A High School mate, John Roehlk, who always was, and still is an amazing, genuine person, posted something today about how long ago he had graduated. I walked down that gym floor, in cap and gown, a year after he did. What he wrote got me to thinking about where I was then and where I am today. I feel extremely grateful for what has transpired, because, without really knowing it then, I was setting myself up to live a dream that I had no idea I was going to have.
The picture you see above was posted the day I decided to go from a regular day to day working kind of guy to pursuing a passion-Living My Dream-and not looking back because I didn't want to say to myself later on in life..."What if...". To finally decide to try and fly, I had to look back, take everything into consideration, close my eyes, take a deep breath, hold my wife's hand, and jump. It's scary, trust me, but when you finally are able to rely upon yourself for everything, to pursue a true passion, life opens up, dreams come true, and the experiences are ones that you could never imagine. The book, they say, starts to write itself.
When I was born, St. Charles, IL was a town of 9269 people. It was nestled near corn fields with only your imagination and neighborhood friends to occupy your time. And so true of the times, the street lamps let you know when it was time go home. It was a simple life. High School came and unknowingly the dream began to take seed. Soccer teams, more friends, parties, and...music. My first recollection of live music was being invited to a house by Ralf Kinscheck and listening to his band rehearse. And, it was him who loaned me many of his prized LP's to listen to because I had just discovered Rock n Roll. The albums were amazing. I, for some reason, remember particularly putting Foreigner on and getting lost. Then came the albums of Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, and this list went on from there. Music was beginning to flow in my blood and to this day, it has never left. I have to thank Ralph for going out of his way to do this for me then, and to John for making me remember today.
Since those days, as I have said many times in the past, I have been an extremely fortunate musician. Playing music with my heroes on stage, meeting some of the most influential people in Nashville, sharing stage billing with A List artists, and being the first number on speed dial so that MY band was called to be THE entertainment for many other artists in town or out of town. When I look at all of that, how can you not be humbled. Trust me, this didn't come easy, but with hard work and effort, when you jump off of that cliff, you will be able to fly.
So for all of you who have a passion, who have a desire, it is worth it. It's worth putting yourself out there. You find out who you really are and what you are capable of. Believe me when I say, you will be amazed to find out that you are capable of doing what you never thought you could. And when you finally get to do it, see the culmination of all your hard work and effort come to fruition, you just might have to sit down, like I did, give a little cry of appreciation and thank the good Lord for giving you wings to fly.
Here are only some of the folks that I have been blessed to share time with, professionally and personally, in this dream of mine...
