A walk down memory lane

[Paul Pez Zukowski]

4 years ago yesterday , I just got off at the Nashville Greyhound Terminal. Checked into Knights Inn on Spring street. It was a Sunday. I took a cab to the Commodore and had a steak dinner and glass of Glenfiddich. I met Debi Champion for the first time. I was way too exhausted to play at the open mic at 10pm after no sleep on the bus. Guy Gilchrist was there. After hearing a few of the writers play I was thinking do I belong here? Am I good enough to play in Nashville. I ended up meeting Scotty Wray in the parking lot. He was Miranda Lambert Guitar player. He had Boston Red Sox Shirt on. They just played 2 dates in Fenway. I was back at the motel by 9pm I ended up sleeping for 12 hours. 4 years ago today I rented a car was determined to play the Bluebird Cafe Open Mic. I got there at 2pm and sat in the car with AC on. I was waiting for the first get in line. That happened at 245pm. So I the 2nd person in line. I got number 64 in the lottery. So was NOT going to get to play that night. I was given the stamped ticket to play the following Monday. I made sure I was going to be here on 2 Monday's just in case that happened; and it did. But I did get watch the show. On the way back I saw a sign that said Music Row so I cut back up that way on 16th Ave South. Now a friend from Alabama had told me about super cool place called Booby's Idle Hour when I saw it I stopped. Because the guitar case did not fit in rental car trunk I brought the guitar inside. Tried to order Scotch .... did not know they only sold beer. There was 5 guys there it soon turned into a guitar pull. I played my deepest depressing gut wrenching song I have, "The Boulevard". After what seemed like forever one of the guys said people like happy fun songs. I felt crushed.. The guitar went around maybe 5 times. I was hungery I asked for where I could go to get a real meal like a diner. They Sent me to the Hermitage Cafe. I realized recognized the place Sugarland's music video, Love your Baby Girl. I had $12.95 streak w/biscuts and gravy and hashbrowns. Then I had to ask where the bathroom was. Never would have guessed where that was. I returned to knights Inn thus ended my first full day in Nashville.