I am 30 years old, I have been playing in bands and writing music since I was 15. I played in some bands that got some attention regionally in different areas but nothing that ever really turned into anything. I love playing music, its all I ever wanted to do. I turned 24 got married and by 25 I was preparing for my oldest daughter. I wasn't done making music but I was done trying to "make it". I got a real job, focused on that and raising my kid, I kept writing songs and recording but that was it, I didn't join any more bands.

Over the next five years a lot of weird shit happened. I have never been well off, I didn't come from money but I was never poor. In 2008 the place I was working food went under. I got another job, got laid off. I got another job, an awful job selling radio advertising, it sucked I was there for nine months and got a job as a manger for an IT department. I was a terrible manager, I had no idea what I was doing and after a month I was let go. That was May 1st of this year.

I fell into a real bad funk. I started drinking til I passed out every night, I didn't leave my house and I was done with music. I didn't want to kill myself, I wasn't suicidal but I wanted to die. I thought if I died, like in a car wreck or from drinking, my wife and kids (I have three now) would be better off without me and move on. I was in a bad way.

Eventually I ran out of money and couldn't even afford booze anymore so I quit drinking, but I would just sit there, dazed out, day after day. Last month I got a new job and I am making ends meet but I was still depressed and didn't want to do anything. Two weeks ago someone said, "Hey man, you should read 'Red', that book Sammy Hagar wrote". I always liked Sammy more than DLR, I loved Mas Tequila and I always liked 55. When I wasn't drinking Maker's Mark or Kraken, I would drink Cabs whenever I could afford it but I never considered myself a huge Sammy fan. Hell, I am an encyclopedia of music trivia but I couldn't tell you a single thing about Sammy. I needed a new book and decided "what the hell, I'll try 'Red'.

I read the entire book in 3 days. I went back and read it again. For the first time in three years I was inspired. I doubt anyone will ever even notice this blog but I want to personally thank Sammy Hagar for that. I am hopeful when I wake up in the morning, I started writing again and I just...feel good.

I haven't been this inspired in a long time. Thank you Sammy Hagar.