I Got Stuck...Part Two...

"I wonder if we'll ever get the hell out of here?" I stated in uncertainty staring at the clock, begging it to go faster.

It was almost 4am and we had slept in the cold LAX airport on black and while marble floor. Very comfortable and accommodating. At this point a cardboard box on a heating grate in New York would be the Ritz Carlton. Jamie and I stared at each other coldly, hating each other, damp sweat and anxiety poured over us. Silence. We just want to get out of here. "This sucks." Was a common response to our deliriously back and forth conversation as we tried to keep our spirits up. 

The clock stuck 3:45am and we packed up out makeshift bedding of carry-on items. With all the strength we could muster, we gathered our bags, which seemed to weight a billion pound now. We had to get through security. Rounding the corner for TSA we could see everyone was already in line. Another 40 minutes later we were there. The first time we went through security check the day before they pulled Jamie aside to rip her bag apart. She had a camera and a bottle of perfume she forgot to take out that set off certain alarm...and I guess she looked like a terrorist. Just for fun, I took her bag and left the exact same camera and perfume in there, we had time and I wanted to see what would happen. We made it through security without any trouble. Feeling safe at the airport yet? Same objects in the bag, no security stopped us. Wow. 

We made it to our gate. We still had another hour to see if we were going to make it out. We are flying standby so there is no guarantee. We got coffees through the endless line at the only Starbucks in our terminal, returning to stare at the clock again.

The plane started boarding. Our building anticipation deflated as the gate agent announced over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to begin boarding our nonstop flight to Philadelphia. This is a full flight and all passengers are checked in. We have a full flight. We will not have room for everyone's carry-on bags, if you have a roller bag, please bring it up now to get it checked."

"Welp, we aren't getting out on this one. Maybe we can take a nap." I said, sipping my shitty airport Starbucks. We made a new carry-on baggage bed and laid out watching the happy passengers board their plane tipping our coffees to them. The plane took off and we waved them goodbye.

"When's the next one?" Jamie asked, pulling out her neck pillow and eye mask. "Oh, I don't know, another 2 hours?" I responded. We took a nap and waited it out...

-YourFriendMatt

Ol' Trusty...Part One...

"Dude, this could be her last ride. It's only right we take her." I said to Chris convincing him to take the dilapitated band van to our most recent show.

Throughout the years music has taken me across the nation and back. I consider these some of the most formative years of my life. When you are 1,400 miles from home, have no money, everything you own is broken or smelly you learn a thing or two. Since my friends and I started playing music we have destroyed every one of my mom's cars, most of my friend's parents cars, every one of our own cars, vans bought strictly for the band (old or new) and now we have a hand-me-down 2005 Ford FreeStar.

The band van is a beautiful thing. It's your safe house. Office. Board Room. Mobile home. Sales force..makeshift acoustic performance stage...salvation and worst nightmare. I've learned more about  auto repair on the side of the highway...at night...in a state I've never been too...with 18-wheelers whizzing by...underage...in the snow...than I ever will in a driveway. All in all seeing new things from a bench seat in a busted van was one of my favorite parts of the journey.

Up until this point of my life preforming has been something I have always done. I have had a chance to play with some great musicians in Los Angeles since my move but haven't hit a stage in a few months. When my old band got a call from the biggest rock radio stations in Philadelphia to preform live we all went for it. I landed in Philadelphia the day before the show and we ran through our normal setlist, caught up and went home to get a good night sleep.

We gathered on the day of the show at Chris' house to get a plan together. We needed to figure out how we were going to get our equipment to the show. Take separate cars? No, that is lame. Then it dawned on us (well at least me) that the old band van was still sitting out front.

Side-note: A quick back story on this van: It was Chris' families van for years. It has carted him and his siblings to countless karate and basketball tournaments. As the years progressed the air conditioning eventually gave up resulting in too many summer adventures with both sliding doors open...including a trip all the way to Outer Banks, NC from Swedesboro, NJ with the doors open. I know the van has been in at least one accident on the highway and after that they gave it to Chris...who never fixed the headlight. Why bother? Something is also wrong with the battery connection so we had to carry around a little wrench to undo the positive connection to the battery everywhere we went. We would show up to work, pop the hood and unhook the battery...besides all that...this van is a gem and we wouldn't have it any other way. One more thing, it looks like this on the inside...

"Dude! Let's take the van!" I screech cracking an ice cold Pabst. "I don't know man, I haven't started her in months." Chris says turning to me. "Dude, this could be her last ride. It's only right we take her. Who knows when we will do this again!" Sipping and spitting beer everywhere. Chris shrugs with a half-assed sigh and we make our way outside to check out the van.

