Fall 1980
Memphis, Tennessee
Life the on the professional wrestling circuit hadn’t been easy for Glen and Charlene. They would spend weeks, sometimes months apart as Glen traveled the world and enjoyed his stardom.
Back inside their luxurious home in Memphis, Charlene quietly cleaned the kitchen counters. Of course, they weren’t dirty. They were never dirty. Glen was never home to make any use of them.
Charlene sighed.
They had only been married a couple of years, and Charlene was already seeing changes in Glen. Those changes had started when Glen’s father passed away just weeks after the wedding; it seemed like some sort of rock of stability had been taken from Glen that day of the funeral.
In the background, Charlene could hear President Reagan talking on the television. She often kept the TV on just so that there was some sort of sound in the house to pull her away from her thoughts.
As she finished up cleaning for the day, she walked over to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine. And though she knew it was pretty early in the day to start drinking, she couldn’t help herself. She was so alone.
She noticed the audio of the television change from an afternoon newscast to a professional wrestling program.
Still on top of the wrestling world, Golden Glen Miller continues his historic run as world champion two years and going! What else is there left for this man to achieve!
Charlene walked over and sat down on the couch, idly watching the highlights of Glen’s most recent match. For most days this was how she got to spend time with him, though she knew it had become a one-sided relationship.
She wondered what he was like when he was out on the road, wrestling in front of large stadiums across the United States and sometimes internationally.
Did he remember her?
Was he being faithful?
Charlene took a sip of the wine and pondered.
Spring 1981
New York City
Glen put his face down, pressed against his left nostril and then moved his head from side-to-side while snorting. The line of cocaine quickly made his eyes widen and cause of a rush of excitement through his body.
Two young, beautiful women sat across the room on a hotel bed and giggled with delight at being with a star like Golden Glen Miller.
He sat up and shook his head from side-to-side to get his bearings. Like a line of cocaine, life had become quite a rush for the small-town boy turned worldwide superstar.
He knew he had a lovely wife back in Memphis that was probably too neglected, but he had work to do in order to give her such a magnificent lifestyle.
Glen figured he could patch things up with Charlene at some point down the road, but for now he needed to earn his riches and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Turning his head to the hotel bed, he grinned before jumping onto the two girls while laughing.
All illustrations from the talented David G.