Now here is the rest of the story, 98% of this I had written in the forum under Lovin the Sim, or what the sim means to me, but when I submitted it it just disappeared and I just didnt have the energy to rewrite the story, but this win makes it ever more poignant and it was a couple of weeks ago so my writer's cramp has finally healed.. so here is the story...
I happen to play in a few bands, have for years. In those travels I met a drummer. His name was Chip. Chip was an older guy, 67, but he drummed like Dave Grohl, I had never seen anything like it. He was in fantastic shape and it turns out Chip was from a band called The Remains.. I doubt you have heard of them but a little bit about the band to know is that they were big in the 60s, big enough that they actually opened for the Beatles on the Beatles last US tour in 1966.. The Remains lead singer was the only one to continue in the music business and joined up for years with Emmy Lou Harris.. In any case, Chip for his own amusement would sit in with the local cover band and we became good friends.. The Remains had a reunion type show because they got a shot in the arm when the producers of the movie SUPERBAD wanted to use their song called Why Do I Cry in their movie.. Thats right McLovin, the Remains got a nice royalty check out of that.. In any case, I played the keyboards, and like many keyboardists we tend to be hidden in the back, near the drummer obscured by the mighty guitar players.. So Chip would note this and would always tell me after a gig, "Its All About You kid!" with a big smile on his face, one of the warmest nicest guys I ever met. You can check out the story of the Remains and Chip on one the greatest authorities in the world, WIKIPEDIA
, On February 22nd 2014 Chip Damiani, in the best of health had a massive brain hemorrhage and died when they pulled the plug the next day.. He was a great friend and one of the warmest nicest people Ive ever met and is sorely missed.. The following day the sim had its yearling gallops, and my first ever scary/special galloper was a black diminutive filly who won the least likeliest race I ever thought she would win. and all I can think of is Chip's smiling face and warm Italian embrace telling me Its All About You.