An Evening with Guy Baldwin

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of sitting with the Los Angeles Band of Brothers (and a few special guests) for a Q&A with Guy Baldwin.

Amongst the many words that can be used to describe Mr. Baldwin, one that comes to mind is expansive. Not surprising, given his background in psychology and experience as an author. Guy did not have a simple answer to any question of the evening. And that was a splendid experience. All too often we find ourselves looking for how to say what we mean to express in as few words as possible, often distorting the personality and color of our perspective in the process.

Guy is a consummate raconteur. Each response a stroll through his experience, opinion, philosophy or personal history. I found myself with question after question at the ready, wanting the conversation to continue for far longer than was possible.

From my first question of the evening asking him about when he found himself at his lowest in his relationship with the leather community to the afterchat and book signings, Guy's fluidity matched the voice I've heard over the years in all his writings.

My parting comment to him was a reflection of my experience with running for and winning a title: that there was a time not that long ago when I could never have imagined actually speaking to Guy Baldwin; that with achieving the title (and all the background that is implied in having done so), I not only have had the opportunity to meet him, but have the hope of being able to have a further friendship with him, and have a stronger degree of comfort and hope of being able to someday serve in a similar capacity for a subsequent generation of leathermen.

He expressed to us that it was a special evening for him in that in all the interviews he'd given over the years, he hadn't had the opportunity to have one with a roomful of titleholders. That we are the closest things he has to children.

I hadn't truly realized the extent to which his presence had played a role in my development as a budding leatherman so many years ago until last night, both directly and indirectly.