Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Back in Town
August 9, 2006
Runway lights blinking through the little window at me remind me that we’re still on the ground. Raleigh, North Carolina. I’m flying out to DC to hang out with a friend for a few days before going to West Palm Beach for the final OZZ Fest of the summer. Maybe ever.
It was wild being in Raleigh today. When was it – ten years ago? Almost – in 1997 I was here for the whole summer. I left NYC with the summer off college and came to stay with my sister in Durham. Trolling about for a summer job amongst the auto part stores and ice cream shops – I found an ad for a costume mascot at an amusement park. On my application I listed fire-eater & juggler as my experience – and John, the owner of the park – Silver Lake Water Park - said I may as well just do my own show there.
Cool – but I didn’t actually have a show yet. So I ran out to the magic store, the juggling store, the hardware store – made a bunch of props and showed up the next day.
It was a great summer – my “costume” was the same as every other employee of the waterpark – a red swimsuit. I rode my motorcycle to work in the morning - got tanned during the day and drunk on the lake at night – it was awesome.
Well, I still had to be a costume mascot in between my 5 shows a day – and prep chili dogs for the concession stand too. But it was show biz (kind of) and it was awesome.
The summer ended and I strapped my one bag to my ’66 Triumph and rode back to NYC to finish school. At the end of another grueling year – I decided to leave New York again – but before I did I went for a walk on the beach and happened past the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. I knocked on the door and stayed for another 7 years before I went back out on the road a couple years ago.
It seems like so long ago that I ate fire on the beach in a red swimsuit – and I wouldn’t trade in that summer for anything.
This time I pulled into Raleigh on our tour bus – drank a cold beer before breakfast and stepped off the bus into the sweet southern summer sun. The big top was already set up - as the crew hung up the last banners and I stepped on stage I wondered if I’d see anyone from that summer – but it was so long ago and I’ve been traveling the country and haven’t really kept in touch with anyone. I’d hoped that my Mom or some of the family would come out to the show – but when you’re too busy traveling to make holidays and birthdays for anyone else – I guess it’s only fair.
Instead I met two kids who said they skipped school today to come to the show and watched the sideshow 3 times in a row. I kissed pretty girls, shook hands, met cool people, and had thousands of people in front of me.
Seems amazing that it’s the same town and the same life. My only complaints now are that there were no more seats in first class and that my plane is still on the ground. That and I miss the waterslide.
Thanks John – really it’s all thanks to you. And it couldn’t be better.
Runway lights blinking through the little window at me remind me that we’re still on the ground. Raleigh, North Carolina. I’m flying out to DC to hang out with a friend for a few days before going to West Palm Beach for the final OZZ Fest of the summer. Maybe ever.
It was wild being in Raleigh today. When was it – ten years ago? Almost – in 1997 I was here for the whole summer. I left NYC with the summer off college and came to stay with my sister in Durham. Trolling about for a summer job amongst the auto part stores and ice cream shops – I found an ad for a costume mascot at an amusement park. On my application I listed fire-eater & juggler as my experience – and John, the owner of the park – Silver Lake Water Park - said I may as well just do my own show there.
Cool – but I didn’t actually have a show yet. So I ran out to the magic store, the juggling store, the hardware store – made a bunch of props and showed up the next day.
It was a great summer – my “costume” was the same as every other employee of the waterpark – a red swimsuit. I rode my motorcycle to work in the morning - got tanned during the day and drunk on the lake at night – it was awesome.
Well, I still had to be a costume mascot in between my 5 shows a day – and prep chili dogs for the concession stand too. But it was show biz (kind of) and it was awesome.
The summer ended and I strapped my one bag to my ’66 Triumph and rode back to NYC to finish school. At the end of another grueling year – I decided to leave New York again – but before I did I went for a walk on the beach and happened past the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. I knocked on the door and stayed for another 7 years before I went back out on the road a couple years ago.
It seems like so long ago that I ate fire on the beach in a red swimsuit – and I wouldn’t trade in that summer for anything.
This time I pulled into Raleigh on our tour bus – drank a cold beer before breakfast and stepped off the bus into the sweet southern summer sun. The big top was already set up - as the crew hung up the last banners and I stepped on stage I wondered if I’d see anyone from that summer – but it was so long ago and I’ve been traveling the country and haven’t really kept in touch with anyone. I’d hoped that my Mom or some of the family would come out to the show – but when you’re too busy traveling to make holidays and birthdays for anyone else – I guess it’s only fair.
Instead I met two kids who said they skipped school today to come to the show and watched the sideshow 3 times in a row. I kissed pretty girls, shook hands, met cool people, and had thousands of people in front of me.
Seems amazing that it’s the same town and the same life. My only complaints now are that there were no more seats in first class and that my plane is still on the ground. That and I miss the waterslide.
Thanks John – really it’s all thanks to you. And it couldn’t be better.
