If I could write a letter to me and send it back in time to myself at 17
First I’d prove it’s me by saying look under your bed
There’s a One Hitter  and a Flask no one else would know you hid
And then I’d say I know it’s tough when you break up after seven months
And yeah, I know you really liked her, and it just don’t seem fair
All I can say is pain like that is fast, and it’s rare.


And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17, it’s hard to see past Friday night
She wasn’t right for you
And still you feel like there’s a knife sticking out of your back
And you’re wondering if you’ll survive*but*
You’ll make it through this and you’ll see
You’re still around to write this letter to me.

At the stop sign at Tomlinson and Eighth
Always stop completely
Don’t just tap your brakes
And when you get a date with Bridget
Make sure the tank is full
On second thought forget it
That one turns out kinda cool
Each and every time you have a fight
Just assume you’re wrong and dad is right
And you should really thank Mrs. Brinkman
She spent so much extra time
It’s like *she sees* the diamond underneath
And she’s polishing you ‘til you shine.



And oh, you got so much going for you, going right
But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night
Tonight’s the bonfire rally but you’re staying home instead
Because if you fail algebra, mom and dad will kill you dead *but*
Trust me you’ll squeak by and get a C
And you’re still around to write this letter to me.


I guess I’ll see you in the mirror
When you’re a grown man
P.S. go hug Aunt Rita every chance you can.

I’m in town staying with my parents for the night. I have a test to take tomorrow, and I knew I wasn’t going to feel like driving in the morning. It’s kind of therapeutic staying in my old room (the photo of Bjork is still on the wall). About 8:00p.m. I had the urge to walk to the store. It may sound strange because I spent my teens running around the streets of this neighborhood, but tonight that 3 block walk to the store was the most dreamy thing I have experienced sober in a really long time. The night was still, all I could hear was the delicate roar of distance traffic. The trees were like a Ansel Adams photograph set to the backdrop of a purple sky. After leaving the store I took the long way back, mostly to avoid stray dogs. I realized that there is nowhere this nice to walk at night where I live. Suddenly I see this town in new light after living somewhere that REALLY SUCKS for 8 months. I’m  just amazed how that short little walk set my soul at ease. Well I should have been asleep a hour ago busy day tomorrow. Night all.

• An Horse-Rearrange Beds
• Flogging Molly- Within a Mile of Home
• Mad Caddies- Quality Soft Core
• The Templars- Clockwork Orange Horror Show
• Rancid- …And Out Come The Wolves

  
  

You gave me a voice when I didn’t have one.

You gave me a home when I had no place to go.

You gave me identity when I didn’t even know myself.

When I had one foot in the grave, you bought me back to life

and showed me that’s its far from over.

When I was being harassed on the streets by jocks you showed up

in the form of 3 skinheads beat the shit out of them and gave me

a ride home.

Punk Rock….

     I Love You.

Late Sunday evening I was at the pool with one of me mates. We were in the pool drinking beer and enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon. After we were there for about 2 hours I see this young kid enters the gate surrounding the pool. He sat on one of the lawn chairs by the pool for a minute then he jumped in. He made is way over to the five foot water and asked how deep it was where I was standing, and I replied 7 foot. I was holding on to the edge and he swam to the middle of the 7 foot water and just floated there. I asked how he was able to just float like that. He said his Dad trains scuba divers and he had been learning to swim since he was 5. So I asked how old he was now and he said 13. So naturally I was Like : so your starting back to school tomorrow, and with no concern at all he replied nah… I think I’m going to drop out. As buzzed as I was that sobered me up. He goes on to say “I don’t have any school clothes, no school supplies and I’ve been drinking beer and smoking weed and I would just rather smoke weed. So my advice to him was to stay in school, graduate, get a good job then you can buy all the weed you want.