No news is ever completely bad.
I was on the phone with Tim Hyde, giving him some information that we had been missing on a business venture. We didn't know the status of something we had both been waiting impatiently for, and at the end of the conversation, he told me, "Thanks for the bad news."
I stopped him, saying "It's not bad news yet. We don't know the whole story, so right now, it's just news."
Thinking about that conversation, I realized I should look at the last year in that same light.
This has been a year of intesne personal growth and change. Turning 35 will do that to you, I hear. But rather than dwelling on what I've lost, I prefer to focus on what I've gained -- in knowledge, strength, and inner peace. I may not look like it most of the time, but I truly am at peace with myself. And on those occasions when the damned voice in my head starts feeding me with doubt and loathing, my friends and family will remind me that it is never as bad as it seems, and the days ahead are filled with change, and that's never a bad thing.
Many thanks to the people that got me from Point A to Point B this year:
- My best friends, fellow baseball fanatics and Amigos Eternos, Marty Yawnick and Thomas Moore III;
- Greg Woodson, for being the jackass to my straight man (and vice-versa);
- R. Chance Munsterman, for letting me be "that guy";
- Gary Adornato, for being the eternal optimist and the counter-voice in my head;
- Jamison D. Newberg, for the indulgence and patience to let me get closer to the game while getting your message out;
- Brandy, for looking at me with new eyes;
- Tim Hyde, for knowing when to call me out of the blue and get my adrenaline pumping;
- Richard Hunter, for allowing me to invade your personal space and share in some of the adventure;
- Laura Harper, for not telling Mischa to gouge my eyes out;
- Angela Muscanere, for having faith in me when I likely didn't deserve it;
- Suzanne Naylor
- Dan Ellis
- Dawn Dorminy, for telling me in no uncertain terms that I still have talent;
- Jerilyn, for not running me over with her Avalanche;
- Alixx Gilmore
- Katherine, for reminding me that, even at great distances, my energy can still be a potent thing;
- Kevin Fielder
- Kay, for being a long-distance inspiration to me;
- Ryan, D.J., and the whole Hank’s Homies crew, for smearing some eye black on me and letting me bang the drum loudly;
- Kelly G, for seeing me when I couldn’t see myself;
- Sara B., for helping me realize that I'm not disposable even when other people think I am;
- The current and former crew at Rawlings All American Grille, including (but not limited to) Angela, Becca, Brandon, Brittany, Charles, Cindy, Craig, Dominique, Kris, Leah, Marc, Michael, Matt, Rae, Robert, Ryan, Tarrance, Ted, and anyone else I didn't have memory or space to list;
- Sara Hickman, for providing me with constant inspiration and affirmation without even knowing it
- And, lastly, you. Yes, you. Quit selling yourself short.
This compilation is dedicated to Darla Raye Thompson (1941-2004). You will always be in my heart.
This disc was produced, mastered, and packaged on December 6-7, 2004, using Mac OS X. Track listings are available through the iTunes Music Store.
See you all around the bend.
