I've been meaning to add a blog to this website for quite some time now.  I'm a tad loquacious, so this seems the perfect place to get a bunch of excess rambling off my chest, regardless of the audience size.

In this inaugural entry, I'd like to discuss what I've been calling 'the best christmas a jew ever had'.

As any of my friends can tell you, I've been without a car or other personal transportation for several years.  My last vehicle died during the early days of my freelancing, and living hand-to-mouth isn't exactly condusive to unexpected expenses.

So, for the last few years, I've been relying on public transportation and the kindness of friends to get around the Puget Sound.  When the economy turned sour and I had to get a day-job to supplement my income, it took me 90-minutes to go each way on the bus, compared to the 30-minutes it could take by car. Every time my band had a gig, my bandmates would have to come and get me. It was getting to be a real bummer.

This past Thursday, Christmas Eve, bandmate Kelly came to pick me up at work.  I would be spending the evening with Kelly and his family, as I often do during holidays (My parents & sister are in Arizona, so I'm like the local orphan that Kelly's family has adopted).  We got back to his house a few hours before any of his relatives showed up.

Shortly after we arrived, Kelly went out to get the mail, and when he came back in, asked me to come outside to help him carry a table and some extra chairs back from the neighbor's house.  I stepped outside, followed Kelly around to the front of his house, and saw my ex-girlfriend's car in the driveway.

My first thought: Where's Julie, and why is she here?

Kelly turns toward me, hands me a red envelope, and wishes me a Merry Christmas.

What the...?

I looked left at Kelly's wife, Hilary, who was holding a camcorder focused on me.

Huh?

I look back at Kelly, who is looking at me expectantly.

I remember: Julie's mom bought her a new car.  Her car has been sitting at her brother's house for several weeks, for sale.  I've been hoping to save money to buy the car.

It starts to sink in.

I can't speak, I can't think, I can't move.

I suddenly notice that there's been one of those big red ribbons on the windshield the whole time.

It feels like about 30-seconds has passed.  Watching the video later would show that it's been less than three-seconds.

"Did you guys buy me Julie's car?"

Their grins tell the story.  My eyes fill instantly with salty tears, and my throat constricts.  I can't even keep standing, and I have to sit down on the stoop beside their driveway.  As I feel the tears breach the eyelids, I look up and ask Hilary to turn off the camcorder, which she does.

For several minutes, or so it seems, the tears stop me from reading the card.  When I finally can read it, I am continually amazed by the story it tells.

Kelly organized a covert fundraising among nearly a dozen of our circle-of-friends, and in all, they raised enough to buy the car, cover the title-transfer & registration, plus a check that would cover about ¾ of my first 6-month insurance premium.

Have I mentioned yet that I have some of the coolest and most incredible friends on earth?  Seriously.

There was one very important caveat to receiving this gift.  I was told that, when my own financial situation changes and I am in a position to do so, it is my duty to pay it forward.  I can only hope that I am in a postion to do so very soon.

And so, with all of my appreciation, to those friends who cared enough to take part in this very special gift, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.