Where it all began...

Sometimes things come our way when we least expect it.  Sometimes we least expect it because we just asked.  Take me for example.  I began wanting and praying for a tour.  One landed in my lap less than a month later!  Next thing I know I'm on a plane to New Mexico, being pulled aside by airport security after my kick pedal went through the X-ray machine, getting stuck at another airport on the runway because a decal fell off of my plane, and finally sitting in a coffee shop blogging.

Well, everybody always says, "Next thing I know."  Really?  Nothing happened between the two?  Nobody ever fills the gaps in their stories.  That always bothers me, so...

Right after getting called for this tour, I immediately called my favorite drum shop to see if they had some things I would be needing.  Being the nice guys they are they offered to put everything aside for me for my convenience.  They really are very nice, but maybe a little hard of hearing or REALLY bad at using a pen.  In all of my newbie glory and excitement I rushed to the drum shop.  With a little new-found confidence in my voice I informed the guy why I was in the store.

"Hi, you guys have some stuff on hold for me."

Eager to serve a faithful customer, he replied, "Oh yeah, I got some stuff right here...forrrrrrrrr...Mr. Scoop?"

Confused, but quickly catching on, I reminded him being a superstar has not made me better than him.

"Please man, my friends just call me Mr. Scott."

Here's the amazing thing about this incident.  After apologizing and correcting himself he seemed to have figured out that I'm the same exact Richard who shops often at the shop.  Well, I was wrong.  He reverted to calling me Mr. Scoop!?!  So, now I know where "next thing I know" came from.  Those four words form one of the greatest story telling tools...ever.

It's how people avoid telling you about looking slightly less than awesome.

Having learned my lesson, I created this blog where I will most likely forget what I learned and fill in all of my stories' gaps.  If anything, I can hope this will inspire more people to frequently shorten their tales of triumph through the use of that ingenious 4-word phrase.

* Note, I am fully aware I am not a superstar

** I am also fully aware that "forrrrrrr" may not be the best way to imply hesitation in someones voice. Well, this blog may end up helping you avoid looking silly in life.  I'm doing you a service, so let me have a quirk or two.