September 5, 2013

Dear Arlo,

It all started for me…

Not two years ago on Thanksgiving, not with my friend because at the time I didn’t call too many people my friend, and I had no idea who you were(though later I would find out I did know your song City of New Orleans).  It  was before Asheville, The Second Fret (Coffee House and Bistro) Music Hall, The Upper Room, or any other significant place I had been.

For me it started about 6 years ago,  I wasn’t doing anything but walking out of a dead Student Center trying to get to my Student Council meeting.  I liked the idea of being able to make a change but the hard part always seemed to be getting everyone else to agree with me so it wasn’t anywhere I was excited about going.  I was mostly to myself these days.  Lost in my own trail of unhappiness and thought.  I didn’t even realize anyone was outside until I was about to hit the stairs and I heard it.  Somewhere across the sidewalk he was standing there, cigarette to his mouth, and he had told me hey.

I must have looked startled because I just stopped right there and starred.  I know I did my rose eyebrow thing I do when I am confused or suspicious.  Finally, I said, “hey” back.  Nothing real interesting but I had found my voice.  Then walking down the stairs I turned course a bit and went to stand beside him.  He had tattoos all over, a overgrown beard, and shaggy hair about down to the ears.  He seemed startled that I came over.

All I could seem to say to this guy was, “do you know smoking is bad for you?’  He replied, without hesitating, “well I have been overseas so I guess I figured it was my right to smoke.”  At the time, I had nothing to say back.  Not only had he caught my off guard he was the first person to give me some legit reasoning for my accusing that I could not argue back with.  I think I smiled and stood there as we both took each other in until I had to go.  In which case we departed and went our separate ways.

For months I occasionally thought about this guy who caught me completely off guard though I never saw him around.  I just continued with my plans of surviving here until I could pack up and head to the mountains in which Asheville was my destination.  Little did I know at the time how much we would make an impact on each other’s lives throughout the next few years or how symbolic some things would become.

This was also the beginning of me finding out just who you were Arlo.  If this had never happened I might have never known anything about You or Alice or the Church.  In which case I might have never started this very significant blog to my life.  Isn’t it strange how things happen?

I hope you have a good night,
Your Fan