A list of random memories

I've had a pretty rough time as of late and it's put me in a rather reflective mood. The more I look back on my life, the more I realize that, though I've certainly had my rough times, I've also done some pretty cool shit. Unfortunately, I've also come to the sad realization that my memory is fading just about as quickly as my hairline.
It's not so much that my memories are gone...it's just that they seem to pop up more randomly as the years progress.
So, before I start forgetting things permanently, I'm making a list. When one of those random memories pops up I write it down. The longer the list gets, the more thankful I feel and the shorter my pity-parties last. It's not that I've had the most amazing life, but it has been interesting (at least I think so).


Here's the list so far:

• Seen the Ramones play live
• Eaten pickled herring in the Netherlands
• Shared wine with Eddie Vedder
• Played in front of 200,000+ people at Wembely Stadium
      Had a police escort to the gig
      Performed the ½ time show with the Raiders/ Saints game
• Got piss-drunk with the Blue Angels
• Taken a tour of the Partagas factory, in Havana Cuba
• Lived for a few months in Trois Rivieres, outside Quebec
• Performed around lake Geneva in Switzerland, appeared in their newspaper
• Canoed through a swamp in Florida, while being followed by an alligator
• Slept in an underground bunker in Switzerland
• Worked as a bouncer
• Seen the Royal Philharmonic perform at Royal Albert Hall, in London
• Driven through the French countryside
• Eaten horse meat (in Cuba)
• Watched a Santeria ritual, including the offering of animals, in a building filled people playing drums while in a trance-like state (Old Havana, Cuba)
• Danced, in drag, at the Beefeater in London
• Walked through the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá
• Spent a weekend being homeless-by-choice, just for the experience
• Visited the Petersen House, where President Lincoln died
• Snorkeled in Cancun
• Been to the site of the Twin Towers, post 911 (pre-construction)
• Shared a bottle of home-made rum with strangers in Cuba, on a beautiful night
• Driven through, or spent time in, 48 of our 50 states
• Visited the MET in New York
• Became an ordained reverend, and performed weddings
• Performed live music all over the US, playing 7 different instruments
• Run several multi-million dollar projects as an Electrical Forman before leaving the trade
• Seen well over 100 live musical acts (including the majority of my favorite bands)
• Met David Hasselhoff and KIT, during the Knight Rider days
• Was one of the stars of a made-for-tv movie in Japan when I was about 7 years old
• Watched the largest, most incredible thunderstorm of my life while sitting on the back porch of George Washington’s estate, Mount Vernon
• Visited the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Vietnam Memorial
• Been woken up by having a wild boar enter my tent (on Catalina Island)
• Stood on the roof of the famous Capitol Records building (thanks Dan!)
• Been in a few, proper fist-fights
      Knocked a man out with a single punch
• Owned many different pets, including:
      Dogs
      Cats
      Rats
      Fish
      Parrot
      Salamander
      Python
      Hedgehog
      Desert Tortoise
      Iguana
• Eaten proper fish & chips, on a boat, while gazing at the white cliffs of Dover
• Seen a Broadway show
• Posed for cheesy photos in the actual Baywatch scarab (boat)
• Bumped into (and knocked down) singer Paula Cole
• Sat in Sinatra’s chair, in Capitol Records
• Played a note or two on Nat King Cole’s piano (also at Capitol Records)
• Played in a jazz group which opened for Tower of Power
• Watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Watched the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
• Taken a few dozen tours behind the scenes at Disneyland (thanks Mom!)
• Had a nice conversation with Paul Stanley (of KISS)
• Spent a few days stuck in a hotel room during a hurricane in Florida
• Watched the Angels kick the Yankees ass, with great seats, in the World Series
• Kayaked around Catalina Island
• Fed the homeless on Thanksgiving
• Partied with Amish teenagers