So Justin’s blog reminded me that there has alway’s been something that I have alway’s wanted to say but haven’t done yet. It’s about Matt. I have alway’s wanted to tell him thank you for being him. Matt just may not realize how much influence he really had on some of us. More than just being in Wayward Sun.
You see, Matt was Matt.
We all know how bouncy and energetic he was. We all know that he was the drama and cheerleading geek. He went all out in everything that he did. Just like the rest of us, he was odd. He made it acceptable to be odd. He made it easier for us that were self-conscience to be able to live in our skin a little better.
You see, I was the quiet girl that was everyone’s secret. Always afraid of what someone else would say or do. It took a long time for me to get over that and say I really don’t care anymore. Matt made that possible.
I remember the day that Matt told me he was going to be a cheerleader. I asked him, “are you sure you wanna do that?”. Because I knew that there would be talk and repercussions. (And from his comment about his house being egged, there probably was).
But you know what his response was? “Sure, why not?” Then he skipped off merrily. The same way he did when before graduation he announced he was going on mission. When Matt saw something he wanted to do he did it. He didn’t allow anything else to hold him back.
It’s because of that that I think that he has got some of the best friendships around. Matt helped to bring me out of my shell. I want Matt to know that by him being friendly to everyone, happy with the cheesiest grin, alway’s willing to help (and he did that a lot) his true self showed through all the goofiness. A wonderfull Bright being.
Christy, you have a wonderful husband and catch. Matt I just wanted to say thank you.
And to everyone else how has Matt influenced you?
EDIT by matthew: Formatting, tpyos.
He looks so much like himself…
I feel like he’s still here with us 🙂
I didn’t realize…
I didn’t realize that I wrote his eulogy. — Teresa the Flautist and fire dancer
Bring out yer dead
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Speaking of Matt’s mission….
Teresa, Were you at Matt’s farewell party?
Matt invited my family and I to his farewell talk at church and to the party afterwards. When we got there, I found that the house was filled with girls…lots of them. There were only two guys there, (I think it was Justin and Sam, but I could be wrong), as well as a couple other families.
I remember finally finding a place to sit, beside two girls (big surprise). I’m a pretty nosy person and couldn’t help overhearing the conversation. It went something like this: Girl #1 “Matt said he’d take me out this summer and he never did. Did you go out with him this summer?” Girl #2 “No, he said he’d take me out this summer, too, but he never did. I wonder who he was dating all summer that he couldn’t take us out.” I wasn’t going to say anything, but they turned to me and asked, “Did Matt go out with you this summer?” “Yes.” Was my reply. “OH, so you’re the reason he didn’t ask us out this summer.”
—
Christy
Grrr…
He never asked me out either.
But, I haven’t completely given up hope yet.
Airport
Let’s bump into each other at the airport again sometime 🙂
—
Matthew P. Barnson
WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY
–We are gathered here today to remember Matt. I am sorry to everyone for making him out to be dead. But I am sure that he would be great dead as he is alive. Christy no I wasn’t there but I am sure that I would have laughed over the conversation . Teresa the Flautist and fire dancer
Not quite dead..
He’s just in Dark Astoria.
Zombie chants
Lu-Geh-Bu…
(For those who don’t get the joke, Justin and I have been playing City of Heroes a lot lately. Dark Astoria is one of the tougher areas where a level 21-29 hero can attempt to bring villains to justice. The villains in this particular area are zombies. Heroes tend to have a very tough time there. If you are interested in playing CoH, let us know! We play on Champion, and can frequently be found online on weekday evenings.)
—
Matthew P. Barnson
Dark Astoria
And, by contrast, the real Astoria in Queens is a place where you can get mugged in front of any one of a dozen authentic Greek restaurants.
Fond memories of Matt (may he rest in peace, wherever he is – oh, there he is):
— The first time I ever attempted to drive a car, it was Matt’s beloved Volvo wagon (the one destroyed by a malicious bee). I was probably 14 at the time. Not knowing the first thing about driving, but assured by Matt and Sam that it was no big deal, I succeeded only in nearly wrecking the car before slamming on the brakes and propelling us all into the dashboard. The whole thing lasted about 20 seconds.
— I remember what may have been Matt’s longest day. He started the day at (I think) a marching band competition (or something) out in West Virginia (or somewhere). For some reason, he didn’t have a car, so I (and presumably one of my parents) picked him up, to drive him and me to a Wayward Sun gig (if I remember correctly, Lisa Schinault’s 16th birthday party) [note: in a bizarre coincidence, Lisa Schinault grew up to marry a guy I went to school with who I’ve known since I was about 5 years old.] That evening was my high school’s homecoming dance. At one point during the day, I mentioned to Matt that Kathy, a friend of ours, found herself suddenly dateless. So Matt, during the break between sets, called Kathy and asked her to the homecoming dance. So, after the gig, zoot suit in tow, Matt and I went back up north and escorted two lovely ladies to the homecoming dance. [Matt, correct me if I’m misremembering any of this — it’s been 14 years and I’ve drank a lot in the interim.]
— Waking up to Matt and Sam attempting to implant post-hypnotic suggestions in my brain: “Ben… you want to make us pancakes… pancakes…”
— Ben Schuman Mad, Mad Tenor
Lisa Schinault
Lisa Schinault and I (we think) are cousins. At least from one rambling conversation, we discovered that we were both related to Flowers family in Charleston, West Virginia.
Given the state of inbreeding in WV at that point in time, it made it a virtual certainty that we were related, so referred to one another as cousins from that point on. We never bothered to trace it further than that.
And I’d totally forgotten about that day. I don’t remember ever dating Chica (Kathy), though I do remember hanging out playing games at her house for a very long night one night. That might have been it.
Ahh, how fuzzy the memories get after fifteen years.
As far as “nearly wrecking the car”, you did fine. You just weren’t quite sure how to steer, if I recall correctly. Though I’m sure it’s improved in the interim, I recently allowed my nine-year-old daughter to drive my car (with me at the pedals, her at the wheel), and her driving reminded me somewhat viscerally of yours 🙂
—
Matthew P. Barnson