This is a story about what happens if you are just honest with yourself and never give up. Through everything I have been through, I was—at one point—graced to find this song I’ll Run by The Cab. The song, after being tied to a relationship of mine (which will be further discussed in the book still being written) found its way onto my training playlist for Boston.
November rolls around and The Cab are one of the opening bands for Simple Plan. I always wanted to see Simple Plan again, but seeing The Cab was the reason I decided to go—I had to hear I’ll Run. After their set, I talk to their tour manager, briefly tell him my story (again that will be unfolded in my book) and he tells me that he will guarantee I meet them after the show.
Telling Alex Marshall the story, I can still see the smile and amazed stare on his face. He took me into the backstage area to get my final autograph on my Simple Plan liner, we followed each other on Twitter and, yes, even exchanged cell numbers.
Two months later, yesterday, I am brought in early for soundcheck—Alex, Brock and (eventually) Joey remember me. Alex DeLeon was getting food by the time I met Alex and Joey before. And now I not only could recount this story to him, but I had another.
On the way home from the first show I had Symphony Soldier playing…and I get to Endlessly—a song about a guy who buys his girlfriend a 25 cent ring; a sentiment I exactly did for the same girl who I’ll Run became significant with.
Just hanging out backstage, chatting about everything and anything with the guys: we friend each other on Facebook, the rest of us exchange numbers while the opening acts perform. Before the guys go on, I head over to the side of the stage to be closest to Alex (Marshall) by his keyboards. Three girls are there with their mom; I tell the girls if they let me stand with them I will make sure they meet the guys. I even get one of the band members from their favorite band, The Summer Set, to come over. I got the biggest hugs you could imagine.
Now to make matters even better (it’s possible), during the show they start introducing I’ll Run…and Alex (DeLeon) starts telling my story. Brock, the tour manager, pulls me on stage, sits me in a chair and I’m sitting between both Alex’s as they acoustically flood my memories back.
Now, as I promised, I brought a copy of my first 12 chapters for Alex, but now everyone wants a copy. What more motivation do I need to type out these final four years of my life?! Oh yeah, there’s something else…but I can’t talk about it.
Let’s just say this: dreams can come true. All you need to do is sincerely say hi and be your genuine self.
I know this is a very choppy recount of what happened, but trust me, a very detailed description will make its way into a book excerpt very soon. I’m tearing up just thinking about it, but I was meant to meet these guys and they do beautiful things and we are going to do amazing things together.
Oh, and before I forget, the tour manager for Paradise Fears, Anthony, brought me in after Alex told him that I’m his buddy. Anthony and I have a connection through my brain surgery and somehow fate brought us together too. I wish he and his family the best, and he knows I am here for him.
No proper way to close this but to say fate exists; it’s up to you to take advantage of the opportunity it provides you. Because of that I have friends that are endlessly part of my life who we will be in contact with constantly through text, Twitter, Facebook, you name it. True friends always remember and there is no way any of us are forgetting last night.
