So it begins...

When Vic died on Christmas, I was overcome with a sense of unbalance...as if the world had come off of its axis. A stabilizing factor in my life had left me, and I felt as if I might never recover my equilibrium. I still feel that way. Vic has been a constant in my world since I first discovered him in 1993. Vic was an inspiration. Here was a man, although crippled and frail, who possessed such a strength and formidity, that his candor and presence belied his tiny frame. He so eloquently embraced the esoteric. Lyrically, he glorified the mundane and shunned the contrived. He nourished a love for language, and personalized it in a way that only Vic could. He accomplished such amazing feats, while all the time battling the demons that he finally succumbed to. I couldn't help but be drawn in and admire him. My relationship with Vic wasn't idol worship or fandom. No, it was admiration and respect, awe and wonder, and later on reassurance and comfort. I am so proud that I got to know Vic on a personal level. It wasn't just fan and artist anymore..it was a friendship ..and for that I am ever grateful.

I first met Vic the day before Valentine's Day, 2002, at 12th and Porter in Nashville, TN. I had driven 6 hours to see him open for Jonathan Richmond and Tommy Larkin. I didn't know what to expect...just that I was about to see my musical hero on stage...for the first time. Prior to the show, I was sitting there, with Laura, who accomponied me. Out rolled Vic, along with Tina, his wife, and they sat not a mere 10 feet from us. I'm not too sure what I looked like when that happened, but I for certain felt exhilerated, nervous, and "star struck." Laura encouraged me to go over to his table and speak with him. I eventually mustered up the gumption to do just that. Unfortunately, my arrival coincided with the arrival of Vic's meal, so the meeting started of a tad bit akward. I hated to interrupt, but felt like I couldn't just turn away. I politely introduced myself, said I had driven several hours to be there and that I was a huge fan. Vic was charming! He was so amazed that I had made the trek that far, and politely signed my CD. He wrote "Thanks for diggin it.- Vic." The show was fanastic and I was elated for weeks.

Now I won't recount every Vic show that I ever attended, or every moment that I was able spend time with him. There are far too many, and that isn't the point of this endeavor. I may, from time to time, recount little memories or incidents that come to mind. In fact, I can almost promise that. This blog is my form of grieving, if you will. A way of processing my inherent need for understanding and explanation of what made Vic so important and relevant to my life. I will focus on an individual work by Vic everyday for one year...reviewing, relistening, rethinking, reflecting and reacting on each one. My hope is that, during this experiment, I will be enlightened, entertained, inspired, and walk away with a greater love for the man than I had already, and eventually, regain the balance that I lost that day he died.

Even though it is my journey, I hope that you, as the reader, will come along with me..and form your own understanding of this man...my friend and my hero.