Just Say No

It's embarrassing for me to tell you this, but I got my head handed to me the other evening, and rightfully so, I was just plain wrong about my actions, and I deserved to be reprimanded.
The scene: Friday night at the former Blues BBQ Restaurant and nightclub. The event, a combination of 2 birthday celebrations. Mine and a good friend. Also, the Carpenter Ants were performing.
Prior to starting we had to wait and start playing a little bit later than usual because Michael Lipton (fearless leader...) had a prior performance with the Mountain Stage Band.
Anyway, I was sitting with my friends, and there was a gentleman seated at the table near ours, and he was not your average looking fella (now putting it nicely...), sort of non-descript, but he also had on some very thick glasses.
Now, I should have known better, but one of my friends started to comment among us about the gentleman, and we in turn started laughing uncontrollably, to the point that I'm certain that it must have made this guy seriously uncomfortable. Well, he ups and leaves and never returned. The sad part about it is that I know he was there exclusively to see the band, and here we were making fun.
It didn't matter that it wasn't to his face, but I know he must have sensed it.
My dear friend Amy, who planned this party down to the letter, was greatly insensed. She held back her comments that evening and thereby not spoiling my day, but in true fact, she have every right to. When she called me the next night, she was still angry, and after she read me the riot act, I felt 2 inches tall...She was as right as right could be. HOW FREAKIN' DARE US. What in the Hell makes us God's gift.
I of all people should have known how hurtful that must have been, because I'm overweight, and have been teased one way or another about it all of my life, and although I've developed thicker skin about it, it still hurts none the less when people are so blatant about pointing it out.
Thank God Amy had the presence of mind to just say no. She and many other people have gone out of their way to help not only me, but my band as well to further ourselves in the public eyes, and doing the things that we did Friday causes that wall to be built higher...and believe me, that ain't good.
I want to say publicly that I'm deeply sorry for offending that young man, intended, or not.
I also want to say thank you to Amy for being a true friend, and pointing out my shortcomings, she is the kind of people that everyone needs in their life...SOMEONE REAL.



Just say no to abuse of any kind, but support live music today tomorrow and always.