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November 19, 2005
A Very Good Bad Night
Actually, the whole day was a great bad day. I had planned to meet up with my good friends Mike Sullivan and Greg Gildersleeve to go out to Lawrence to see one of my very best friends who I never get to see, Jason Arnett.
But, of course, I wrote down Mike's address wrong, so I turned around to go back home, and on the way, ran out of gas. So, after hiking over to a nearby gas station, I poured some gas into the ol' Cavalier and gave Mike a call, found out where he actually lives, and that was that.
The trip out to Lawrence was really nice. We had a good time, I got to know Dale Martin a little better, and got to see Chris Garrett and Bill Hook as well, which was a pleasant surprise. I got a page of Black Chamber inked, too, which was great.
I got home and got a call from my dad and little brother, wanting to meet up with me. That was a great visit. It's always fantastic seeing AJ, my little bro, and Dad gave me the best news I've heard all year: He finally got divorced, and got to keep his kids. Anyone that's talked with me with any degree of depth over the last year will know how much that whole situation has been tearing me up, and this is the best possible outcome.
But anyway, here's where the extraordinary stuff comes into play. Dumb ass me never actually went and filled up the car, so, you guessed it, Idiot Rob ran out of gas AGAIN on the way home, coming up I-435 from Nebraska Furniture Mart to my home base in Riverside. Like, buttfuck nowhere. I walked a mile up to the nearest exit, and luckily, for me, there was a police officer at the top of the exit, having just pulled someone over. I flagged him down, and he gave me a ride to the closest gas station, which was three miles away. He was super, super nice, and I could tell he really felt for me. He wasn't able to give me a ride back, and I could tell that was upsetting him, but he told the guys in the station to look after me, as they were friends of his.
I swear, I'll rip anyone a new asshole that makes fun of Middle Eastern people running gas stations, because these two gentlemen were exactly that: Gentlemen. They offered to give me change to call up someone, but I really didn't want to bother my family this late at night (10:30PM at this point). So, I went to hoof it back to my car.
A minivan was driving by, and the guy, the Saint, actually, who was driving it pulled over and offered me a ride back to my car. I find out quickly that he's the owner of the Jazz restaurants, having just gotten done with a big catering event. He said he just felt awful seeing someone out walking at that time of night, in the cold and rain. He drove me all the way back to my car, and didn't ask for anything in return. Well, believe you me, he's going to be getting something very nice from me.
So, I get back to the car, and while I'm pouring the gas in, another car pulls up behind me and asks if I'm okay. I tell them 'yes' and they go on their way.
My faith in humanity has been totally reaffirmed. We live in a great world, with great people, and I can say that with complete honesty. I've really been making an effort this past year to be a better person, and to treat people around me better, and I really believe that this positive energy that I disply is making its way around and back to me. As bad as this night could have been, I think it became one of the best ones I've had in a long while.
I know I tell all of you close to me how much y'all mean to me, but I'll just say it again here. Friends, family, and loved ones are what life is all about, and because of all of you, my life is a very rich one indeed. And, to everyone else, you folks are just as important, we just haven't had the chance to realize it yet. We will, though, with time.
Oh yeah, and everyone go eat at a Jazz restaurant soon. That fine saint of a man deserves our money.
Posted by Schamberger at November 19, 2005 11:36 PM