The Punk Rock

My friend Jaycatt posted an entry about his tendency to collect things based on their emotional value more than their financial value. I replied about this little guy.

In the year between college and moving to Florida, my friends Jimmy, Michael, and I hung out at a punk/alternative club called Paris/NY. There was a large group of regulars there, and you could go anytime and know there was someone to hang out with. Eventually, we made several other friends with whom we hung out with in general. Not just a "nightclub crowd".

One night, Michael and I were hanging out in the patio area, and he picked up a rock from this small rock-garden. He pitched it against the back of the garden, which was railroad ties. I joined in. After about four rocks apiece, a man we'd never seen before popped out of a door we'd never seen open. Angrily, and with an accent I can only describe as "B-movie Russian", he yelled, "What are you doooing?!?" We apologized, and he popped back in. We burst out laughing. It was like he was waiting there for MONTHS just for this moment. From then on, we'd relay that angry quote, and it spread within our crowd.

Eventually I moved to Florida with my job.

After a while, however, I came back to visit, only to find out Paris/NY was closing. It was different. Much less populated. I could see why it wasn't going to last. Out on the patio, I spotted the little rock garden and said, "What are you doooing!?!" My friends and I each grabbed a rock to keep as a souvenir. It wasn't long before I realized mine had an angry face, and I nicknamed it "Punk Rock". Everyone rolled their eyes. But then, that's the sign of a successful "Eric-like" joke, isn't it?

To this day, I can't see the rock without laughing. And remembering the old crowd. Sometimes, something of no financial value at all does carry great emotional value.