L'Chaim: For Susan

This one is for my dear friend, Susan Carpenter.

I had a frustrating weekend in the studio. Quite a bit of trouble finding my voice for the recording sessions. We made the decision to postpone Sunday's work. Didn't get a lot of sleep and my vocal chords hadn't gotten back up to go. So, I spent most of Sunday sleeping, watching my Hoyas advance to the Sweet 16. All of that doesn't amount to much. A hill of beans. Because that's some stupid shit to get worked up about.

I'd like to take a moment to give a shout out to my soul sista, Susan, one of my best friends from Terry Parker High School. Susan, you were my right hand woman on the Student Council, a voice of reason with Catskills timing. There are pictures to prove it. (That's her highlighted in red, one of our school colors, no less!). Yes, embarrassing for all of us, but I'll cop to it.

It was perfect, because you and Robert Lewis (to my left) were both a foot shorter than me. That's the hallmark of student government: balance. (Oh, little Robert and his Church Lady imitation. And it was nice that Mr. Bennett aka "The Big G" left the TPSC to its own devices. No one else had there own office/lunch space, even without A/C, to plan out Homecoming and "Catching the Wave!") You were always good with ideas and your home was open to the whole gang. Didn't hurt that you lived two blocks from school.

Sus, you are to date one of the funniest people I know and you will be so ten years from now. Whether any of us are here or not. You were always an essential part of the crew, never minding when Lance Trudel or Robert or I made a dumb choice for movie night. Lots of Fletch, I recall. But hey, wasn't Ferris Bueller a good call!? "Bueller? Bueller?"

I know I posted this on your myspace a while back but it bears repeating:
"A. You can never go too far. B. If I'm gonna get busted, it is not gonna be by a guy like that."

I gotta thank the Lord that you made me laugh so much in school. And you made for a good audience for my lunacy, too. That weird Summer that we were obsessed with McDonaldland and it's itinerant residents. Huh? I remember we celebrated when our football team lost our Senior homecoming game 2-0 to Lake City (Damn). Plus, you were always quick to jokingly remind me that we were truly minorities at a very WASPY high school. "L' Chaim, To Life!" To you, Susan.

Susan, I haven't seen you in decades it seems, but you are firmly fixed in my mind. In high school, we are vulnerable dorks with not an ounce of knowledge about the real world. But we are also invincible in our optimism, in our vision. You are eternally part of the latter in my memory and heart. OK?

I know you have your own hill and your own beans, Sus. Certainly make my beans look like crap. I've enjoyed getting back in touch with you and learning about all you've dealt with. You've done it with grace and wit. Your e-mails make me laugh as much as I cry. Keep them coming as long as you can. And I'm serious, I'll find you a Don Johnson poster for your room. Just say the word!

Alright, I'm outta here. I'll catch up with you at the Pep Rally after 6th period. K.I.T.! You are in my prayers, Susan. I love you.



To all of my friends and family, you may be out of my sight, but you are always in my heart. You have been writing your own stories in which I'm an incidental player or supporting actor at best; it's my honor to appear in your production.
Love, Power, Peace

p.s. If any of you laugh at my bow tie, I will hunt you down and make you wear it!