The year was 2009. I had just returned home from a trip to see my parents and some friends on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I thought I would share this here with you all. To add to the end of the post where I talk about friendships here in Birmingham, I have developed some wonderful relationships with people here. Ones I dearly treasure.
Monday the 27th. I’ve been back for a couple of days now. After the strange day on the 17th, when I left to go back to Allentown, things just picked up and ran. For those who never heard, the plane had a problem in Atlanta and long story short, when I was supposed to leave at 11:12 AM, didn’t happen until after 9 that evening, me, and my iPod became very well acquainted. I listened to about 7 or 8 of my pastor’s podcasts which I had loaded them on the night before. It was comforting having the Word of God following me everywhere I went in the airport. I finally got to Allentown where my parents were waiting for me. Saturday, wow….Saturday. After having a nice morning and lunch with my parents (limburger for lunch with Dad) came a reunion I had been long awaiting. First, at 2, came Mike Suranofsky. Then, about a half hour later, Dave Reinert. These 2 guys and I were quite inseparable in high school. These 2 guys just understood each other. We loved heavy metal music, we had our major rebellious streaks, but most of all, we were great friends. I hated telling them that I was moving to Maryland in the summer of ’86. They were probably 2 of the only people I really mentioned that to. We would stay connected for a while. Dave and I lost track of each other around 89 or 90. Mike and I remained close until about ’98. Mike was best man at my first wedding. I can still remember that weekend like it happened yesterday. Tropical storm Danielle drowning out the Eastern Shore and I had the stupidity to take him around and introduce him to folks. On our way to the church, we were listening to Iron Maiden’s Hallowed Be Thy Name and Alice Cooper songs. I can remember how nervous he was telling me that he was going to be a dad. I can’t remember what I thought of that at the time. Dave and I didn’t know what to make of each other the first couple of times I saw him but once we all realized that we spoke the same language: Metal, that’s when we were hooked. I can remember times going over to his house and spending the night. His parents were the coolest. They are with the Lord now, but I have very fond memories of them. The times we would just yak about music or movies. Writing songs and Dave would draw “album covers” for them. Yeah, the “Bloodstone Gang” was one of the best times of my life growing up.
One of the craziest memories I have is one night when Mike, Dave and I were just lounging around in Dave’s room. It was late and the crazy music we were listening to probably had some form of impact on what was to come that night. A bright beam of light came into the room, and we were like, what was that? We went outside on that cold January night and saw this light in the sky, and it was flying kind of strangely. We thought, UFO! So, being the brave metal militia men that we were, we went to bed with our clothes on ready to take on the world. The next morning, we were still on Earth so the UFO must not have wanted us. We go downstairs and we talk about what we saw the night before. Dave’s Mom laughed and said, no, that wasn’t a UFO. That was Medevac trying to find a place to land because there was an accident.
So, here it is, 2009. Mike and Dave hadn’t seen each other in 15 years. I hadn’t seen Dave in 20 and Mike in 11. I’ve been in contact with them for the last few months and it was just the anticipation of meeting. The stories were old, and some were still pretty tall. Some stories brought tears to our eyes. Some from being sad, and some from us just laughing hard. All 3 of us are walking with the Lord now. It was so cool hearing how Dave is ministering to people in senior citizen homes. How Mike has allowed God to be with him in dealing with the loss of his Mom and how he knows that he will see her again one day. The stories of how Dave grew even closer to his Dad after his Mom passed away. The sorrow of losing his Dad but again, knowing that he will see him again one day. The heartaches of what is going on in his life now. The painful stories of what happens when habanero pepper dust gets on your clothes and goes places it shouldn’t go (sorry Mike). We then were treated to a homecooked meal by my Mom and we were all able to talk more. We parted company for the night and got back together on Sunday to join Mike in a house fellowship that he’s gone to. Mike brought along Charissa, his daughter, and it was so cool to see her again. The last time I had seen her in person, she was just a couple of years old or so at the time. She sounds so much like her Mom, it isn’t funny.
From there, we went to my brother’s house, and we parted ways. It was awesome hanging out with my brother Chet and his family. His kids, Dan and Amanda, will always be near and dear to me. Probably because I got to spend more time with them growing up than with my sister’s kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love Lizzy and Emily to death too. I’ve gotten to see them more in their late teens and early adult years. I’ll always remember how cute Dan and Amanda were as young kids and am very blessed that they wanted to hang out with an old fogey like me. haha
Monday, my parents, and I were on the road to Salisbury. With 2 guitars borrowed from Chet, it was off to prepare for the gig and studio time. I miss Salisbury MD with a passion. I felt so alive being with so many of the people there. Rehearsal with Joy Miller Monday night was great. We went over stuff for the gig and then what the song sounded like that I would be recording on. While it wasn’t what I was anticipating, I thought the song was great. I just had no preparation going into the studio. The studio time was another learning experience for me. It took a while to get the track down right, but it was worth it. I’ve been listening to the track a bit since I got back. Thinking, I can do this this way or that. Can’t wait to hear the track with real drums and bass.
