MAKE BEN FAIR

So last night was really cool. The band I am in "Dutton" (side bar: what do you guys think about the name Dutton?" please comment) Anyways we played in Mansfield Texas last night for a D-Now. It was really sweet. There were probably 400 to 500 kids there and they were having a blast. We did some fun cover songs (Coldplay, Switchfoot, Chili Peppers to name a few) It was like the old days with Likeminds. Traveling to a church to play some rock-n-roll! Sometimes being in a band can be a real chore, you have to practice alot, most of the time in good bands everyone has too many opinions because everyone is talented enough to actually have a good idea. This tends to lead to alot of arguing etc. Then then are gigs like last night, when everything seems to come together and things just work. It is somewhat magical if you will... to get onstage with other bandmates, friends and collectively create something that is experienced simotaniously (spelling???) by the creator and the receiver. (feel free to insert your own spiritual metaphor here...)

I been seen my fair share of churches over the last 10 years of playing music and nothing seems to surprise me. Sometimes youth pastors get crazy ideas to do some weird stuff. I do think that last nights was one of the most unique environments I have ever had the pleasure to play. We walk into the church gym and they have this whole G.I. Joe thing going on. Several huge grenades, several guns, and a life size soldier holding a gun. My good friend Tye decides that instead of the guy holding a gun he should hold his bass. Check out this picture, it is so funny.

Saturday something very sad happened. Jason and Mars Mueller were in town for a wedding. Jason, Jamie and I decided that we were going to go eat at Big Daddy's for lunch. Now for those who don't know... Big daddy's is one of those places that is synonymous with Baylor and Waco. It is located right on Babgy street by campus. So we get in the car and drive up to Big daddy's and notice the sign is down. We think, "they must be getting a new sign.." then when we got up to the door we saw a sign that said, "Now open, Double R Burgers"! Life sometimes gives you unexpected things that you may not be ready for... and man was this one of them. NO MORE BIG DADDY's!!! Our curiosity grew strong and we went inside and saw some of the Big Daddy's employee's walking around and we asked them what was going on. The one lady said that Big Daddy decided to sell the place. They still have their catering business in there but they no longer have the restaurant. She said they may try and open something across the interstate and see how it goes. Saturday will forever be known as a sad day. I remember where I was when September 11th happened, I remember where I was when I found out that magic Johnson had aids, and when the space shuttle exploded. I think I will always remember the day that I found out there was no longer a Big daddy's.

You may be thinking,"why is this such a big deal?" the reason is all the memories that place holds for me. That was the place to go in college. When I first came to Baylor it was nothing more than a tiny little burger place in only one store in this strip mall. Over the years it grew and took over the entire place. I had my very first college date at Big daddy's. Chris Aho and I took two girls to the freshman welcome week dance. We wanted to be cool and be really creative so we took our dates to Big daddy's and then to the dance. After the dance we took a tv and vcr out to the marina and watched a movie. It was quite a night. Jamie and I used to go there alot, she loved their tater tots, claiming that Big Daddy's had the best tater tots ever! I loved their chicken strips. They had fresh chicken just waiting to be dipped in flour and dropped into the deep fry. You can't get fresher chicken strips unless you make them yourself. We use to have fraternity dinner at Big Daddy's. Every Monday in college the touchstone crew would go eat at Big daddy's almost every week. Jason Solley, Jeremy Bush and I would always get the chicken strips... oh how I will miss those chicken strips.

Here's to Big Daddy's, thanks for the memories and thanks for the Chicken strips. May you rest in peace and may you change your mind and reopen and never decide to go away again. Please use the comment section to share your favorite Big Daddy's memories. I know that you have some, I didn't even mention the Big Daddy's mug...