CHAPTER
13
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS "Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock!!!" I awoke from a sound sleep to hear several hard knocks on my apartment door. I had heard that knock before. I got up looked out of the peephole, and saw three men with badges. My heart sunk. I really did not want to open that door. I knew why they were there. Someone had snitched on me. I opened the door, hoping that they would not have a search warrant. I was wrong. They searched. They found. I saw my whole future vanishing before my eyes as they hauled me down to the jailhouse. It couldn't have happened at a worse time for me. We were making one of the most spectacular comebacks that a band had ever made, and I was about to screw up once again. I found out who snitched on me. It was a crazy girlfriend of one of the guys in the band, whom I shall not name. She thought for sure that this would get me locked up, and her boyfriend could take over the band. I can't blame the cops, they were only doing the job they were paid to do. I do wish this country would ease up on the marijuana laws. Half a million people die yearly from alcohol, and the same amount from nicotine, No one has ever died from smoking weed. Where is the sanity in the laws that govern nicotine and alcohol, the two most addictive and lethal substances that the world has ever known. When all the smoke cleared, I got a five year suspended sentence and five years probation. I decided to move out of Lafayette, and move to New Iberia, where I had a few friends. This was in 1993. I was hanging out at Harold's Club while I was trying to reorganize the band once again. My old girlfriend, Rene' lived there and I was hoping to find her. I always had a place in my heart for her, but I had not seen her for about ten years. One night, at Harold's Club, I was trying to hustle one of the waitresses. I had asked her if she was seeing anyone. She said she was seeing a guy named Brennan. That's not a very common name, and I remembered that Rene' had a son named Brennan. He would be about 20 years old at the time. Could it be the same guy? I asked her what Brennan's mother's name was, and she said, "Rene." This had to be more than a coincidence. I got Brennan's phone number from her and called it, and guess who answered the phone? My heart skipped a beat as I heard Rene's voice on the other end of the phone. After reviewing old times, I went over to her house and we hit it off very well. It was February, 1993. A month later in March, I nearly got killed when I ran my car off the road and came to a dead stop against a concrete culvert with my seat belt unfastened. It knocked me unconscious, and put a severe gash in my head that required twenty-eight stitches. Had it not been for a stranger who spotted my car and called an ambulance, I would be with Jesus right now. They rushed me to the hospital. I was a bloody mess. They called my friend, Jon Smith. Jon and Glen Guilbeau came and got me at the hospital. They called Rene' and she came and watched me all night, as I had a bad concussion. I was out of action for a while, but I have fully recovered and have no lingering problems except a slight headache and an aggravating whiplash. I gave Rene' a job working for the band. I needed a lot of help for a while, especially with my newsletter list, which was growing daily. We had great time working together. Rene' was really great with office work, something I hated to do. We began to get very close, and I realized that I was falling in love with her. One day, Rene' didn't show up for work, and I didn't get a phone call or anything. I was very puzzled by this. She didn't show up for three days, and I suspected that she had something else going for herself. It really gnawed at me. On the fourth day, she came back as if nothing was wrong. I was determined not to lose her. I had been single for twelve years, and I was yearning for a relationship. I needed to stabilize my life. I also wanted to begin writing my book, which is this book. The accident had made me realize that I still had work to do. Rene had her own place, and it was paid for. We agreed that I would move in with her, and we'd see how it worked out. If I was looking for peace and quiet, I picked the wrong place. I was hoping to get some privacy. But shortly after I moved in, Rene's oldest daughter moved in with her new baby, and got pregnant almost immediately after that. It was anything but peaceful. But I was with Rene' and I was happy. My mother, God rest her beautiful soul, died in 1993 at the age of 83. She had Alzheimer's disease, and had been slowly deteriorating for several years. I had been close to my mom all of my life. The greatest enjoyment that I ever had in my life was to sit with my mom, and talk to her. She was my hero and my life's inspiration. Mom was a very prim and proper woman. She worked hard all of her life, raising three sons on her own, without the help of a husband. My dad died when I was 11. She was very artistic and talented. She could play the piano without ever having had a lesson. Our home was always clean, and we always had hot food on the table. She had the softest, most feminine hands that I have ever held. Mom led a very blessed life, and I hope to see her in Heaven. When my mom left this earth, it left a huge hole in my heart. I still think about her every day, and I wonder where I would be in my life, had it not been for her love and support. I am still playing the trumpet that she bought for me when I was a kid and I think about her everytime I touch it. God Bless you Mom.   |