Familia

We all have heard the saying, "Blood is thicker than water..." and another classic, "You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family."

Growing up in Southern WV, Family values were instilled into me from birth. We did everything together (when able), ate together, watched TV together, went on vacations together, went to Church together. Regardless of how mad my sister might have made me, my mother always said, "One day your father and I will be gone...and your sister will be all you have..."

I know that some people might not have been as fortunate as me, but I was blessed with an awesome family. In one of the hardest times of my life, the first person to call me...was my sister, the same girl that socked me in nuts with my football cleat...she was the first one to call years later when I needed someone...and at that time, I needed someone pretty bad.

So Here's to Family...Love em...hate em...they are still your blood...and that is something special.

My dad's Bday is today. Some of you might know ol Dave, or some may not, but he hit the big 55 today. This same day in 1977 all would be quiet on a plane...flying over the southern swamps...until the trees started hitting the wings...the fateful day Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane would go down...

I remember one day my dad telling me, "If you can play guitar like this (as he blared the solo in Free Bird), you can do anything you want..."

My dad and I haven't always seen eye to eye but what father son combo have?? When I was younger I had a hard time understanding a lot of things, but now that I'm older and I understand what it means to pay bills on time, work a decent job, and make sure you have money for the doctor (and I don't have kids!)...now that I'm older I understand a lot of things, and for that I'm very thankful.

My dad worked away from home, and was gone a lot, it wasn't easy on anyone, but some things in this world don't come easy. BOTH my parents sacrificed a lot for me and my sister, and I feel they raised us the best way anyone could ask, to know the difference between right and wrong and why you should choose right...instead of wrong.

However, with this being my Dad's bday I thought I would give you some of the things he taught me, both directly and indirectly:

-Always Pay your bills...ON TIME
-If it's broke, fix it, if you can't, find someone who can
-Change your Oil
-Go to Church and Read your Bible
-Moderation is key

I could write for hours on stories, as you probably have figured out by now, I enjoy to talk, However I will wrap this one up as best I can.

My Dad has supported Snake Skin Prison and my decision to move to Austin more than anything in my entire life. Now some might say he was just happy to see me get out of the house at age 25...however I disagree...I think he is happy that I have realized what it is I'm supposed to do with my life. He is happy to see me attack something with such a ferocity that nothing will stand in my way and I will give my entire all...for this dream. Just as I sit back at times and smile at SSP...watching it grow and run...bigger, faster, and stronger...I sometimes wonder if that's how he feels, watching me...grow and run...bigger...faster...stronger.

Who knows, if I have a child one day, I'm sure I will answer that question, but until then, this gnarly headed rock n roll band will have to do...and that's just fine by me.

So I'll leave you with some words of Wisdom by my Dad...Dave Ballengee...Teacher, Coach, Boilermaker, a man I truly am proud to say...is not only my Father...but my Friend...

- "Whatever you do...don't let em see ya sweat" - Said before my first football game as starting quarterback in 8th Grade...

- "Only one way to do a shitty job...and that's to do it!" - As I rake sour apples that I neglected for a week infested with Yellow Jackets...

- "You know them things leak right??" - You can use your imagination on this one...

- "....for if that were to happen son, that would be bad...that would be 9 Kinds of Bad..." - this one is for me to know and you to find out :)



\m/
MB