It is the summer after our senior year in high school, 1999. Eight of my closest friends and I are living on Martha's Vineyard for the summer in a shack, working odd jobs, beachin' it and hitting up the ferry for weekend shows (you go...I go...osWEgo..). So, it is intense summer before we all part ways, a last hurrah if you will.

We formulate a plan towards the end of the summer that we will all get the same day off work, each chow about a cut of boomers, and run rampant in the woods (there is quite a large park on the middle of the vineyard) - a perfect way to end the summer, right?

So we eat the boomers at our house and get in two cars for the ten minute drive to the park. I throw in one of my favorite tapes, find DWD, and crank the baseline, waiting for that tingling feeling in my arms. We stop for gas and some water and smokes on the way, and by the time we arrive I am driving a car full of trippin' fools. The song has helped us all into it, and when I turn off the ignition the boys are in the thick of the DWD jam.

The day was, well, think Lord of the Flies. We hallucinated to a point that was a bit scary, but none the less great. Tree climbing, jumping between trees, pine cone fights, spider web staring, and a declaration by one my friends that we were now to address him as "Trogg of the Tree People". So, as daylight fades we all meet and start walking back to the car, still def. feeling it.

I turn on the car, forgetting the what tape is in and what part of the song is cued up.  We start driving home, along the beach as the sun sets, and we are silent, thinking about how much we have all grown, how we are parting ways, etc. Then, all of sudden, the boys break out of the jam and we all here the familiar words, "Waiting for the time when I can finally say, this has all been wonderful - now I'm on way". The words crystallized our experience from that day, from the summer, and from our high school career in such a poignant way. None of us could have said it better at that moment.

I know it is an oft quoted line, but for us, in that moment, it could not have been more perfect.

best,

JMI