My guru and pal Joe Peacock whose blog is ESSENTIAL READING, wrote an awesome and touching blog today which you can read right HERE. It was such a great idea that I wanted to do the same for myself. So go read his please and then you can read mine. And make his blog essential reading in your daily routine as you have done mine. The dude drops mad science and advice. I always enjoy reading his stuff. For now, here's my own letter to my sixteen year old self...
Hey guy. By now you are wondering what the hell this is all about. Its 1994 and music is awesome. You are going to a small high school where everyone is related and you know no one really. But trust me, its totally worth your time. You'll find that everyone turns out to be pretty cool and being in such a small, tight community is way better for your development. However, you will be a bit stunted when it comes to art. By now you are starting to publish your own comics through that local group on the college campus. Boy does that start you on a path that will define you in ways you cannot even fathom. Although the dream will be slightly different than you think it will, you will achieve the same result. You will have many long years of development and will meet a ton of great, great people along the way. By the time you write this letter to yourself, you will have published seven graphic novels and have been involved with over 55 comic books. You will have worked (in a small way) with companies like Topps, Upper Deck, Marvel, Dc, Image, Antarctic Press and many others. Yeah. Totally true. But even despite that coolness, you will keep on the path you are doing right now. Just doing your own thing. And its awesome! Just keep your head, work your books, cultivate the audience and be patient. Um, if I were you on the comics front, make sure in the 2000s to pick up a few copies of the following books and keep them mint: Walking Dead #1, Invincible #1 and start buying Moon Knight right now and flip them around issue #55-60. Use them for store credit at your local shop and keep buying the books you love, no matter if your pals say its cool or not. Okay? Read what ya like! (But especially read a DC Vertigo book called "PREACHER." It changes your game and makes you realize what comics are!) Also very soon you will go to your first convention. Go there and have fun. You are going to meet a person there who will change the way you do things and set you on the path to making the comics you want to make. He's gonna put a sticker on your chest when you walk by his table and drag you in to read his work. You're gonna buy it and its going to change your life. Do it.
I know for you, music is a bloodline right now. And believe me, it only gets better. You are gonna get into bands that will completely change the game for you. But you will remain in love with what you are now. Some bands will continue to put out albums, some won't. I know you are big into Nirvana. Trust me, keep collecting those bootlegs. Cause one day there will be a box set of even more rare tracks you've never heard from them. Its gonna be awesome! And next year, you are gonna start hitting some concerts. Its going to change your life in so many ways. So many memories and connections to make. Its gonna rock!
I know you haven't gotten laid yet but trust me its coming quick! And plentiful. That sense of humor thing will get you quite far. I don't want to tell you who and when and what to date, but just go naturally. Even the relationships that don't work out make you learn a lot about yourself and change you for the better. And even though sometimes when the break ups happen and you think you've made an enemy for life, it all turns out okay. Some become friends. Its all good. However, when you are in college (yes, you do go to college!), try not to have so many one night stands. They really serve no purpose and turn out quite embarrassing. Not in a performance way, but moreso that you really feel kinda low about it. Its just not you. Go for things that are more long lasting. Cause believe me, one day you meet a girl and you know instantly on the first date night that you are gonna marry her. And one day you will be a father to a few children. I know, shocking right? You hate kids. But trust me dude, it works. It changes you. Your heart changes and you become a totally different person. A better person. A less jaded person. All that sappy stuff they tell you about being a parent? All true. And people will make fun of you for it. Fuck em. They don't know. But you will. You will. Its awesome!
Stay interested in Football and bet big on the Saints in 2010, Packers in 2011 and Giants in 2012. Just sayin. And for fuck's sake, go to a Bulls game before 1999. See Jordan and Pippen play. Cause it all goes downhill after that. Go to some sort of convention and meet Deforest Kelly and get his autograph before 1997. No reason, just get that done. Also, go to a con and meet Mike Weiringo before around 2007. Seriously, just go meet him. His work will influence the fuck out of you. Also best to start checking out the work of Dave Stevens, Brian Stelfreeze and Amanda Conner right the fuck now.
If we follow the rules of Back to the Future, I know we're not supposed to alter the past. But I say fuck it a little bit and lets take care of a few things:
--PLEASE stop eating crappy food. Sure you are decently thin now. But you will balloon up to 358 pounds at your heaviest. PLEASE don't do that to yourself. Cause it will be hard as hell to get over the addiction of food. And you will feel like a hypocrite because of it. Don't become a statistic. Get it done now and look good for your twenties, eh?
--By now you work at McDs. That's alright. But if you get promoted to being a manager: Don't write up your friends saying "its your job." Sure they were assholes for putting you in that position, but you lose friendships out of it. Just don't be a douche. That place turns its back on you anyway and you get a better path. Also, don't let people there tell you who you are or what you are worth. Never let them see you sweat it. Work your job and use the paycheck to live on. But don't bank on it as a career. Cause shit will change for the better way faster than you think.
--Around 1999, apply at Cinema Four. It changes your life. Also, its pronounced "DAY-CART." Not "Desarteees." Don't look like an idiot in front of Bill. You'll think highly of him. Also: Don't talk shit there like you are awesome. You are not. Everyone else is. Listen to them.
--Around 2000, Johnny Mathis comes to the casino for Valentines Day. Buy your parents tickets to that concert. Cause if you don't, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Buy em tickets and give them a treat together. You might not get another chance.
--Get singing lessons.
--Go out and get a few copies of the first published books called "HARRY POTTER." Just do it. And keep them in mint condition.
--If and when you move in with Shane and his GF into an apartment, don't take over the place. Let them decorate a bit.
--When you move into the second apartment you are ever in, make sure the night you move in that you lock your balcony doors. Just because you are on the top floor doesn't mean that some guy won't pretend he's Spiderman and come in and take your shit.
--Learn to let go a bit and have fun. You take things too seriously and you take a while to overcome your pussification. Just go with the flow and have fun. You could use some danger in your life. Stop playing it so safe and just LIVE, eh?
--As soon as you hear about it, invest in a company named "Google." I know you have no idea what the internet is yet, but you will. And it will be like air to you.
--Keep your friend Ted away from anyone named "Terri." Seriously. She is the worst female you will ever meet.
All that aside, the mistakes you make really help shape you dude. It all works out quite nicely. At 34 years old, you grow to be happy and very successful and what you want in life. Sure, sometimes things can suck, but the good far outweighs the bad. Just follow your path and enjoy all the little moments. Cause once they're gone, they're gone. And you will spend a lot of time wishing you could go back and relive it again. The next 18 years of your life will be a complete whirlwind. Don't miss out on it. Enjoy.
... and call your mother more often, hug her and tell her you love her. Just do it.
Rock out, T
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