Then, the gig. I was surprised that I wasn’t nervous going into it. Most of the people that came were people I knew and probably had played in front of before. So, that made it a bit easier. The first song was my song “You”. Joy added a nice harmony to the song and accompanied me throughout the night. Across the Miles was next. One day I’ll record that one. Caedmon’s Call’s song Not the Land followed and then I told a funny story about me and Joy. That song then led into Burlap to Cashmere’s song Anybody Out There?. We arranged it a bit differently, but the song came across powerfully with both of our voices taking off with it. Rick Elias’s song Man of No Reputation came next which led to a bit of Christmas in July. The song As The World Lay Fast Asleep, written by Carl and Mike Thress, reminded us of no matter what day of the year it is, we need to remember Jesus. I talked about my Venezuela trip 2 years ago and the impact it had on me. Children followed. I’m interested in hearing how that one came across. I can’t wait to record it. My good friend Larry caught the show on video, and I can’t wait to see it. It was awesome to see him as well. It was way too many years as well and he’s been through some stuff.
The rest of the set played well. I was happy to close the set with Just A Closer Walk With Thee, followed by a chorus of mine I had written years ago from a song called 9/6/90. That was a song written for Angel, the girl that I left PA for to live in MD. She passed away on that day. Her parents and grandfather were on hand for the show. They have been like family to me and always will be. We had a “peanut gallery” sitting to the right of Joy and I and they were yelling encore. So, we wound up playing a song of Joy’s that I saw her play for me the night before and I just watched what she did and went with it. No, we didn’t do the song we had recorded earlier. No idea why.
It was great to see the folks who came for the show.
Wednesday saw us having breakfast with Stacy and it was great to catch up with her. Her Dad’s funeral was on Monday, so I was still a bit surprised to see her. Then, on the road again. Heading back to PA was a nice drive but I could feel like I wished I could have stayed. Life was slowly draining from me at that point. We get home and we relax a bit before we get a call from my Aunt saying that my Uncle wasn’t doing so hot and asked if we could stop by and check on him. So, we did. I could sense that my one cousin, after talking to her for a few minutes, wished we could get together and talk more privately. So, we arranged it, but more on that later. We then made a run to another one of my Aunt’s to visit. So, we wound up seeing a bunch of people that day and hadn’t planned on it until the next day. Thursday, I’m beat. After getting up and having breakfast, I wound up going back to bed. Then, a bit later, I got up and was chatting with Dad when the phone rang. This time, another cousin was in the area and was going to be there in 5 minutes. OH CRAP! I quick run and shower and get cleaned up and had another wonderful visit. Lunch with Dad and some limburger and then go to IHOP for dinner with my cousin, Lisa. We spent about 3 hours or so just talking about life. Past and present. As we left, I gave her a big hug and prayed for her, and we parted ways. Friday took us to my Mom’s aunt who is simply a wonderful lady. She makes these ceramic eggs that are simply amazing to behold. Such detail and beauty. And she’s in her 80’s! You would never know it though. We then took my uncle to the doctor. Thankfully, he was ok. Probably some bronchitis. From there, we visited with another uncle and cousin that runs a business up from where my sick uncle lives. We took off from there to my brother’s house for one last night of visiting and then back home to get ready for me to fly back to Alabama.
Saturday, July 25th. Dave and his wife Dawn come to the house and then Mike comes and the 4 of us go out to breakfast and yak some more. I was feeling a bit blah that morning. I could feel a headache and wasn’t quite as talkative as I would have liked to have been. They wanted to take me to the airport, so I then said my I love yous to my Mom and Dad (and yeah, I wanted to cry, and did a bit). Said my goodbyes to Mike and Dave and Dawn, again, ready to cry and walked up the way to the gate. My flight home was much smoother this time and I got home without a hitch.
At times, I wonder why I left the north to move here. I have such awesome friends and family up there, but I have friends and family here as well. Maybe not as close and tight as up home but that has to come with time. And I don’t look forward to getting back to work and doing the same old routine. But, then again, who does after a vacation? All I know is, the Lord blessed me by reuniting me with 2 of the closest friends I’ve ever had in my life. Yeah, I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to, but He made sure I got to see those two. As Mike said to Dave later after they dropped me off at the airport: I’m glad we have eternity to catch up because one lifetime isn’t enough.
And with that, I end this little reflection.
A quote from Mike: I’m glad we have all eternity to catch up. One lifetime isn’t enough.
No, you play the chord this way…. haha
Reflecting on this 15 years later, the man who videoed the performance, sadly, has passed away. The night of the show was the last time I saw him in person. He also caught a picture of my Dad and I that would turn out to be the last picture of me with Dad as he would pass away in 2011. I haven’t been back to the Eastern Shore since this visit. I miss so many people that are still there.
I still tear up a bit when I see this picture. Love you Dad. Thank you for always believing in me.
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