I love you, Muddy Waters

I first visited Muddy Waters when i first came to Portland as an adult. I had grown up just minutes from Portland, but hadn't done much here except go to movies and such. When I started dating my girlfriend, Molly, she took me to Muddy Waters immediately for an Open Mic Night. And I had no idea what I was in for. Although i had lived in Eugene for a couple of years, and met some great, down-to-earth people, the day-to-day down there just involved getting messed up. When i walked into Muddys for the first time, I was excited to see REAL people living a life of LOVE! I couldn't believe it at first! Growing up as a 'super-christian' I have always had a problem trusting people, not because i thought they were going to hurt me in any way, but for fear of a person's underlying intentions. But i soon found out what these people's intentions are. Having created a space of love and acceptance toward everyone, I fell in love with myself every time i walked in the door. And the first time was no different. Two 'acts' in, Seth Martin got on stage and blew my mind. This was a person who wrote and sang about what was in his head, about his convictions and attitudes about what he witnessed on the earth. Maybe two songs in, he sang about walking to the end of the sidewalk where the grass still grows, and my heart dropped. My mind began to wander to a place that thought 'Where do I have to go to be at the same Place that his mind is?' And i began to dance. Once I danced while listening to Nahko and Medicine For the People! We jumped up and down and yelled at the top of our lungs "You quit the job! I'll quit the job! And we'll work for ourselves on the Mountain Top!!!" OH the energy in the place at that moment! All i wanted was MORE! I have spent many nights dancing at Muddy Waters since then. Dancing for pure joy! Dancing because I wanted to! Dancing because Muddy Waters provided a place for me to do so. About a year later and maybe just a handful of visits to 29th and Belmont, I began to build a friendship with Roody, Megs, and Dukky after having met them at Oregon Country Fair in 2009. Although both relationships (one with Muddys, the other with the NIAYH kids) started slow, they were both there, filled with Love, and i was ready for what was about to come.
About a week before New Year's 2009, I was asked to help out with the construction of The Flipside, Muddy Water's new venue. And this offer came to me not three weeks after I had discussed with Molly about how my life seemed to be without purpose. Like i was just here wasting space and working and eating and drinking and smoking. Seeing this awesome coincidence I decided to dive in head first. And it's been a roller coaster since then. I've never been apart of a project this big before, a project that makes my heart happy like this one. And although I never felt as though I was helping out in any huge way, my hands and heart being present was greatly appreciated by the owners (for some reason). New Year's was a huge success! It was a ragin party and everybody was in such high spirits! Then i think just a couple days later, it was announced to everyone: 10,000 in 6 days. WHOAH! what a fuckin mind blowing announcement! Just when I thought I was doing something worthwhile, it was all going to end?? Hell NO! and Adrenaline Week began. I don't know how many 'projects' there were where I had a really small part in, but I was THERE. I was helping. I was doing something completely out of my ordinary situation. And it worked. Even though deep down i just knew that it would survive, it is still such a shock that we pulled it off! And it seems that it was the effort put in by all of US, TOGETHER, that saved it. Not just the money. Muddy Waters has helped me so much, and in more ways than anyone there could possibly know; more than i even know. The help that i have provided them is very minuscule in comparison. So thank-you, Muddy Waters. Thank you to the people i have met there. Thank you to the people there who love me. I LOVE YOU!
-FatKid