That was very nice, Zoogz.
Cheers!
"ZR" <zen4less@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:1155750230.649401.114490@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
August 15, 2006
The most thoughtful and personal blog I have ever written
Intro
Today I have moved out on my own. At 23 years old, I have finally grown
up. As I usually am when there is an important day ahead of me, I
couldn't fall asleep. My mind was going at a mile a minute as my mom
and girlfriend Beth were fast asleep. I thought about my life as I
spent the final night in an apartment I had lived in for 20 long years
which were full of memories. I thought about my friends and family. I
was happy and sad at the time. I decided to write this blog about the 5
people that have made the biggest impact on my life. Who knows how long
this blog will take. It is 2:58 in the morning on August 15th. I know
I'm not going to get any sleep, so I might as well write down what is
on my mind. I've never done this before, so let's see how it goes...
Zoogz Rift
My dad is 53 years old. He is broke and in poor health. With that being
said, I still wouldn't trade him for any other father in the world.
When I was a kid, he was the type of person that would spend way more
money than he could afford to make sure I had a good Christmas.
When other kids picked on me at school and I felt like a loner, my dad
would be my friend.
My dad expanded my horizons when it came to watching movies and
listening to music. He showed me that there was more out there than was
currently on the television set or the radio station.
He taught me how to drive. He would take me on the road all day so I
would be prepared for my driving test.
He kept me away from drugs and other forms of intoxication.
He taught me right from wrong.
To sum it up, I was very fortunate to have Zoogz Rift as my father. His
life as a rock musician and pro-wrestling manager has been
controversial at times, but behind the screams and chaos, there was a
gentle man who wanted nothing more than to be a father. Frankly, I
think that is every person's ultimate goal despite what they might say.
We are human beings, we are animals. We are born, we grow up, we
reproduce, we get old, and then we die. When I think about everything
today, I realize that I am standing at that bridge between the 2nd and
3rd segments.
Laura Rift
Whenever times were tough in my family's household, my mom always held
the fort up.
My dad's career as a rock musician didn't bring in much money, but my
mom worked the overtime hours to make sure we had food on the table.
My mom never slacked off a day in her life, and I respect her greatly
for that.
She can get very grouchy and demanding at times, but if you placed
yourself in her shoes, could you blaim her?
I know that I've been pampered for many years, and I'll be the first to
admit that I've been a momma's boy. Whenever I've had a problem with
something, my mom bailed me out. I thank her for everything she's done,
but today I've come to accept responsibility as an adult. I think, deep
down, I've used her as a way to grasp onto my childhood. I didn't want
to let it go, I was afraid of what was ahead. I was also afraid of,
quite frankly, feeling old. Today I definitely feel old. I see marriage
and family in the foreseeable future. I know I've stalled a bit getting
to where I need to be in my life, but I can't understand how some
people can get married and have kids before they are 20. I know that
I'm physically still a young man, and I want to enjoy my youth while I
can.
I hope that, for the rest of my life, I can have the same work ethnic
that my mom does. If I can work just half as hard as she does, I know
I'll be just fine.
Austin Abney
I was an only child and Austin was the brother that I never had.
I had known him since we were little kids. He was over at my place just
about every weekend for many years and we did just about everything two
kids could do. We went to theme parks. We trashed my room on many
occasions. We had water fights in a fast food restaurant. You name it,
we probably did it.
He was with me when the 1994 Northridge earthquake took place and woke
us up out of a sound sleep. He was with me when the countdown hit ZERO
and it was the year 2000. He was with me at Joanie Laurer (Chyna from
WWE)'s New Year's Eve party at her house where she went on an
intoxicated rampage.
As the years went on and we got older, we slowly began to drift apart.
Our interests changed, but despite the increasing differences, we
stayed in contact regularly. Once I told Austin about this serious
relationship that I got into with Beth, he told me how happy he was for
me. He said I was a great guy. He told me he wanted to meet Beth. Once
he did get to meet her, I pretty much never heard from him again. I
think he basically wanted to keep our friendship going until he knew
that I had stability in my life and a definitive direction of where I
was going in my life. He knew we were going in separate directions, but
I think he wanted to make sure I was going to be alright before he
moved along.
Austin, I have doubts that you'll ever read this because I know you
aren't a computer nerd. I just want you to know that I'll never forget
the great times we had. I hope I'll hear from you again at some point.
It would sure make my day.
Mike Nagel
I met Mike in high school, and he became one of my closest friends for
many years.
Unlike Austin, we never really drifted apart over time. We did have our
disagreements, but we always worked things out. Things changed when
Beth came along.
Looking back, I think he didn't like how she became a major part of my
life. I heard him refer to her as "Yoko Ono" and a few people were
throwing the phrase "Bros before hoes" at me. First off, maybe that
phrase applies in high school, but I'm looking at my future here.
Marriage, family, and having a partner in life were things I desired. I
never wanted my relationship with Beth to affect my seven-year
friendship with Mike. I don't think Mike wanted that to happen either,
because for the first 6 months that Beth was around, he showed
practically no signs that anything was bothering him.
The first signs I got that he wasn't happy was in early January of
2006. Mike posted a comment on my page saying that if anymore
girlfriends were on XMV (NoDQ.com's video show which he hosted) that
there were going to be "major problems." I was at Beth's house when I
saw this post, and it took me by major surprise. As soon as I got home,
I confronted Mike and he told me, face-to-face, that he had no problems
with Beth being around and he just made that comment because he was
stressed out from work. A week later, he saw Beth with me again and our
friendship was abruptly over.
