Once in a Lifetime

Every once in a while, I have to put on the "big suit" and ask... How did I get here?

Some notable examples:

Spring of 1997, with Ben and Greg at a party in the backwoods of Kentucky with a group of kids we just met. Owner of the house was 18. Crowd was surprising diverse. There were shotguns and oreos. I brought the house down with renditions of Scuttle Buttin by SRV and (a heavy favorite) Sweet Home Alabama.

Spring of 1997, with Colin, just obliterated at 1:00 in the afternoon on an Amtrak train between Chicago and Ann Arbor, having beers with ex-Steeler CB Harvey Clayton.

Summer of 1997, with Ben and Dave, walking down State Street in Madison, shirtless, with water pistols in our belts. Being accosted by a bachelorette party. You can only imagine. It was eXcellent. 

Spring of 1998, with Ben, at a disco bowl in San Francisco after seeing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, stoned to b'jeezus. Hadn't showered in 7 days. I bowled 110 in the first 5 frames, but couldn't break 200.

Fall of 2003, with a host of friends, sweating at a Russian Bath House in New York. Very strange. 

And add to that list, going to the Windy City Rollers bout in Cicero this weekend. We went to support the Hell's Belles and cheer on our friend Belinda Scarlisle. And it was pretty awesome. Those chicks are tough as hell. Tons of hits. Great, capacity crowd. I don't completely understand the rules but... it did not detract from enjoying the event.

Unfortunately, the Belles lost to the The Fury. There's a bout every month, and I would imagine that we'll be return spectators.

And you may find yourself, at a Roller Derby in Cicero...

jbg