The good life thread.

[graeme]

In view of the recent thread about futility, you all know what I'm talking about, maybe we need a place to put the good stuff.

No dark humour required here (I'm a Brit, we invented that shit), just honest accounts of good moments ...just because.

Can't think of a good one today? Remember one instead.

Here's an oldie for me, a very strong moment.

Ten years ago I was playing in a rock band, barely making a living, living in a shithole bedsit and drinking (way) way too much. My mind was gone and on the way back from a tour of France I stood on the front of a ferry across the English channel weighing things up.

Bottomed out. Only up from here I thought.

A few days later I was sat in my shithole and full of anything but hope and the sun was coming through the window onto my seat and I put on the first movement of Beethoven's 5th louder than I have ever played a rock album in my life.

A moment of what I can only describe as deep ambitious peace took me over.
Suddenly everything was possible. Nothing special happened except for that feeling.

I take that feeling with me at least once a week.
Ten years later.

It tingles my spine to this day.

Doesn't sound like much I guess........but it was. And is.

Yours?

[nitefly5150]

Probably sometime in 2001 I went with some friends to go see Kevn Kinney (singer/guitarist/writer for Drivin'n'Cryin). During the song "A Good Country Mile", I had maybe one second where I was at peace with the world. I don't know how to describe it - it seemed longer at the time, but it must have just been a second or two. Chalk it up to how powerful a solo acoustic act can be when the music is really good I guess (before the jokes start, no - it was just the music)

[muffdiver]

In view of the recent thread about futility, you all know what I'm talking about, maybe we need a place to put the good stuff.

No dark humour required here (I'm a Brit, we invented that shit), just honest accounts of good moments ...just because.

Can't think of a good one today? Remember one instead.

Here's an oldie for me, a very strong moment.

Ten years ago I was playing in a rock band, barely making a living, living in a shithole bedsit and drinking (way) way too much. My mind was gone and on the way back from a tour of France I stood on the front of a ferry across the English channel weighing things up.

Bottomed out. Only up from here I thought.

A few days later I was sat in my shithole and full of anything but hope and the sun was coming through the window onto my seat and I put on the first movement of Beethoven's 5th louder than I have ever played a rock album in my life.

A moment of what I can only describe as deep ambitious peace took me over.
Suddenly everything was possible. Nothing special happened except for that feeling.

I take that feeling with me at least once a week.
Ten years later.

It tingles my spine to this day.

Doesn't sound like much I guess........but it was. And is.

Yours?

Cool story, good to hear that stuff, and that ya turned things around..

[Viking]

In view of the recent thread about futility, you all know what I'm talking about, maybe we need a place to put the good stuff.

No dark humour required here (I'm a Brit, we invented that shit), just honest accounts of good moments ...just because.

Can't think of a good one today? Remember one instead.

Here's an oldie for me, a very strong moment.

Ten years ago I was playing in a rock band, barely making a living, living in a shithole bedsit and drinking (way) way too much. My mind was gone and on the way back from a tour of France I stood on the front of a ferry across the English channel weighing things up.

Bottomed out. Only up from here I thought.

A few days later I was sat in my shithole and full of anything but hope and the sun was coming through the window onto my seat and I put on the first movement of Beethoven's 5th louder than I have ever played a rock album in my life.

A moment of what I can only describe as deep ambitious peace took me over.
Suddenly everything was possible. Nothing special happened except for that feeling.

I take that feeling with me at least once a week.
Ten years later.

It tingles my spine to this day.

Doesn't sound like much I guess........but it was. And is.

Yours?

Beethoven will do that to a fella, you know what I'm saying?

I've had several of those moments in my life, and most of the time it's during a very bad time.

One in particular that stands out was probably around October of '94. My Mom was losing her fight with cancer and I was standing on a bridge that was about 100 yards from our house looking over the creek and praying and had a very peaceful feeling come over me. Just for a moment the sun seemed brighter, the leaves of the autumn trees had more color, the sound of the rushing creek seemed clearer, and everthing smelled better and just the general feeling that everything would be alright. My Mom lost her fight with cancer several weeks later but at the time it happened I was really struggling with what was happening to my Mom and it helped me get through that tough time.

