Massachusetts, Sound The Alarms
What is the longest period of time you’ve been away from home?
The place you grew up. The place that helped shape you into who you’re today. The place that really helped define you.
For me, I think this is a record : 8+ months but soon to be BROKEN!
Now don’t get me wrong… I signed up for this when I decided to pack my bags & move to the complete opposite side of the country. Born & raised in Chicopee, MA, now living in Los Angeles, CA - I don’t think I could have picked a further city to move to within the U.S. Sorry mom!
Living in LA is everything I dreamed of and plus some. It’ll be at 3 years of being a resident this coming September and I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon. Once again… sorry mom!
The weather, the palm trees, the ocean, the vibe, the people - there’s something unique about this city that I love. It has a little bit of everything for everyone and you can almost always find what you’re looking for.
Tryna surf? Hit Manhattan Beach.
Tryna hit a b-ball game? Staple Center is POPPIN’!
Tryna hit a hike? You know where this is going… hit Runyon & puuhlease don’t forget to gram it!
There’s always something to do.
I also believe that dreams turn into reality in this city if you learn how to take advantage of it. It’s easy to get caught up chasing the wrong things BUT if you find a way to stay on track and focused, I almost guarantee you’ll reach your goal with a little bit of patience and consistency.
I can’t necessary find all of these opportunities in Chicopee where I was raised. What I can find is my roots, memories and more importantly, love.
My parents still live in the same house that my sister & I grew up in. Since I’ve left the nest they’ve turned my room into a “guest room”. I had to make sure the room was “available” before booking my flight back East for tonight. How did that happen?
There’s something special about returning back to your hometown. It’s a reset and it’s a moment to reflect. Ahhh here we go again… reflective B-O-B!
Pump the breaks & stick with me.
I drive around the city and think about the dumb times myself & friends would egg cars when we were kids next to Mr. Cone. Bad decisions make for great stories.
I drive passed the Big Y grocery store on memorial drive where I was a bagger, cashier & frozen food & dairy clerk. I was a hustler baby!
I drive by the liquor store in the Walmart plaza that used to sell me alcohol when I got my first fake ID at 18. The “warm up” beard aged me a sold 2/3 years at the time.
I drive by my high school where there are more memories than I can count. Varsity b-ball manager, voice of the high school and overall a curious kid tryna figure it out!
I drive by my old barbershop and think about the times my mother or father would sit outside waiting for me to get my cut. Bless their souls.
I drive by old friends houses where they no longer live. We used to rage there for suuuure.
I drive by Ray Ash Park where I used to kick it with all the homies after school. We had ourselves a lil bike gang, all were welcomed.
I drive by the car wash I used to get my first car, a 1999 Ford Expedition cleaned up. Bumped Rick Ross - The Boss daily with the windows rolled down.
I also drive by the Knights of Columbus parking lot on Granby Road where I would do donuts in the winter time when nobody was out and the snow was falling. Once again… sorry mom!
It’s like my whole lifetime is flashing before my eyes as I drive around and all I can think to myself is where did the time go?
What’s so interesting when you’re growing up is you have all this ambition and energy to breakout of your city and travel and see the world. You have a bucket list of 100+ items and you can’t wait to graduate high school and start chipping away at it. I can still vividly remember that feeling, that want, that desire to do MORE.
What you don’t realize at the time is the only thing separating you from crossing those items off is time. How do we speed up time? By enjoying every minute of TODAY and making best with what’s in front of us.
I don’t live with regrets. If a genie popped up outta the blue and asked me right now “I can reset your life, would you like me to Mr. Bearded Man?” I’d take a hard pass.
Not now chief… I’m in the ZONE BABY!
Of course I have areas of my life I have to work on. Of course I’ve made some dumb decisions in the past but it’s what’s helped shape me into who I am! It’s helped mold my perspective on life and I wouldn’t change it because it’s PRICELESS!
I’m not too excited about this red-eye departing at 12:34AM tonight but I sure am looking forward to spending the next 10 days with family and friends who’ve helped me become who I am today.
MASSACHUSETTS! Sound the alarms… the bearded man is coming BACK into TOWN!
Guess who’s back, back again…
BOBBBAAAY’S BACK, tell a friend
See you soon!
The Bearded Man