Man, after reading through the blog posts, I come away with two thoughts. 1) I am a lucky guy to have such great friends and family and 2) I have a long history of drinking. Does every story have to involve a bar? I suppose I earned the reputation. Of course, I have found that is where the fun is, and I like to have a good time after all. As we say in one my adopted hometown(s) of New Orleans, Let the Good Times Roll!
I will get to my reverse roast in a minute, but my buddy Chad made a statement that I can roll into any part of the country and fit right in. I have always thought that every place is what you make of it, and I have had a lot of fun in the 7 states I have lived in. That is more due to the people I have come across than anything I did. Buffalo is home and always will be home to me, it made me who I am and I am lucky to have grown up there. Our sports teams usually suck, it's cold, nasty, gray, down trodden, economically backwards, and all in all a tough place to live. Despite this, we all love it and wouldn't change a thing (although a Stanley Cup or Superbowl win would be pretty sweet). Ohio, brought me the JCU boys and the memories of college. These guys are my friends for life and are the source of endless stories and belly laughs. Florida represents the glory days of Jacksonville Rugby and our magical season of 1995. I am sort of glad that these guys didn't chime in since it may have made this a little less family friendly. Alabama...who would have thought I would have such a great group there? My friends from Michelin rank up there with the JCU crew for the same reasons, endless stories. Louisiana, my 2nd favorite place in the world after Buffalo for the city of New Orleans and how my life changed in those 18 months. Minnesota...Awesome group of friends, road trips to the Dakotas, hockey, and a whole different lifestyle than anything I have ever experienced. Finally, Massachusetts represents a tamer lifestyle and having my own family. The common thread is that I have had great people surrounding me, and I have needed it through the years as most of you know.
Now...Jeff, I love you like a brother too despite your poor choice of sports teams. Steven Peretti, the actual term is "face to waist" and it includes a shit mustache. Rob, you forgot the Slamabama Hammers, serenading Napkins Atkins and Bob Gannon on your guitar, and the apple pies after the Viking meal at Kenyon. Claire, the other Yankee was Danny Tartabull. Jennie, I needed to be there when Joe Steen hit on you, drunk, not knowing who you were. Russ, you have been around 15 years?? Wow! Steve, have you ever beaten me at basketball in 32 years? EVN, take ya shirts to the dry cleanahs, and that's an owdah! Eric, the cigs were yours and a rather curious choice since 2 hours earlier you were "training" for the marathon. Todd, I remember you pissing on a coffee table at Kent State in the midst of a drunken search for a toilet at some house we all crashed at, the problem was that I was sleeping downspout and got my first and last golden shower circa 1990. Guy, the bar was not Club Paradise but "Fascinations" and you left out the part of ratting me out to the cops so you could avoid a DWI (at least that time). Chadwick, thanks for the lead at Rain Bird, I appreciate you getting me in before you quit. Mom, I sincerely apologize for ruining your furniture, but it was fun anyway. Scotty, I bet if we "blog" for your birthday, you are one of the few that can out do me on the boozy stories. Matt, if you could fight for yourself I wouldn't have a criminal record and would not be a garbage man today. Andy, never happened, WTF are you talking about? Bailey, the last MX man standing at the Bird, you will soon get your CLIA to go with your MBA so you can sell 5004PLPCSS. Scott next door, you are indeed Wilson. Barker, I can't believe you were such a bad influence on Freddie in NYC, he used to be a shy, introverted nerd.
I am sure this is more fun for me and does not make great reading, so I will wrap it up. I mentioned my life changed in New Orleans, and it did in so many ways. I will always remember standing on the sidewalk outside of The Old Abinsthe House on Bourbon St, when my future turned the corner to meet me for a blind date. I hadn't met her, but knew it was her and somehow knew things were going to be OK in my new city. As most of you know all to well (because I was pretty reliant on you) I was in a pretty bad place and it all started getting better at that moment. I could handle the issues going on at that time and have fun again. I survived a hurricane, two more moves, a scary start to Sophia's life, and the other things life throws at you because I finally met the person who loved me for who I am, like the rest of you reading this. 7 years later, Jana brings you all back in one spot, whether you were at the party or on this blog, and I realize how lucky I am to have each and every one of you in my life. Jana planned the perfect surprise and she is truly the sweetest and most loving wife anyone could ever wish for. She also makes some cute and fun kids ;)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope I can be half the friend/brother/son/spouse/father that you all are to me.
Love, Mike
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