Random Shuffle: 01/08/07 - Page 3

I once nearly let a man die so I could finish listening to it.

It was college and I had settled down on a friend’s floor to watch a special broadcast of a Willie Nelson concert on CMT. Willie was singing like a Spanish angel and I was more than happy to sit on the hard concrete floor to let him do it. In the middle of the show my friend Donnie came in clutching his chest. He had been playing football or wrestling or some such manly sport early in the day, and it seems he had taken quite a hit dead center in his chest. At the time he walked it off, but now the pain was tremendous.

Not having a car, or not willing to drive in case he passed out (my memory is a little foggy on this point), he asked for a ride to the hospital. Just then Willie began singing “Always On My Mind” and he seemed to be playing it just for me. I stared closely at the screen hoping all these troubles would just fade away and it could be just me and Willie and nothing else, but my friend’s agonizing moans kept distracting me. In my mind I kept telling him to quit being such a baby, but outwardly I grabbed my keys and drove to the hospital.

Looking back I, of course, made the right decision. One song is not worth losing a friend over. Still I can’t help but wonder what magic my friend Willie brewed up that evening.

"Jet City Woman" – Queensrÿche
From Empire

In ninth grade all the popular kids were enrolling in drama class, and so naturally I joined the ranks (not that I was popular mind you, but a young boy can dream, can’t he?) For extra credit our teacher would allow us to lip synch to the song of our choice (you got even more points for bringing props, but were docked if you played air guitar.) I never took her up on this deal for I was way too shy to perform in front of the class (and if you’re wondering what business a shy kid has taking a drama class, remember the need to be popular takes precedence over sanity at that age every time.)

Article Author: Mat Brewster

Mat Brewster is a periodic ex-pat wondering if he'll ever find a home. You can find him musing on pop culture, and obsessing over concert bootlegs at The Midnight Cafe.

Visit Mat Brewster's author page — Mat Brewster's Blog