Who am I?

My name is Alan, and I am a child at heart and student of living. I respect and honor balances between good business and the natural environment. Also important to me are other peoples' space, and the spiritual truths I have learned from many dear and loving friends.

The people who raised me are a group of real fine folks anyone could be proud to call family. They believe in southern hospitality as a means of communicating and living during their short time in this physical world.

I was born in southeast Texas in the early 1950's, and my heritage is of European and American Indian blood lines. Most of the European lineage is from Scotland and Ireland. My American Indian blood comes from the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi.

... what I do

I am a Professional Geologist with the "Solid Waste Section" of the Tennessee Division of Solid Waste Management. Our staff regulates sanitary landfills in one of the most diverse (physiographically) states in the USA. Although it is sometimes very challenging to keep up with the many tasks we perform, it is always satisfying for our staff to help establish and nurture positive relationships with the regulated community.

My side interests and hobbies include PC multimedia file generation with synthesizing music, pixelating graphics, and creating web pages. I also get into water coloring, researching Native American cultures, rock hounding, creating bead and leather crafts, wood working, writing, story telling, power walking, hiking, and honest communications with the world through the internet.

Walking Grizzly Bear is an Indian name I use as a handle on the internet. It was derived from my affinity with bears and the bear totem (Yanu), and a simple lesson Reverend Malcom Patton finally got to me with. Reverend Patton says we should all, "Talk the talk, and then walk the walk". Although I falter sometimes, this lesson is a part of my essence and my living.

The names of other folks given credit for playing instruments in "The Great Forest Ensemble" and those of folks in my stories are all fictional, though their metaphoric lessons and natures are very real. Some of the characters are modeled after real folks I have known and loved. Linda, for instance, knows I wrote about "Mother-bear" of and for her. Most of the characters are more like tools serving as guides to learning (in the Bear stories), or as a touch of realism in the music.

I do not consider my Self or my personal character as being written into any of the characters in the Bear stories, although I do draw from personal experience, personal issues, and much research for those writings. It might seem somewhat of an ego thing to credit Walking-Grizzly-Bear for playing lead flute in all of my music. Truth is, I do all of the writing, scoring, production, etc. for each synthesized song and medley of songs on my pages. It would be egotistical to not mention that this site would not be what it is today without the support from folks simply saying thanks, as well as the critique and assistance from friends like Jane and Debbie.

Lastly, the other dear folks who I have mentioned in my writings of PC Tips, Music Credits (those not playing instruments), Bear Stories, etc., are all real. Mentioning them in these pages is only intended as an honor and appreciation for them being in my life. All my relations...

Flow Chart of Links Grizzly Bear's Den... Grizzly Bear's Links

Grizzly Bear's Mail...