A Magic Moment

Soundtrack for this post: Start Today Tomorrow – Youth Group

This morning after a very brief cleaning rampage (very brief) I settled in my room and flipped on my brilliant cable. I landed on Before Sunrise, that movie from 1995 with Ethan Hawk. Those were the days when his greasy hair was cool and hot. Now I just want him to take a shower.

I stuck with the movie though; it reminded me of perfect moments. Of brief but perfect moments. If you haven’t seen the movie it’s a dialogue driven film about two people that meet on a train ride and end up spending the whole night walking and talking in Vienna. It’s like a relationship encapsulated in one night.

I had a moment like that once myself. I was spending the Fourth of July weekend in Washington D.C like a real red and white American. That night was one perfect, short moment.

It started at the base of the Lincoln Monument at the edge of the reflecting pool. Looking over the Washington Monument and watching the fireworks explode across the sky. It was perfect. The patriotic music in the background, and the insane crowds were a little much. Other than that, it was brilliant. After the excitement was over I walked with my old friend from Portland and my new friend from Germany (who I must say was a little shocked by our patriotic display) thru the emptying streets of D.C. We made our way to the train station and found ourselves at a row of bars in the Foggy Bottom district. I am a fan of any district called Foggy Bottom.

We floated from bar to bar. My friends ready to leave. We were flying out the next morning.

The last bar we went to I met someone. Inconspicuous, I don’t even remember his face. We talked immediately of his return to the states from Iraq. He said arriving in D.C during the forth of July was a shock to him, from Iraq. It went from “hi” to deep within minutes. I left my friends to their cab and my brand new military friend took a walk at 1am. (This didn’t go over so well, mind you)

We walked thru monuments and past historic buildings, past hotels and drunken people cheering at the night and talked about life and the past and the future. We spoke of our dreams and who we wanted to become. Of politics and religion. There was no small talk.

We sat on a park bench. I held my knees to my chest as he spoke of the children in Iraq that he befriended and I cried. It was like magic. Like meeting someone for the first time, but they instantly understood everything about you. Connection.

Eventually the sun rose over the capital and he put me in a cab. We were both flying out in just a few hours.

I rode in silence to my hostel. My friend was still sleeping. I lay in my bunk at the hostel putting off packing up and waking my friend. I knew that it would end the magic. When I finally decided to start the day, it did. My friend was upset at me; we ended up going to the wrong airport and missed our flight – stuck there for another 12 hours. The moment was lost to real life.

I never talked to that stranger again, we exchanged a few emails. A year later while in D.C, I thought of him again. I wrote him from my hotel and he told me about being engaged and how he finally felt like he found a home. It was just a perfect moment.





Today, I thought of that story – then hearing a couple friends talk about relationships coming to a end, and others talk about relationships going to “the next level” or starting, the story echoed in my mind.

A reminder that something’s are meant to be there for just a season, just a moment to remind us that there is magic still out there – it still exists. However, that there is a magic or a connection that isn’t for just a moment – that reverberates – and lasts. That lasting connection or magic is what starts families and friendships that live forever.

I finally accept the fact that even the short lived moment like a one first date that brings chills and causes unending smiles – but never produces a 2nd date is ok too. More than ok, it is moments like these that make up a life well lived. Sometimes it takes moment’s like these to lead to the one that lasts forever.

what i've been doing with my very busy life

just in case you weren't sure how interesting the life I lead is.

A new favorite...

This Band ROCKS!

John Vanderslice

This Artist is still my favorite.

October 2005, I had just stopped flying. I put down my wings and wasn't sure where to go from there. October 5th, 2005 was my offical last day.
That month, finally home on a weekend, and able to hang out with my roommates. They invited me to tag along with them to see a artist I was told was really good.

I had spent my life on the sidleines of good music. Knowing the names of bands that had proper "street cred" I could tell if a band was icky or good. I liked listening to bands. However, with no stero in my car and just a few tracks on my laptop I had less appreciation and more slight awareness of music. Except Elliott Smith, I always loved Elliott Smith.

That night however, I entered the Doug Fir Lounge, happy to be "looking good" wearing new brown boots and out on the town. I was content with that, sucking down a few malibu and cokes. Then, I was seperated from my friends. In the crowd.

I looked up to see a modest looking band come on stage, a orlando bloom look-a-like on bass and good looking curley haired guy on keyboards. John Vanderslice opened his mouth. I never don't remember the first song that was sung, but I do remember I was suddelnly hit, like chills, like magic.

I was transported with each song into amazing stories, of bunnies running away and Joan Crawford at 21. Melodies that made me want to fly. There are no words however to properly describe how his music impacted me.

Coming home that night, and thoroughout the next week - I aquired every song I could. Hours listening to his music evolved into inspiration that brought me to write agian. His song's inspired stories that made thier way into short screenplays. Then I started listening to more music, different music.

Weak, and trying to recover, I would spend hours in my room daydreaming to David Bowie then Calla, The National. (Thanks to musician roommates - I was given some great music)

Now it's Radiohead that I listen to on repeat for hours at a time. Mixing in Bryan Free, Boy Eats Drum Machine, Crosstide, Sicssors for Lefty, Stars of Track and Field, The Shins, Derby, Jonah, and so many, many more - I am now obsessed with music.

John Vanderslice opened a door for a new phase in my life that started when I hung up my wings in listening and now selling merch.

I had helped a few friends selling merch at a couple shows (cd's, shirts,etc)but what started out as selling merch for John on his next show in Portland as a fan turned into a week on the east coast finding out what stand up guys they all were. I spent a week driving my rental car and listening to music. It was heaven.

Since then i've had the pleasure of selling merch, and working with some other amazing musicians - This myspace site wouldn't exist without that week.

Also since October of 2005 I've also had the pleasure of seeing other shows that felt like magic. Take the Shins show a week ago yesterday. Miracle.

All this post is to let you know that John is going on tour agian this spring - check him out! I don't think you'll regret it!







Music has become my new escape, but what a fantastic escape it is.

His info:
Johnvanderslice.com
http://www.myspace.com/johnvanderslice