Friday, September 22, 2006
Flashback Dialogues: Father Sun, circa 1992
I just recently found this scratch board piece that was part of the Epiphany show along side of the 'De-Evolution' piece. As you can see, I loved the sun. Raised in Phoenix I thought I would hate the heat for the rest of my life, hence I moved northbound to Flagstaff. Here is a story that might explain my train of thought at the time and where my mind was focused.
I used to live in the dormitories, the highest building in Flagstaff - 8 whopping stories. I lived on the 7th. Odd what a university does, it bonds people together in a brotherhood of sorts - a brotherhood of alcohol.
During the time of this scratchboard piece, our brotherhood heard of a toga party in Tucson - approximately 230 miles away. Yearning for the heat we decide to head down there. Gathering bed sheets and odd pieces of cloth we head south. They decide that I am a driver. So we all cram into my blue 1984 Chevy Cavalier. There was another truck that carried others. I can't remember how many of us where on the road trip but best guess will be at 10.
On the way down, my car decides to have a tantrum. So luckily, my parent's house was on the way. We swap cars out for a 1980 blue Chevy long bed pickup truck. Don't ask me the deal about the blue Chevy's that run in the family - just coincidence.
After some time we finally arrive in Tucson. We head to a liquor store and I pick up a fifth of tequila (This was my usual way fare at the time). We then don our togas. Funny thing about a few of our togas - they were bright red. That didn't matter though. So now my brotherhood and I head to this party looking almost like Hare Krishna's, except for the bald head. I remember at one point I was standing on adobe wall while staring off into the desert. Fifth in hand, drinking out of the bottle, all of a sudden I go into some kind of crazy dance. Dance of the liquor? Maybe. But it was joyous dance.
Also this point in time, I pierced one of my nipples at that time (Three days prior to the trip). The only thing I can remember of that night was that damn nipple ring snagging on the toga and tearing out. Luckily the end of the bottle of tequila saved me.
Next thing I remember, waking up in the back of the blue Chevy pickup, cradled in the spare tire. I stand. I am not in Tucson anymore. We are 45 miles north heading our way back to Flagstaff. Suddenly I notice I am only in my boxer shorts at the time. From what I gather later on, the toga flew off somewhere on the mad dash away from Tucson.
Looking around, squinting my eyes from the brightness of the sun, to get my bearings, I notice am in a parking lot. 3 Rows over, in the other tuck that accompanied us on this trip - there was one of my friends in the same predicament. Both standing now, in a busy parking lot only in our boxer shorts we stare at each other in disbelief. We started cracking up hysterically. I look behind me and notice the Burger King. All of our friends are already inside eating and waving to us through the window.
After a putting some clothes on, a burger and some fries, I feel up to par and continue our journey northbound. It was one of those road trips. On that day, I realized the sun was good and I knew that I was in good hands. Friends, sunshine and a good road trip make for a warm feeling.
