I just got off with Randy the
Pro….errr now the General Manager and Vice
President of CD101 and I'm sitting in 1998. The bond
is so concrete that no amount of years can take it
away. He seemed so genuinely touched that I got here
within 48 hours of hearing the news and you
realize… <gasp> this is the definition of
"family".
So yeah, after being home only a
matter of days, I bought a ticket back. Yes, you can
imagine how much a ticket is for flying out the
following DAY but something happened as I listened to
cd101.com in my house in LA. Hearing all the old DJs
come filtering in and sharing their stories. For the
first time in so, so, so, so, so many years I knew
exactly where I belonged. I just bought the ticket.
Then I went on Facebook and asked anyone in Columbus
if they had any computer/video work or fuck - YARDWORK
- to let me know because I am in the worst financial
situation I've ever been in and I'm not gonna act all
arrogant and prideful like I have the ability at any
time to just hop on a jet and fly across the country.
I don't. This is crazy. But Andyman was a bigger part
of my life than even I realized. Seeing as this is
gonna be a crazy 24 hours, I figure I'll make little
posts throughout the day encompassing all that is July
21st, 2010. What is sure to be a teeny bit
overwhelming. This will keep me sane.
10:20 AM
Wow, didn't think Joe would pull
me into the studio today. Back on the air, over ten
years later…
I'm glad Joe wrapped that up with
how Andy defended the airstaff. It was a nice concise
POINT to my story that I was clearly missing in my
sleepy haze. Time for coffee, and finding where I can
help putting this shindig together for tomorrow. A
huge 4-hour blowout for Andyman at an outdoor
Pavillion for thousands. A lot to throw together in a
short amount of time. I really think I'm gonna be a
big help.
3:30 PM
Well, me and Bam-Bam rock. Check
out what we put together for Andyman's canvas that
we're having everyone sign:
Yeah? Could you SAY "Andyman was
CD101" any better? I think not. Wish there was time to
get T-Shirts made. And man, we are up to our eyeballs
in work. I'm so glad I came back. Everyone seems
genuinely shocked that I came so far, and are grateful
beyond words. I knew my heart was right sometimes.
:
9:22 PM
Whew. Huge exhale. That was one of
the most emotional and necessary few hours of my life.
So Andyman's wife, Molly, finally
got back from Michigan where Andy died, and stepped
into the station for the first time. You could hear a
pin drop. When she finally emerged from the GM's
office I ran into her outside. You thought everyone
else was shocked? She just burst into tears and hugged
me and repeated: "Andyman was so proud of you, Andyman
was so proud of you. He loved you so much. He was so
proud of you." She couldn't stop telling me how much
they both googled my name, or talked about whatever
craziness I was into at the time… the tears just
flowed and it was all we could do to keep standing. We
shared a drink, and the memories continued. She was
extremely open and lucid about the events that had
transpired and gave every detail she had (for which
I'll be forever grateful. The holes in the story
always hurt my ability to process) and we soon made
way to my laptop with about 3 or 4 other people and
she asked if I could get on Andyman's Facebook page as
she hadn't seen it. Whew. I'm sure you can
imagine.
To say I made the right decision
to fly back, is to say the very least. It's the one
thing I adore about being as far in debt as I am. You
just, stop, killing yourself over it. The perfect
record is blemished - never to be clean. You are in
the thick of the financial fight and it makes the
money PUNCHES hurt a bit less. If I was unscathed, I
never would've bought that ticket. But when you're in
this deep? You just go with your heart. This was the
right move.
Tomorrow is a big day for our
family here. Inhale.
