For those of you who have read my previously posted story titled "Harvey" here is another half true, half fantasy story that happened to me in my younger days. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it... I would like to thank all of those who have sent me feedback, I not only appreciate it, I enjoy reading it as well... Ok... Story time...
I had a friend named Jeff. I met him through another friend when I was in Beginning Band in Junior High School. Jeff was in High School at the time, he played guitar and sang. I was (and still am) a drummer. Jeff and I became very good friends. When I say good friends I mean close friends. I would spend the night at his house, he would sleep over at mine. Jeff would pick me up from school all the time. He was one of the few friends my mother actually liked. Jeff was even my best man when I got married.
We played in many bands together from my early teens to about my mid thirties when we drifted apart. I had decided it was time to resign myself from the overwhelming demands of the working musicians lifestyle to become a better father and husband. My friend Jeff pushed on, chasing that illusive dream, that one thing all musicians chase. To as they say "make it". Unfortunately I have not seen him nor heard from him in ten years and as far as I know Jeff is still out there chasing fame and fortune.
In the early days of our friendship Jeff used to take me everywhere. It didn't matter to him that I was just a junior high school kid. Although due to my drumming skills it wasn't unusual for me to be hanging with high school aged musicians and playing at parties and stuff. Jeff was different, he was a friend. Well when I was about 15 years old, we were off on one of our many trips to the beach or Tower Records in Hollywood or someplace else, I can't really remember and Jeff told me he was gay. I wasn't shocked or upset, I had suspected this and in fact it was rumored amongst our mutual friends. Jeff's outing was a blow to some but to me it wasn't a big deal.
I told Jeff that I really didn't care, as long as he wasn't going to go flaming queen flamboyant about it. Jeff was always a blue jeans and flannel shirt kind of guy. Jeff laughed and told me he was not going to change his lifestyle and image just because he was coming out to his closest friends, and Jeff was true to his words. We remained friends and band mates for many years after that.