After joining a conversation about Ed, where some were praising him and others putting his life under a magnifying glass, I decided to offer my own type of contribution to the discussion. I saw them in concert once, but I won't speak about the concert, instead I'll place my life under scrutiny as many did his own.

I remember my own 12 year cocaine tryout. I didn't like it much to be honest. Looking further back still, I remember the 30 packs, the rattlesnake kits, the cases of wine coolers, the Coors Gold and Michelob in a bottle, and 40 oz st Ives we once held in hand by paper bag as we gathered downtown.

Let's not forget the weed. Good God the weed we smoked was amazing. We won't speak about the growing...

Then on to the whiskey kick days where a fifth lasted less than a day, and our carebear treatments with bottles of vodka, standing on one leg atop a bar stool, then turning the bottle up without falling to the ground.

Wait there's more. Our homemade beer funnels - two beers at a time in less than 3 second flat days.

Ohhhh yeahhhh ....

Don't try that with whiskey y'all. It don't turn out too good ok?

Then there's the talent, the efforts, the global fortress, the global family of many types of people, on to the social networks, the published books, the studious nature and mentality, then on to the desires of heart that all find happiness in life.

Hell, we all fuck up sometimes, then we get to sleep with our clothes off, hearts on sleeve for the world to see.

It's a blessed life, albeit hell on the heart the way we so often get lost in transition. Not translation, that's a movie, and while change can be difficult and accountability a bitch, I sometimes wonder if anyone is counting the good stuff as something to be accountable for?

Rest in Peace Mr Van Halen ... You're a soul who is of the enduring kind.

So am I, but Then, aren't we all?

© J.P Belt