She sits on the street waiting for us to come check her out. She hasn’t been moved in months and there is a layer of yellow and brown dust pollen covering her exterior. One of the tires is just about flat but we know we can make it to the gas station to fill it back up. As we peer in the back tinted windows we see our previous filth from the last ride…and its disgusting…just the way we like it. “Let’s pop the hood and connect the battery!” Chris yells getting more energized remembering all the good times we have had in this beauty.

There was a zap of blue electric that shocked us as we reattached the positive connection to the battery. “Yes!” We belted with a second wind of excitement. This was a good sign and we both knew it. Chris ripped open the driver side door ready with his keys and turned the ignition. She turned over with a sputter, pop - and finally roared like a dying old bird…our dying old bird. “Well boys I guess we know how we're are getting to the show! Let’s start packing!”

We packed, drank the last of our beers and decided it was time to head to Philadelphia. Half of our band had to drive separate due to obligations after the show and work the next morning. This was no big deal - Chris and I found it poetic. We had started a lot of bands together and worked on more music than either of us could remember. We had no idea when we would get the chance to drive to preform together again so it made sense to us that the rock gods aligned the stars this way. It was like we were 17 again.

To be continued...

YourFriendMatt

Chocolate Covered Tampon...

 "Ew, what is that!" She yelled as I replied with "I don't know just pull it out!"

We don't know why but our dog loves to find anything in the trash with our scent on it...especially the most gross scents. Jamie and I had been out food shopping this past week leaving our dog, Piper, alone in the house. We try to put anything dangerous to her up high and throw away any trash in the proper receptacle...as anyone with common sense would. We even close the bathroom door when we leave so she can't get into the bin we have in there for all things gross. 

Arriving home after food shopping we opened the door to a grotesque scene looking like piper had killed a small bird on our rug. "What the hell happened in here? Did she catch a mouse?" I state as I go in for a closer look. Turns out I was wrong, as I tend to be. This small bird happened to be a heavy flow tampon Piper found...flowed on...with a trail of tissue and q-tips leading from the bathroom. Wonderful. "Welp." Shrugging "Looks like we forgot to close the bathroom door." turning to Jamie who is mortified. Rightfully so. I couldn't help but notice...not all of the tampon was there. "Hey? Did she eat most of that tampon?" In the most respectful and inquisitive voice I could muster.  She didn't know what to say and immediately ran to get paper towels to clean this mess up. Another afternoon here at Casa de Bates.

A day had past and we were worried if she did in fact eat the tampon some of it would hurt her or obstruct her intestines. I couldn't help but wonder "Isn't that it's job? To clog things up?" After another day had past and Piper was acting completely normal we thought we were in the clear. Nobody ever wants an expensive vet visit. We went to go see the sunset a few nights later and were greeted by our usual excited pup arriving home after. She jumped up and down on my leg and then went to greet Jamie. As Piper turned I noticed something unusual with her walk....and there was a white string hanging out of her. "Holy shit, Jamie please check out Piper's butt." Yes. It is what you think it is and thats the point of this whole thing. Jamie pulled a used tampon, let me rephrase that, her used tampon out of our dog. "Welp, Pipe. I guess were blood sisters now." She stated.

I love this woman.

YourFriendMatt

Tracy Copple...

"Crystals!" She yelled as I ran as fast as I could trying to escape the passioniate venture capitalist who wanted to see our band name in a "BeBe"- eske black tee shirt design. Who comes up with an idea like that for a rock band?...Tracy Copple.

I find myself with a very heavy heart as I write this. My very good friend and someone who believes in me when I was too scared to believe in myself has past. I am lucky enough to say that I have rarely felt these feelings and take it for granted. People pass everyday but when it is someone who you love and respect it's unimaginable. It's so cliche to say that you still think you can "pick up the phone or send a text to them and now you can't" but that is how it feels. She can't really be gone right? She is the "Unsinkable Tracy Copple", she's a nut, unbreakable, nothing can take her down. Right?

Tracy I want to thank you for always believing in me...and at the same time calling me out when I was being a total bullshitter. Thank you for doing everything in your power to keep me safe when you didn't have to...at all. You must have had an Oh Shit moment every time you saw my name come up on your caller id...why did you ever pick up? Thank you for taking care of my friends, whether they told you or not, they were grateful. Thank you for always trusting in me to follow through on what it was we were trying to accomplish. Thank you for all you taught me and the life lessons you never knew I was experiencing because of our time together. Thank you for showing me the world is a big place and giving me the confidence to think (and still think) that I can conquer it. Above all and most importantly thank you for being my friend. 

I am writing this as I sit in a tree overlooking the Pacific Ocean. 3,000 miles where we met and I know I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for you. Thank you for always believing in me and I know I don't have to ask, I know you are watching over me and...one day when I least expect it somethig else will change the course of my life and I'll see your face. 

Love you girl. 

Your friend,

Matt