Swing Swing Summer

Jason and I met through his best friend, a boy I had a crush on. Oddly, we kept in touch long after situations changed, people changed. I remember him calling during when I was finally alone with a man I loved too deeply.

I only met Jason in person twice. I was 17. That boy Joey and I were collegues of sorts. Jason and I met first playing what other than DDR in Joey's basement - my first time playing and I wasn't very good, still shy. Why Jason and I stayed in touch long after the boy dropped out of the picture is curious. It may have been the fact that we were guitarists, the fact that we liked playing GO, or our tendency to be up for anything. 

The second time I met Jason was the day Joey would be home from a Maine trip. Truth be told, I was bitter that he had left for the trip without saying goodbye to me. After much, much persuasion Jason got me to join him for a block fair in the Bronx, where all the local bands were playing including members of his band. Consider my going a little taste of revenge on Joey.

Regardless, Jason was an incredibly cool and fun person to be with. Sorry to say, the punk scene wasn't mine. Punk shows, however, can always be fun. Jason and I had just gotten to the show and Joey had just gotten home from Maine. Jason was trying to convince Joey to come down. As soon as he mentioned I was there, Joey was headed out the door. (I'm surprising myself by the sweet and bitterness of this memory) Joey arrived finally arrived, sweating bullets from skateboarding a mile to get to us. No complaints there; I found it delicious. 

The band on stage started to play Swing Swing. The energy was high; it was imperative - we were all jump jumping to the song. Then Jason looks me and my 4'10' stature and picks me up. Crowd surfed! That was my first time surfed. The first of many.