* * * Happy Birthday to a.ray (doobiedaddy) * * *

a.ray doesn't post here much -- or even lurk -- but I exchanged emails with him early this morning and he admitted that today was his birthday... hint on his age: he's finally dealing with a full deck of cards, lol

I met Ray on DNB tour during the Harvest run in November 2007... actually, at the time the band was touring under the moniker David Nelson & Friends but that's beside the point... Ray came to the first show in the run (at the Beginings Octagon in Briceland) dressed as a pot plant from head to toe, a brilliant and hilarious (and totally apropos) costume that made it next to impossible to tell who the hell it was. That tour we started to get to know each other.

I don't see Ray much because he lives in Ohio, but he's a dedicated DNB maniac and over the last decade he has attended more than a few DNB shows in NorCal, usually during the Harvest run. I had the opportunity to get to know him quite a bit better very recently -- over the Memorial Day weekend -- when I flew to Ohio to attend the DSO Jubilee in Thornville, Ohio. Ray was supposed to accompany me to the fest, but he had some very serious back-pain issues that prevented him from joining me at the Jubilee. He did, however, pick me up at the airport and drive me wherever I needed to go (all the while maintaining an upbeat and positive attitude), he set me up with all the necessary camping gear that I used at the festival, and generally made it possible for me to have a kick-ass weekend despite the change in plans. After the festival weekend, I also got to meet and hang with his wonderful family who made me feel right at home. Some great memories and enduring friendships were forged during that short week I spent following my musical muse in O-high-O.

So... Ray, if you see this thread I apologize for "outing" you in this forum, but in my defense I felt the need to reveal a little bit about our decade-long friendship which really took off at the end of May. Here's hoping you have a great birthday and that you're getting a handle on your back-pain issues now and into the future!

I envision that you and David Nelson are on parallel paths of recovery, and that you'll be able to witness in-person the triumphant return of DNB to the stage somewhere in NorCal... hopefully in the not-too-distant future! Love you brother!