Still Standing…: My Journey from Streets and Saloons to the Stage, and Sinatra

by Tom Dreesen

The feeling of pride and nostalgia that overwhelmed me that night as we flew to Chicago never happened to me again. I can’t explain why it happened at all, but it’s a moment I’ll never forget. Life is funny—and cruel. My life has brought me to tears, in equal parts sorrow and joy.

That White Boy’s Crazy,

I didn’t give a fuck. Right is right.

Stoic. Justice over preservation

Viktor Frankl, a famous author and Holocaust survivor, once said, “There are two races of men in this world…the ‘race’ of the decent man and the ‘race’ of the indecent man.”

Like a lightning bolt, I realized the only thing that could stop me from making it on my own was my drinking. This would be one of the toughest decisions and biggest commitments of my life, because I loved to drink. But I loved my dream far more.

Johnny Carson once told me that for every one hundred people who can handle adversity, only one can handle success, because along with success comes a responsibility to remain successful.

“Success is living the life you want.”

“Tommy, if you possess something that you can’t give away, you don’t possess it; it possesses you. If someone says, ‘That’s a beautiful pair of cuff links,’ and you don’t give them to that person on the spot, you’re forced to admit that the cuff links own you.” He continued, “Think of Aristotle Onassis. He had billions of dollars and all the toys you could imagine. The second he died, everything he owned—the yachts, the mansions, the jewelry—it all belonged to someone else. Nothing we have is ours, we’re just using it.”

He grabbed my shoulder and looked me square in the eyes and said, “Tommy, please. Friends are never an imposition.”

In the end, the only things that matter in life are the relationships with those you love.

‘The talent you have is God’s gift to you, but what you do with that talent is your gift to God.’

because of all the love you gave me when we were growing up. All those things we learned in church. What you sow, you shall reap and cast your bread. All of that love you gave to me and others is coming back to you.”

Whether it’s for a sports team, a chess club, or a company sales prize, there is nothing better than being a true fanatic.

“Service to humanity is the best work of life.”