[Red]

Probably sometime in 2001 I went with some friends to go see Kevn Kinney (singer/guitarist/writer for Drivin'n'Cryin). During the song "A Good Country Mile", I had maybe one second where I was at peace with the world. I don't know how to describe it - it seemed longer at the time, but it must have just been a second or two. Chalk it up to how powerful a solo acoustic act can be when the music is really good I guess (before the jokes start, no - it was just the music)

Kevn Kinney....vastly underrated.

To borrow a lyrical quote from a Widespread tune, "Only music knows what the people feel...". Sometimes music speaks to the soul in a way that a lover, a preacher or a chemical simply cannot.

Cool thread. I've been at the emotional/inspirational crossroads a few times, mine usually involve the Holy Trinity in some way, and talking about such things always causes a stir in these parts (and perhaps that's as it should be), so I'll let it go at that.

[Wickett]

The best moments I've had in my life involve time with the kids, and it doesn't have to be doing anything in particular. Played catch with the 4 year old this weekend (with his little glove, which is twice the size he needs, but he makes it work), and that moment right there will last me for a long time..

As far as music goes, I'll never forget standing in the 8th row seeing Springsteen play "Promised Land" and "Thunder Road." It was ove 7 years ago, and It still feels like the show was just a couple of weeks ago.

[KT]

...happened June 2-4 here in Houston. Nervously thinking that we might not be able to pull off a gathering of 25+ Van Halen fans in the same fashion as the previous year in Dallas, we worked our asses off to pull our house together after 2 months of rebuilding, remodeling, etc. after water and flood damage just shortly before the Texas Linkers' Weekend was to take place. On May 31st all the stress and anxiety came to a hault when that "Angel" from across the pond came running toward me in the airport. I'll never forget seeing SEA grinning from ear to ear while she was still at least 50 yards away when we caught each other's eyes. It was a moment I'll never forget getting to hug this lady we've all come to know and love here on the Links.

The next 4 days were some of the greatest of my life. I never would've thought that this many strangers could've come together and gotten along so well. It WAS like a giant "love fest"...you could just FEEL it! It really WAS the greatest party ever (in some of our opinions ). I still can't believe that we all got along so well, after hours and hours of drinking and partying not one person got belligerent, no one got sick, and not one confrontation---which is HUGE when you think about some of the topics that we debate around here.

The funny thing? Only a small portion of the weekend was about Van Halen. It was more about a group of GREAT---make that the BEST---people on earth getting together, partying, and living life to the fullest. I'll never forget some of these great moments:

*LowLifeFlatHeadScum jumping into the pool as soon as he got here and before he'd met everyone FULLY CLOTHED...we KNEW he'd be the life of the party
*hanging out in the kitchen with a few of my best "old" friends and a best "new" friend spending HOURS making homemade ravioli and meatballs---flour was everywhere, we ruined a table, and the kitchen was covered in sauce, but damn what fun!!!
*walking out of my house and seeing Lodewijk and Perticelli for the first time sitting on my patio---I'll NEVER forget those two smiles
*several of us scrunching up on the sofa and watching Stephen Lynch until we CRIED we were laughing so hard at about 2a.m.
*listening to SNIC, van_5150_halen, sisca, and SEA throwing out quotes from Smokey and the Bandit all weekend long (jim:"angie...do ya'll have smokey and the bandit in england?" angie:"yes jim. and we also have washing machines, microwaves, and dishwashers too!")
*franky-striped shrimp diablos...need i say more?
*having to say goodbye to all those beautiful people who touched our lives and graced our home with friendship and love...it was so hard but knowing we would do it all over again in less than 365 days allowed me to let go and say, "see ya next year"!

It really was one of THE greatest weekends of my life!

[MBMM]

I had a cupcake today.

[smithjc]

Is there a such thing as a good life? I swear sometimes I think I'm being tested, with test after test to see how much crap I can take. Then I see others who are in situations far worse than mine.

The worst is preparing for my kids' Christmas being a single Santa.

The best is seeing how happy they are to open all their presents.

My kids keep me going every day. Not sure where I'd be if it weren't for them. Well them and this place of course.

[Kevy5150]

I alway wondered how cool it would be just to wake up as like a seven year old while knowing everything I know now. Just re-experience everything up until now. It would be awesome.

[nitefly5150]

I alway wondered how cool it would be just to wake up as like a seven year old while knowing everything I know now. Just re-experience everything up until now. It would be awesome.

I think I could make more use of it in the teen years