11.24.08 All I Want For Christmas
I play and/or speak 100 times a year - that’s 10 times a month with two months off. I’m not very good with time but according to my blog (who needs long term memory when you’ve got a blog?) I’ve been keeping that pace for exactly two years now.
In that time, somewhere around 4,000 kids have been sponsored (91 of those this weekend!), thousands of miles have been driven and flown, many many Chick-fil-A sandwiches and burritos from Moe’s have been digested, and exactly two suitcases and one guitar and case have been destroyed.
First, my suitcase. Actually purchased four years ago, it’s held up as a Samsonite is advertised to. The handle came off, sure, but, hey, that’s nothing a little Gorilla Glue and duct tape (OK, lots of duct tape) couldn’t remedy. My suitcase’s twin didn’t fare so well. It went on tour with Brody and Mercy Me or David Crowder - I can’t remember - and came back with a handle so bent and broken it was beyond repair. A ceremony was held curbside just before the trash man carted him off to the baggage claim in the sky.
And here’s my guitar case - as it was Thursday night.
Doesn’t look too bad, until you realize that it opens where it’s not supposed to open.
Nope. That’s not good.
Not good at all.
But, again, it’s nothing a little duct tape (or, in this case, gaffer’s tape) couldn’t fix.
I’ve got some time off before kicking off a Christmas tour in December (dates coming soon on the tour page). I don’t think my suitcase or my guitar will make it to see the new year. There’s no way.
So, fine folks at Yamaha and Samsonite, Christmas is coming up and I was just thinking, well, maybe you could…
Or I’ll just buy some more duct tape.
Ron Woods said:
The duct take (complete with a duck on their sign) is 3 miles from my residence. Please. Support my local economy. I vote ... duck tape.
Ron Woods said:
Wow. I don’t drink or do drugs so I don’t know what happened on that comment up there. I meant to say, “the duct tape factory (complete with a duck on their sign) is ... etc.
It’s Monday. I’m a pastor. Gimme a break.
said:
Just thought I’d let you know, Shaun, that my wife and I sponsored a child last night. A little girl from Burkina Faso. We’re excited. I recently got an increase at work and we decided to use some of it to do this. Had the opportunity at a Bebo Norman concert, but your blog also convinced me that it was not just a worthwhile thing, but an organization I could trust. Thanks for all you’re doing.
said:
Great show at Mebane, the other night, it was really good
God bless you (and your guitar case...)
jordan fowler said:
Dude, get a Calzone already. You buy one, it lasts forever and is actually good stewarship. Or better get sponsored by them and wallah...more time and energy for Compassion. (By the way, I am good friends with Ronnie Brock who works for Compassion....now if we can just get you guys into Vietnam with us--us being NorthWood-- http://www.mynorthwood.org)
Shaun Groves said:
What’s a Calzone?
Diana said:
Really Shaun ... didn’t you know the airlines actually replace luggage when they damage it?
Pam said:
Shaun~
Go here to find the calzone you want for Christmas:
http://www.calzonecase.com/
Shaun Groves said:
I can’t exactly blame airlines for all this damage. And the damage they HAVE done is one nick here, another there - not all at once. Hard to pin on anyone and file a claim for it.
And I had a guitar creamed by American Airlines, a suitcase destroyed by Continental and a credit card machine busted to pieces because TSA didn’t put it back in its case after screening my luggage. Claims were filed. Payments to me were never made. Not so easy.
You know, it looks like a Calzone would have to be checked and I don’t check my guitar. I use my checked bag allowance (two on Southwest) for CDs and Compassion packets. I’m not paying money every time I fly to check that heavy sucker. I carry my guitar on the plane every time (after that first one got a hole through it thanks to American Airlines many years ago).
Good suggestion though. Just doesn’t fit our M.O.
Diana said:
Yeah, I see your point Shaun. worn torn tattered and ... tossed
All the damage adds up. Kind of like life sometimes isn’t it? Is there duct tape for that?
kidding of course.
Life is Good.