they had to be going to the show, so we decided that the parking lot could wait and turned around and picked them up. at the next exit where we could get back on the highway after turning around, there was a ford dealership. these two guys were trying to lease a car from this salesman to get to the show. talk about driving a hard bargain. they WALKED up to this dealership in the middle of nowhere and tried to lease a car.

hambone and i pulled into the lot and drove directly over to them. we said we were going to the show and asked if we could give them a ride. they didn't think twice. they were in the truck so fast the car salesman still had this look of befuddled awe on his face as i peeled out of the parking lot and saw him get smaller in my rearview. we stopped by their car to get their stuff and were off.

the whole way there they were very kind. we were all amazed that this had worked out as well as it did. it was amazing, and only got better. when we got off I-95 to hit 58 E, the speed limit went from 65 to 55, but i was still flying. i came over a hill doing 70 and a county mountie flipped his lights on. i slammed the brakes on and pulled over to the side of the road and a bunch of traffic flew by me.

i put the car in park and was just waiting for the cop to pull up behind and bust us for everything we had. hell, the smoke was still bellowing out of our windows when he flew by my truck and pulled someone else over. on the verge of a heart attack, i pulled back out on the road and cruised on to the mothership without incident.

the two guys caught up with the rest of their friends in the lot and asked us if we needed a place to stay. apparently they had a suite with a hot tub at the hampton inn right by the arena. we would have taken them up on the offer but had to drive back to raleigh friday night to take care of some school projects before driving back to hampton on saturday. friday night was incredible, musically speaking. anyway....

on our way back friday night, we drove through a monsoon. literally. i think it was some sort of tropical depression. traffic was only going 30 on I-95. it took sooo long to get home. we almost ran out of gas too. we must have driven past 5 closed gas stations at 4 in the morning.

we took care of business in raleigh and hit the road back to hampton on saturday. stopped by the guy's car outside raleigh and left a note saying we were glad that we were able to help them out in case we didn't see them that night. got to hampton. again, another great show. they always turn the mothership out.

drove back to raleigh saturday and went on to winston-salem for the sunday show without a ticket. i planned to sit in the cold ass car while my two friends went in because everyone and their mother were looking for a ticket. but right before the show started i was miracled by this middle aged guy that was just incredible.

i was just standing still with one finger up, smiling, soaking in the atmosphere, being cold, and whistling scarlet. he came over and asked me how many i needed. i said one, reached for my money, but he lightly grabbed my arm and said, "what goes around comes around." i just shed a tear and gave him a big ole hug. i told him of my adventures earlier that weekend on the way into the show and it just turned out to be magic. all of it. the whole weekend.

i thanked my lucky stars to be living amongst so many incredible folks and didn't come down for a month. everywhere i went, i just couldn't shake the amazing feeling of that weekend. thanks for letting me share. i look forward to meeting all of you soon!

- chas