Enter at Your Own Risk
(What are monkeys doing here?)
Greetings from Maine, "The Way Life Should Be" as we like to say here. I'm James Fereira: writer, photographer, and creator of SillySillyMan.com.
At the ripe age of 67, I am always thrilled to have a virginal experience... at anything. This is my latest. Building a blog site is new to me, and none of it has been easy. That's because I grew up before the advent of computers and smart phones. Most of us born last century have had to learn this stuff from the ground up. Add to that my Polish lineage, Pisces sun sign and a good dose of daft... and there you have it.
Silly Silly Man describes me well, though it would not be incorrect to also call me Serious Serious Man. I admit that I'm a complex person; a melding of disparate parts.
The website name is a nod to my late sister, Michelle, who was also my close friend and confidant. Often during our seriously silly conversations she would remark "... Why you silly silly man!" I can still hear her speak the words. It is surreal and difficult to fathom that she's really gone. Yet she is close by every day.
I hope you enjoy my musings and photography. My intention is for this to be a place where heart meets humor. A place for myself and others to connect authentically, and to explore the richness of life and our shared experience in it. A place to be soothed, amused and hopefully... inspired.
May we all remember to laugh- to not take ourselves too seriously, and most importantly, to embrace silliness in our lives.
Meet The Team
James Fereira
He Him His Creator, Writer, Photographer
Catsby aka "Mr. Meow"
Meow Meowm Meows
Director of Human Resources
Banyan aka "Banny"
Meow Meowm Meows
Director of Publications
I'm a writer/poet, amateur photographer, musician/performer, public speaker, foodie, history docent & tour guide, cat lover, outdoor enthusiast, retired mental health professional/retired commercial driver and lefty activist/questioner of norms/status & authority. I grew up in Andover, MA. and was raised in a working-class family. I attended public schools, graduating in 1976 and entering the College of Music at University of Lowell (now UMass/Lowell), matriculating to Psychology and graduating with a BA in 1981. I worked in the mental health/social services sector for 25+ years, then for 8 years I drove a passenger bus, and more recently have been employed as a history walking tour guide. I've continuously reinvented myself in the work force, having taken a variety of odd jobs throughout my lifetime, including roller coaster brakeman, monogram machine operator, house painter, and editor of community resource publications, among others.
I'm a survivor in life, particularly of death (so far), childhood bullying, child sexual abuse/PTSD, AIDS, cancer and harassment/oppression as a gay man. I am passionate about writing, cats, the outdoors, the arts, friends, food, photography and travel. Thank you for visiting my website, which is a labor of love, and what I consider to be an online journal and type of memoir writing. Here are some odd and not very important facts about me:
- I was born breech, with syndactylic toes (second & third on each foot), the middle boy of five but named "Jr." after my Father.
- My natal chart includes Pisces (Sun Sign), Taurus (Moon), Leo (Ascending) with a Fixed Grand Cross (all of this is very telling).
- I can wiggle my nose and ears, but can't snap my fingers on my right hand despite being a 'righty' - and I can no longer whistle.
- I have never been to Europe (it's on my bucket list), especially Italy, Iceland, and Portugal (but I'd go anywhere on the continent).
- I like dogs, but they don't always like me (I was attacked by a German Shepherd as a kid and dogs can sense the fear still in me).
- When I sit in a restaurant I can't have my back to the front door (it's a PTSD response to being assaulted when my back was turned).
Disclaimer: This blog is a work of creative nonfiction. Stories are told from the perspective and memory of the author. All events depicted here are true though some names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. In cases where real names are used, the author has obtained express permission from the subject, unless of course they're dead. Dead people were consulted using a medium: permission was granted posthumously.