Cherry Vessel

Rick Reid (Reido) was my life's first loss. He won't be the last and I'm still not ready for the next one. Since 9-11, I have seen even the Secretary Of Defense choke up during a speech and struggle to keep from losing it on National TV, so I don't feel so bad about weeping uncontrollably on the freeway the day that it hit me that Reido was gone and would never be coming back.

The Human Spirit is unique. We are capable of far more Good than Evil, and obviously we can be pretty evil, but I see something happening as a result of living through last year, and still being here for the next. 

Something wonderful.

In the Grand Scheme of things, Evil only works so far. There is a point where the structures that give It access to Life itself drop off themselves, and Americans are being pushed and pulled; dragging and kicking, whether they admit it or not, towards that very place.

The Dalai Lama (now HE has a legitimate gripe though he NEVER does) was the first to urge compassion and he was right, even though Richard Gere was booed when he spoke for him.

We were never booed. I don't remember making much money either. 

The HEAVIEST Guitarist In The World is on this stage. As for Robb Lawrence; his WEBTV emails supplied the "Disney quote" so his SHOT COWBOY award is rescinded.

All airline traffic was grounded for 3 day after 9-11 and it has now been proven that the atmosphere over the United States improved noticably in that short time. There were NO commercials for at least a day. We may be paying for that now as advertising takes over more and more of each viewing hour, but Television functioned WITHOUT it for 24 hrs in September of 2001.

Our band, especially when led by Reido, was about fun and freedom of expression; a mischevious sprite and his limitless buddy, who start looking for the door when COWBOY DOLLAR starts taking over.

To this day, I don't know how Robert Abel did it, but his work and the work of all those he gave free rein to still drops jaws as it inspires generation after generation of Artists hoping to work in Features even if they have to make Commercials first.

Perhaps THAT is his Monument. 

Reido's too.