In the months following that, Mike made several negative comments about
me on his MySpace page and on internet audio shows. I felt his actions
were very childish, disrespectful, and cowardly on his part. I made it
clear to him that if he had any problems with me, I was more than
willing to talk things out with him. He declined my offers over AOL
Instant Messenger.
At first, I thought he made the comments about me because he couldn't
get over what happened between us. However, I noticed that when XMV
stopped, all of the negative things about me suddenly disappeared from
his MySpace page. I think he only made those comments because he didn't
like the fact that I was doing XMV without him. I admit that XMV wasn't
the same without him, and that's one of the major reasons why I stopped
doing the show. It would have been like doing Sanford and Son without
Redd Foxx.
Seven months have passed and I can honestly say our friendship is over
for good. If we were going to patch things up, we could have done so a
month or two later as we had done so many times in the past. The way I
see it, Mike's life is better now without me around. If that's the way
it is, so be it. Nothing lasts forever. When I think of Mike, I
remember the good times we had. I remember the KAWF backyard
federation. I remember going with him to Wrestlemania 21. I remember
watching ECW One Night Stand as he smashed a beer can over his head. I
do miss him, but at the same time, I don't. One door has closed, and
others have opened. There are things I can do in my life now that I
wouldn't have been able to do with him around. In a way, it's probably
meant to be that we aren't friends anymore.
Beth Miller
I have saved the best for last.
For years, I knew that a day would come when I would find my life
partner. It was something that wasn't going to be forced. When it was
going to happen, it was going to happen naturally.
When I first started talking to Beth online, I knew right away that
there was a connection. You know how nervous you feel when you try to
ask a girl out? I didn't feel like this with Beth. For once, I felt
completely confident.
When we first met in person, everything clicked. The first kiss was
awkward, the first sex was awkward, but nothing about how we got along
with each other was awkward. We were a match, plain and simple.
Like the best couples out there, we do have our differences. I like
slasher films, Beth likes chick flicks. I like heavy metal songs where
the lyrics make no sense, Beth likes alternative songs with a meaning.
Men and women are going to naturally have these differences.
Today, Beth and I begin to take the biggest step in our relationship.
We are not engaged yet. I don't feel there is a purpose to be engaged
unless a couple is planning to start a family. I also want Beth to
pursue her college education and I want us to have stability in our
household and income before we start a family. There are friends of
mine and relatives of Beth that I feel have gotten engaged too soon.
However, every person has a different philosophy. Each person knows
what is best for them, or at least they should.
Like I was about our relationship in the first place, I am confident
that we will make it through and I am actually excited about the
challenges ahead. I look forward us being able to get married and start
a family. Yes, I do feel old now, but I am now mentally at the point
where I need to be to take my next major step in life.
Conclusion
It is 4:34 in the morning as I finish this blog. If I made grammar
mistakes, I have an excuse for once!
I think a good theme for this blog would be "acceptance." When I say
that I wish something happened a certain way, it is what it is, wishful
thinking. I don't regret any decision that I have made in my life.
I guess I could try to get a few hours of sleep, but the mind is a
terrible thing to waste and I'll probably have enough material to write
another damn blog! Thanks for reading!
- Aaron Rift
6:20 PM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment
I took 12 shits in one day
I'm proud of you Aaron you're like the white son I never had. I hope
you and Beth create the next batch of pro wrestlers 2 decades from now
Posted by I took 12 shits in one day on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at
6:26 PM
[Reply to this]
Sione
I wish you the best Aaron.
I can feel the enthusiasm in your words and they are all warranted.
Enjoy the ride and stay your course my friend becaus eyou have your
head on straight and by all the blogs I've read I see you have a great
woman by your side.
All my best,
Sione
Posted by Sione on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 8:53 PM
[Reply to this]
?Jamie?
Ahhhh ... I remember the first time you guys had sex too. Fun times.
Good times. *Grins* LOL
Anywho, I'm happy for you 2. Hope everything works out for you guys.
Much love and best wishes!
Posted by ?Jamie? on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 1:47 AM
[Reply to this]
Zoogz Rift
I remember I was extremely scared the first time I had sex--I was all
alone!
Aaron is the best black son I never had.
Aaron has always been a great son. He's a smart cookie, peaceful by
nature, and always determined to make things work. He's definitely a
man of INTEGRITY, and I love him more than I could put into words. I'm
flattered and moved by this post--sometimes I get so low that I need
this kind of pick-me-up and reassurance, and, once again, he's come
through for me. Aaron and I have always been there for each other. We
depend on each other to get us through, and it works.
I wish Aaron the best of luck with his future. Beth is a nice girl,
and I approve, not that they need my approval. I also look forward to
someday holding my grandchildren on my lap, and telling them all of my
blowhard life stories about the band and wrestling.
I would have been SOOOOOOO disappointed if Aaron turned out to be a
normal adult--he is NOT normal (lol), and I'm proud of him for it!
He's not a blind conformist--he's a true thinker, and will go on to do
great things long after Laura and I are dead and buried.
Move mountains, my son.
--Zoogz
zen4less@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
by Zoogz Rift on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 10:26 AM
[Reply to this]
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