My brothers
Well I guess I should start off on how I met James and Joel. I first met James when Ryan brought him back from Liberty one weekend. Ryan had mentioned that he might play a show with us, just to see if he liked it. Immediately, I started to introduce him to my friends as "our new guitarist". The rest has seemed like it has happened in the blink of an eye. We played countless shows, I hung out with them at Liberty, heard stories about his "Krista" and finally had that one person who I could totally and completely relate to. Me and James really were like two peas in a pod. I couldn't of asked for a more perfect addition to our band, or a better best friend than James. When James went back home to St. Louis for the summer, I felt so empty. I had a girlfriend then, and when times were shaky, he was the only one that I had to listen to my problems, and understood what I was going through. Well, upon his return this past fall, he brought back his best friend from St. Louis Joel, to be our new keyboardist. I had my doubts about Joel, but I was eager to meet him and see what he was like. To sum up Joel's personality, I have to explain my first impression of him. He and James get here to Virginia one night in August I believe, around 12:30 at night. I see this old man car pull up that says "VA or Bust!" written on the back window. I couldn't stop laughing. That was just a James thing to do. Well I see James get out of the car, and I was so excited to see my brother again. Then, I look over, not knowing what to expect, see this extremely tall shadowed figure walking towards me. I see this tall, skinny, bearded man walking towards me with his arms stretched wide open ready to give me a hug. I don't know whether I was more excited, confused, or just plain creeped out when I saw this. Either way, I knew this guy would be awesome. The next few months, once again, went by in the blink of an eye. I sit here tonite, Nov 17th, at 1 in the morning, crying my eyes out. I've been crying the whole way back from Chesapeake tonite. The guys are going back home to Illinois for Thanksgiving break, and I don't know what it is, but I wish they were here. I never feel complete when they aren't here. I'm worried about how the band is going to fare in the next couple of months with them living back home, but I'm more worried because I know that I will have this void that I won't be able to fill unless they are here, or I am there. I pray that God watches over all of us, keeps us safe and working in His will, but most of all, I thank God for blessing me with such awesome friends as these guys that I will never forget as long as I live. I know this isn't the end, maybe it just feels like it for some weird reason, but I've grown physically, mentally, and most importantly spiritually these last few months because of what these guys have done for me. I firmly believe that I will never meet anyone else in my lifetime that I find as strong a connection with as I have found in James and Joel, and for that, guys, thank you. Even though I gave up school, health insurance =), and a relationship with a girl who I truly thought I was going to marry to be in a band with you guys, every second has been worth it, and then some. For once, because of you guys and what we have done as a band, my parents are proud of me, and SFN. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? A month ago they were discouraging the whole band idea, and saying I needed to find something worth while and not so immature. And now they can't stop smiling because they are so immensely proud of us. And the Norva???? Who woulda thought?? This time has been ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I love you guys. I hope this hasn't sounded too gay, haha. Just wanted you guys to know. Happy Thanksgiving, and I better see you guys BEFORE THE 28th of NOVEMBER! Are you guys insane??? Take care.
-Greg
-Greg