What's today? The 13th? What does that mean? Does is mean the 500th monthaversary with a girl? No. Does it mean the 300th monthaversary with a girl? No. It means it is the 2 year anniversary of the day I embarked on the best 3 weeks of my life. Think about the best experience of your life. Think about the best days of your life. 
They probably and hopefully have an album or a selection of songs you can tie with, right? In the summer of 2007, me and about 5 other of my all time best friends went to Europe together with 30+ other people of 3 weeks. We had known about it a year in advance and we hyped it up to be the best experience we'd ever get. Usually, things won't live up to the hype. This trip lived up and surpassed it. This trip was Lebron James. I got to completely escape my home life. I remember feeling terrible before I left. At the last second I asked myself, "Wait! Why do I want to leave my kick ass life behind for the 3 weeks?" But it was just anxiety. Being able to escape. Being able to vacation was absolutely amazing. Not only because of where I was going but it left me off the hook of my restrictions at home. My parents, my girlfriend, my job. All the things that were kind of like chain balls on my leg, I got to get away from and do what ever I wanted with out their permission. 
Anyway, I had known that The Swellers LP, My Everest was going to come out just days before the trip started. Me and my friend Joe labeled that to be our Europe anthem the day we found out the release date. It was just perfect. Mostly happy. Up-beat. Great melody. Great everything. But not only was
it the anthem for Europe, it was also the anthem for the month after the trip as well so there are memories I'd rather not reflect on. My twin brother Romey was listening to it on his laptop in his room with his door open and I literally got up and closed his door because I just don't want to hear it unless I choose to. There is one song on the album called "Skoots" which was always my favorite. It has an acoustic song called "Keep Looking Where Your Eyes Are Looking Now" before it to kind of build up to it. A prelude, if you will. Kind of like The Kids Are All Wrong to May 16th by Lagwagon. Or Feels Like Home to International You Day by No Use For A Name. Not 
only does this song completely get me nostalgic about Europe, it also gets me nostalgic about the day I got home from Europe which all bitterness aside, is still one of the happiest moments I've ever experienced. So obviously, there is no way I can listen to that and if I do, there is no way I can listen to it with out working up a tear or two. ESPECIALLY when the guitar solo starts and then the bridge and outro. Terrible! But I really just can't explain to you what the album means to me. It was playing on my ipod 24/7 in Europe and was playing in my car(my dads car) all through out summer. The people I grew close with on that trip were people I had known for so long yet never gotten tight with. It really was a beautiful thing. The trip created so many memories. Memories and stories from Europe that can never get old to tell. Stories that I probably shouldn't tell and memories that I try to forget. 
I posted about Chris Issac the other day on the tragic accident he lost his life to. I went to his funeral a couple of days ago. Every time(which thankfully isn't often) I go to a funeral, I think of what my friend Joe said to me while we were on our way to our friends dad's funeral. He said, "We should listen to Skoots, man." I asked why and he replied "Cause I don't have clothes for days like these, I never thought they'd come to me." Anyway, I headed to the funeral in Robstown. There were hundreds of people. You couldn't move 2 inches it was so packed. I saw lots of faces that I missed. Funerals are never an easy thing to attend. Hearing from his mom was heartbreaking. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. He idolized his older brother for his guitar playing and his older brother played a very soothing explosions in the sky esque song for him. His mom expressed how he always loved music and always chose to pursue it. It really hit home with me. She then said a number of times for people to always do what they love. Chris's love and passion for music really is an inspiration. It's what he wanted to do. It's what Kayla wanted to do. I wasn't very close with either of them, but I'll never forget them while I'm on this long road with music. The words Mark said to me as I hugged him are words I'll never forget.Here is a live version of The Swellers-Keep Looking Where Your Eyes Are Looking Now/Skoots
Six of us pack in the car and stare out at the stars
Wondering if you're up there
When I heard the news I went numb
At first in denial but somehow, I knew
Don't look down
Set yourself up for falling
Don't look back; the past is never good enough
Don't look up, you won't find answers in the clouds
Keep looking where your eyes are looking now
Death, another waste of plans
I'm shaking, I can't stop my hands
I'm writing words but I still lost my voice
Shoved in the back room with old friends, we had no choice
I never thought I'd see you here
I don't have clothes like days like these
I never thought they'd come to me
But I'm still here
It wasn't hell that turned you black
The ashes did when you got back
I'm sorry
The same six at all the shows
But now that its a funeral
The room has overflowed
So good of you to finally show support when the admissions free
And the congregation shows their gratitude
I don't have clothes like days like these
I never thought they'd come to me
But I'm still here
It wasn't hell that turned you black
The ashes did when you got back
I'm sorry
Would you have said what Father said you'd say?
Is it hard to set words straight once you're away
They made you speak out of your lifeless mouth
I read words you wrote when you were around
You'd want to be a tree strong in the ground
And you would have said, Keep looking where your eyes are looking now
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