'06

For me, listening to older songs by bands such as Alexisonfire, Anberlin, Underoath, Saosin, Thursday, Coheed, Thrice, Atreyu, City and Colour, Armor For Sleep, and He Is Legend make me think of the summer that I graduated high school. They bring back that carefree feeling that came along with the lack of responsibility. Spring and Summer of 06 went as follows. I had a crap job that I only worked a few days a week, but it made made me just enough money to do what I wanted. I had a crap '89 Buick Century that was falling apart. Its stereo was pretty much a Sony Walkman hooked up to some computer speakers by use of garbage wires and a converter that was duct taped in to my cigarette lighter port because it wouldn't stay there on its own. I was about to graduate high school. And last but not least I had no bills or responsibilities!

At the time, I was in a crappy band that was going nowhere. We called our selves Seconds Fade, it consisted of Mike and Will Honto, Cory McNabb, Donny Goddard and myself. We played heavy poppy experimental music, and also covered songs by Glassjaw and The Deftones. During the school year we even played talent shows and pep assemblies. For one in particular, we covered the song "Feel Good Inc." by The Gorillaz. It was the dumbest thing, but for some reason the kiddies ate it up like it was goin out of style... and it did, real quick. We Broke up shortly after school let out when Will started jamming with Jason. Mike and I didn't like Jay at the time, because we blamed him for our band breaking up. It was fun while it lasted, but everything happens for a reason. We should have realized it sooner, we sucked. Will had the right idea. Sooner or later we would move on to bigger and better things

Since I only worked a few days a week, I had a crap ton of time to hang out with friends, which is what I did with about 85% of my free time (that percentage was completely fabricated). We did all kinds of stuff like bowling, graduation parties, walked around at parks (Bishop Park especially), so on and so forth. What ever it was, I constantly surrounded myself with friends. My best friends at the time were Kelly, Mike, Will, Avery, Dave, Drew, Jeremy, Nathan, Ben, Paxton, Joby, and a few others that I can't think of right now. And those were just my best friends, not to mention all the other people I knew and hung out with from time to time. Some of those were people I was just getting to know that I would soon be good friends with, and who I am now best friends with today. I met most of those friends in the spring time at a youth group that was introduced to me by my friend Jordan Toffoli. The youth group was called 180, soon to be Liquid. We met at The Modern Exchange in Southgate every Wednesday at 7pm. There I met my best friends to be such as Kathleen, Amanda, Steve, Adam, and Britz Crackers. Because of these people and this church I began to meet God in a whole new light. From then on I felt a sincere change in my life, and it felt awesome. Still does.

God is exactly who I needed, I still need Him. You see, at the time I was going through a lot of stress. Coming to the realization that your own mother was in jail because she was a severe crack and heroin addict isn't something I could have coped with on my own. My father, my 7 year old brother, and I were left to fend for our selves. There were breakdowns. At times I would feel bruised and beaten, though I hadn't been touched. God lead me through all of that though. He gave me comfort. He made it easy. Even before I knew who He was. Is it coincidence that one of the worst times in my life turned out to be the time of my life? Or did God surround me with people and friends that would lead me to Him like bread crumbs? How else, in a time of agony, did life seem so perfect? He lead me through with His guiding hand. He refused to leave me behind. I should really thank Him more often.

But either way.

I could actually write you a book on just what happened in that short time and how it has impacted the rest of my life, but I think I'll spare you. Now, a lot of those things I did back then I still do, and I still keep in contact with most of those friends, but things are different now. I have a different mind set and rationale, I have a different living situation, I have bills and responsibilities. I don't have that innocence anymore, though every day I want it back more and more. Life was good back then, some of the best days of my life. I miss them greatly. But the awesome thing is, all I have to do is listen to a song, and all those old feelings start to come back. I start to remember. I start to laugh. I start to cry. I start to dream. I listen to a song, and I'm there again!