Happy New Year…Sad Old Year?

And so, we bid a fond farewell to 2013- and welcome in the sparkling new 2014- a year with all sorts of promise and our anticipation of what might happen, what we might experience, and how well we may hold up through it all!

This past year was not among the normal experiences for me- as I began it having had cardiac arrest, a double bypass, and the implantation of a defibrillator/pacemaker within the previous year's final two months. I certainly began 2013 with uncertainty, and hoped that things would return to as normal as possible- and, thankfully, it seems like it all worked out to be pretty close to that! Your concern during that time period means more than I can say.

I also went through the heart-breaking passing of the man who got me into the broadcasting business, and generously passed the torch of the Svengoolie family along to me- Jerry G. Bishop, who was born in Chicago, was fortunate to work his way back here through the transitions of broadcasting to show his home town his great talent in radio and television- and then moved on to  a delightful existence in San Diego. Regardless, he left us far too soon, and his influence on me will always remain an important part of my life and career.

Sadly, the original Sven coffin which was actually Jerry's Sven's second- and my first- had reached its final usage- its hinges unsteady (and, we discovered, actually installed upside down!), its surface deteriorating, and its actual frame starting to fall apart, due to the fact that it could not stand up on its own, and had to be screwed into the side scenery pieces in order to keep for falling forward when opened. It will end up in a safe and suitable home- in a place of honor in Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications, hopefully by this summer- and will live on in shows shot previous to the arrival of our amazing NEW coffin (unless we have enough production time to reshoot some of the opens and closes to those shows...) Still- that coffin set piece has been like a part of me since 1979- and , as much as I love the new coffin- it was hard to say goodbye to the old one.

However, I don't want to paint 2013 over completely with the brush of sadness- it held so many great moments- including my being able to return in decent health to work and life.I was lucky enough to be honored -for a second time-with the national Rondo award as the past year's "favorite horror host", and to welcome so many new and devoted fans all over the country. Having legions of Sven fans turn out any time  I did an appearance was flattering and somewhat overwhelming.Just knowing that people- and especially families- look forward to their Saturday night visits with me makes me proud and honored.

And now we come to 2014- I want to start out by pretty much down playing too much further mention of my cardiac problems (other than in the first monthly Sven newsletter of 2014, in reviewing the old year!) and move on to all the excitement the new year will bring- and I'm happy that I'll have all of you joining me for  whatever comes next! A very happy, successful and healthy 2014 to us all!