Georgia Durante - The Company She Keeps

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge:

Scott Deal, who listened to my life story over several glasses of wine in my backyard and urged me to put it down on paper. Without his encouragement, this book would not have been written.

Gail Stewart, my early copy editor, whose Radcliff education could in no way prepare her for the editing of this book. Yes, Gail, I took out all the profanity that made you cringe. Wish you were still with us to finally see the fruits of our labor. I miss you.

Buddy Hackett, whose opinion I value. You were right, Buddy, I made the changes you suggested. Sherry Hackett, my dearest of friends. Thanks for the positive attitude and for standing behind me. Your belief in this book has helped it come to be.

Barry Lund, with Lintas Cambell Ewald Advertising Agency, and Barry Meier, with Avalon Films, who put up with me writing this book between takes on our annual fifty-day summer shoots for Chevrolet.

Sidney Sheldon, who took time out from writing his own book to critique mine. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

Ralph Cossey, a true friend, who unselfishly gave of his time for three years, freeing me from my daily drudgery, allowing me to write without interruption. More books could be written if everyone with a book in them had a Ralph in their life.

Jimmy Breslin, whose helpful suggestions were invaluable. Im honored by the interest you have taken and by the guidance you have provided. It is very much appreciated.

Frank Aloi, whose book, The Hammer Conspiracies, was helpful in jogging my memory and placing my lifes events in the correct chronology.

Marty Allen and his beautiful wife, Katie, thank you for your friendship and belief in me when I needed encouragement. Your unrelenting effort in helping me to bring this book together has given the word friendship a new meaning.

Quincy Jones, who used to think of me as church people until he read my book. Thanks, Q, for urging me to press forward with my dream.

A special thanks to all of my friends who took the time to read my rough drafts and point out where I fell short. There are too many of you to mention by name. You know who you are. Without you, and your encouraging faith in me, these pages would never have been turned.

Id like to thank all of the people at Hambleton-Hill Publishing who have worked long and hard to get this book out in seven months. What a team! Thank you, Van Hillyoure one heck of a businessman. Thank you, Bethany Snyder, my copy editor, for all those weekends you forfeited to make our deadline. You did a superb job. And a special thanks to Sandra Laughlin, who received this manuscript on a Monday and stayed up all night reading it. (Has your husband forgiven me yet?) Tuesday we made a deal to publish. Thanks for your receptiveness and insight. Your inspiration over this project has made it come to life. I will always be indebted to you.

And finally, Chuck Woolery, who lovingly led me back to my spiritual side.

Authors Note

This book has been written from my memory of events in my life. Although Im amazed at my recall, there were times when I could not remember exact conversations and times of events. In these instances, I have improvised to move the story along. I have strong opinions of some of the people in this book which I do not hesitate to state. They are my own personal convictions which I believe I have a right to express.

There are few, but some of the names in this book have been changed to protect the innocent... as well as the guilty.

The Saga Continues....

February 15, 2008

Its been ten years since the first publication of this book. A lot has happened in those ten years. Its another book. The result of writing my memoirs has not only changed my life, but the lives of so many people who read this book and contacted me with their revelations. They conveyed to me that they saw themselves on the pages. All their stories were different, but the same. They said, if I could do it with what I was up against, then they could do it. I had no idea my writing would send this kind of a message. There was no hidden agenda in my words. I was just telling my story. Their encouraging disclosures took me on another path in life. I began to speak in shelters and prisons in hopes of inspiring even more people to make positive changes in their lives. I came to the conclusion that this was Gods plan for me. I was meant to live the life that I did in order to come out on this end of it to help other people find their way.

My love life hasnt changed much, but the loves in my life have served to change me. My friend Susan Stafford, who was the original Wheel Of Fortune hostess (before Vanna White), was living in my guesthouse. She had a big birthday bash in a private home in Bel Air. It was there that I met Chuck Woolery. Soon after, Susan moved out and Chuck moved in. It was a real Love Connection. We ventured on a romantic sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands, flew to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby and attended many awards dinners and other functions together. During that time I became president of Safe Passage, an abused-womens organization, and Chuck was there to lend his support for the cause.

I believe people come into your life for a reason. Chucks purpose in my life was to awaken my spiritual side. I have always believed in God and been acutely aware of the angel on my shoulder, but I wasnt walking the walk. Chuck and I spent many mornings over coffee on my patio reading the Bible. My perspectives on life began to change. I felt that God had a purpose for me, that I had survived for a reason. I began to follow the path that I believed to be my destiny, which did not include Chuck. I knew the direction I chose to go was the right one as life was unfolding in ways that validated my thoughts every day. One such experience is when I was invited to a prayer breakfast with the president in Washington, D.C. I was filled with a spirit and an overpowering need to help people in crisis.

It seemed at every turn I was led toward my perceived destiny. I was asked to go to the Canon Air Force Base in New Mexico to speak to a group of officers about domestic violence. At the time, soldiers were coming home from Iraq and killing their wives. The military wanted my perspective on how and why this kind of abuse occurs and what signs to look for. When I finished my speech I got a standing ovation. Colonel John Posner presented me with the commanders coin. I didnt understand the significance of it then, but I learned later that only the highest of dignitaries get the honor of receiving that coin. I silently asked myself, How did I get here? I was given a VIP tour of the base and offered a ride in an F16. I had recently had four vertebra fused due to a seventy-mile-per-hour head-on crash while filming a chase scene with Bobby Unser Jr. in downtown Los Angeles. It was too soon after the surgery, and my neck couldnt take the g-force. I do have an open invitation to take that ride, however, and I plan to take them up on the offer.

Evidently Colonel Posner thought I was a good candidate for the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) and nominated me for an extraordinary trip with the military throughout the European theater. Out of twenty-five hundred nominees, only forty-five people were selected. How a former wheelwoman for the Mob found her way into that elite category of people chosen, I will never know. After accepting the invitation from the Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld to participate in the Defense Departments program, I got the incredible opportunity to learn firsthand about U.S. military personnel, their equipment and capabilities, and national defense strategies.