The past

A, the most reason I probably am like I am, my good friend from back in my punk rock days in Chicago, is traveling through Honduras right now on his way to some remote jungle. He's seen more of this world than any human I've ever met.

At the age of about 15 is when I first met A. It was at my very first renaissance faire. I guess he was a friend of a friend? though I can't remember that far back. I don't exactly know how things got started, but I do know that by the end of the summer or that year we became really good friends. We used to hang out on Belmont and Clark together back when it was a punk rocker haven - there was the rock and roll dunkin donuts on the corner that all the kids used to hang out until the wee hours of the morning on fridays and saturday and sometimes during the week. we'd spill out into the parking lot after going to medusa's (this club) or to one of the various other concert venues or even to one of the plays.

I used to help him spike his mohawk. His parents were very strict and thought A. was up to no good, and he was sometimes but most of the times he wasn't. He was just a victim of circumstances as sometimes kids are without going into details of his life.

He eventually ran away at 17 and I helped him a bit. He stayed with me then made his way over to Colorado where I sent him some money from time to time and also things that he needed - like a hairdryer to spike his hawk.

From there, A. decided it would be kool to travel around the country. Then the world. By this point in time I think he made amends with his family. And so he begin on this long journey and has stepped in almost every country in this world. Places unseen by most. He blended in, wrote journals and just took in the beauty of life. I suppose hearing all of A.'s stories and adventures is what got me into traveling. Seriously. I looked at what he was doing and was like wow, I need to be doing that too. And though I've not gotten as FAR as him, he gave me a little push in a good direction, ie. he's the reason I love to travel so much.

I don't know if there was any point to this story, I just received a email from him - he was in Cuba last week and in Honduras this week and it just made me think of the good old days.

Here's to you my friend.