When Launching a New Business, Bring Plenty of Cigarettes for the Zombies Under the Bridge

The following piece was to appear in a Miamiour Dame has either cancelled without telling me, or is
magazine (which shall remain nameless) that never gotlost. You can only pose a guy so many different ways
beyond its first issue which was to include a story onon a chopper before it becomes impossible to avoid
a Miami chopper builder, a downtown jeweler, and aposing him for some kind of gay publication-- not that
local bikini designer. The parentheticals are mythere is anything wrong with that as Seinfeld and
comments after-the-fact.Let me tell you a true storyCastanza have reminded us over countless
about a young woman who got up early one morningreruns.Home is only a short drive away. I decide to go
looking for a fish market and ended up on the coverback and see if I can get hold of our female model via
of a magazine.It's six o'clock on a Sunday morning. Thean email. While I'm on the net, I call her cell phone. Still
sun still isn't up and I'm waiting below the Watson Islandnothing. I haven't a clue where she is. I drive back
bridge between Miami and Miami Beach feeling a littlethinking we can't just have a guy posing in the
foolish holding a bejeweled bra in my hand and a littlemagazine. We're already skating on politically incorrect
uncomfortable watching the homeless emerging fromthin ice as it is what with pin-ups for crisesakes, but
the shadows with the stray cats. I'm there to shoot thehaving just a guy and not a girl really would paint a
cover and pin-up pages (okay, so it wasn't verydifferent kind of picture of what the magazine is all
politically correct-- at least we offered both sexes),about. So, it's with great relief when I turn onto the dirt
alone in the dark with the rats, the cats, homelessroad beneath the bridge that I see Dennie talking to a
zombies looking for a smoke, and an over-the-top brawoman. I can't believe it, but our model finally showed
in my hand that would make a jaded Las Vegasup! I park, jump out and rush over to shake her hand
showgirl blush with envy.The bra is made of red acrylicbut the young lady stops me short with "I'm not her." I
and covered with Swarovski crystals. It's on loan fromlook at Dennie. He's smiling broadly. Seems this woman
a downtown jeweler for the photo shoot which, Godwas looking for the fish market on Watson Island. She
willing, will happen in a few minutes. I'm looking for copshad gotten up early to score some fresh fish for
patrolling the island but there aren't any because it's toodinner that night. She grew up in Miami but hadn't been
damn early!I know my faith in mankind is being tested.back in ten years. Since she was away, the city
The photographer who had agreed to do the shoot,moved the fish market and the commercial fishing
bailed at the eleventh hour. In desperation I turned toboats. In the short time I was away, Dennie convinced
Dennie and DK Cody of Cody Photo who shot ourher to pose for our magazine.She's only wearing
first cover. They agree to help me and suggest weflip-flops, shorts, and a t-shirt-- and no makeup. But we
schedule the shoot for 6am under the bridge to catchdon't care. She's adorable, smart, and has a great
the early morning light on the downtown skyline. Thisself-deprecating sense of humor.And she's brave, the
probably had something to do with Dennie's pioneerkind of personality that says "yes" to new adventures;
spirit bloodline (he's a descendent of Buffalo Bill) wherethe kind of person that has helped this magazine get
no one ever gave a thought about getting up beforepublished (Little did I know that this courage was not
sunrise.I know the Cody's will show, but I'm not so sureshared by the publisher). She's perfect. Her name?
about the others. I've never met them. I've only spokenAlecia Walker. She's on vacation, visiting her brother in
to them over the phone. Knowing that they are tradingMiami. Her home is in Maryland where she works as a
their time only for publicity and copies of the magazineSurgical Technologist.Within moments we have her
makes me wonder if they will really show. The longer Iditching her t-shirt and wearing the "bejeweled bra."
stand there alone in the dark, the less I'm sure theyWhen I see the light bouncing off those Swarovsky
will.Dennie and DK are the first faces to appear out ofcrystals, I know it was meant to be. If we had shot the
the darkness that don't ask me for a cigarette orpictures with Alecia any earlier, we wouldn't have
money. I hear myself paraphrasing the Cowardly Lion,gotten that startling effect. Call it serendipity-- I can't let
"I do believe in people, I do believe in people." Now, ifgo of my Cowardly Lion tail long enough to say it was
only the rest will show so I can shake loose of mymeant to be. That might be assuming too much. Only
Cowardly Lion tail: the owner of Miami Choppers whotime will tell. (I made the mistake of letting go of the tail
agreed to bring one of his custom bikes down to theat the launch party for the magazine that followed this
shoot, and the models.Patrick Jones is the first modelshoot a week later).I also can't promise if you say
to arrive. All the way from Ft. Lauderdale. He turns out"yes" to the magazine your life will change for the
to be a great guy with lots of enthusiasim for so earlybetter. I don't know how being on the cover of our
in the morning. I suspect he's from pioneer stock too.magazine and becoming the second ever Downtown
Before long, Miguel Suarez and his lovely wife Yami ofDame will make your life better, but hopefully for this
Miami Choppers drive up with the first light of the dayyoung spirited Ms. Walker, the Cody's, Patrick Jones,
and I feel my faith in humanity rising with the new day'sand the Suarezes, something good will come out of
sun.Since the pin-up pages are single, full-pagessaying "yes" to us (or at least to me).D.C. Copeland is
devoted to a "Downtown Dude" and "Dame," we starta writer and award-winning artist. When visiting
shooting Patrick on the bike immediately to catch theCopeland's personal website and blog you will discover
kind of light only insomniacs, milkmen, intrepid fishermen,that Wayne Cochran is the Patron Saint and that
farmers, buffalo hunters, and people living in Ft.many people consider it to be "The Rodney
Lauderdale who have to get up early for the commuteDangerfield of Blogs.
into Miami will see. An hour later I'm beginning to think