Grand Canyons and Golden Gates...

I can nearly feel fall in the air. We still have a few hot days, but I can just feel that little hint of cooler days and that tea-like scent of fallen leaves even as I type away. I love the fall. It is the best time of the year. It is at this time where I find myself in deep thought more than any other time of the year. I find myself more melancholy, a little more at ease - yet I worry a little more, pensive if you will. Today I really feel it coming on because of an email I received this morning. I guess that's why I'm writing this now...

Carrie and Eric are friends of mine from Memphis. They are currently on their way to sunny Arizona to start their new lives. I'm quite envious. They purposely decided to take their sweet time and actually "see" the country that lies between West Tennessee and The Grand Canyon State. Now, I have to admit - I don't really know Eric that well. We have met numerous times and I have basically known him as "Carrie's new boyfried" - althought that's been a few years now. I do know that he is a painfully nice guy, he is a damned talented photographer, he is a bit of a Trekkie - (which has fallen victim to many of my childish jokes! There's nothing wrong with it - I just don't understand: kinda like Star Wars, NASCAR, and American Idol), and Eric is the luckiest guy in the world... and he knows it.

Carrie and I have known each other for about 8 or 9 years now. Damn, how time flies. We used to work together at a restaurant in Memphis called The Grove Grill. In fact, she just recently stopped working there. When she started there, she was this timid, little quiet thing with red hair and a big smile. BOY, did that change - the whole timid thing that is. I'll say it here: I love Carrie. Sure, I love her in that lustful way you would love any sexy, hot, little redhead that just oozes sexuality, but it really is much deeper than that. She is a true friend. She listened when you needed to be heard, she helped when you needed help, she laughed at all of my stupid jokes - and I mean ALL of them, when I felt like shit - she was my pooper scooper, and at the same time she could cuss like a sailor when she wanted to! We all love Carrie and I think she knows that too! We will ALL miss her. We really haven't seen much of each other in the past year or so. Unfortunate, but completely my fault. You know, we get wrapped up in our busy, little worlds that we forget the important things. So.... Carrie and Eric: I wish the best in the world for the both of you.

This brings me to Bevan and Christine. Christine was a local news personality that I met through her boyfriend, Bevan. Christine is a sweetheart. She's beautiful and has a heart that is just about the same size as the Death Star (a nerdy Star Wars reference that will make Bevan moist). She introduced me to a cool card game which I'm really thinking about marketing. I guess we'll be talking percentages very soon. This game is so fucking addictive and I don't really play cards.

Bevan and I met while working on a local movie fiasco about 3 or 4 years ago. It took us a while, but we eventually hit it off. We have very similar tastes in movies(except Star Wars), similar tastes in comedy, and - like me - he is a complete music snob. Nice to finally meet someone else who "gets it". Since then, we have worked on several local productions together - "The Visitor", "A Cowboy's Silver Lining", "The Divine Manipulation Of The Threads" just to name a few. Oh yeah, those last two he actually wrote. They good. Damned good!

Well, Christine moved to San Francisco a couple months ago and Bevan will soon be following. Well, this all kinda sucks for me as all of these people are really great folks that I will miss dearly. Great for them because they are getting out of this decaying town and they will all do bigger things. I have no doubt about that at all! Maybe this is a wake up call too! Better start looking.....

Carrie, Eric, and Christine I wish you all the best. Same to you too Bevan, but I think we'll have a chance to knock down a few beers and Irish whiskey before you leave!