go to the convention. They kept their word. He died in Hollywood Florida on the night before the convention started. An irony I recognized at 16 and one I think of every day since.
Journey gave me the ability to honor my promise to my father. I can't blame it for not giving me the good sense to always do the right thing. On balance, all these years later I can't complain. I have two wonderful children. I'm remarried and very much in love. I have had more wonderful adventures than most people. I have had several varied and extremely rewarding careers. Like Forest Gump I have also blundered into moments of history. I worked with Walter Cronkite, Charlie Osgood, Howard Cossell. I watched Apollo 13 take off. I was under a car at the Newark riots, was tear gassed at Columbia University. I have witnessed more than my share of history. Of course this all had a price, maybe one I will be sorry I have to pay. Who knows?
If you have read this far, you know more about me than most. You have shared one of the most important times in my life. Thank you for your time and patience. If you happen to be one of the people who knew me then, please take a minute to get in touch. Just click the "contact me" link on the bottom of the page. I will get back to you.
Bob Walter, August 2008, February 2009