For me June 1984 was the beginning of a journey that has carried on for 33 years .
Little did I know then while I laying on the carpet hands under my chin watching the Chum 30 Count down and heard the first note of New Girl Now for the first time that HMS would become the band whose music I not only love, but these were guys I would grow to respect.
I remember meeting the band at the Oakville Place Mall at 15 ,getting their autographs and being so shy when I actually got up there that I didn't say a word. LOL yea I was actually quiet that day I know you're all shocked.
I've been to quite a few shows over the years, the first one being at Kingswood Music theatre at Canada's Wonderland.
The second I will remember as much as the one in 2002, cause that was the show that I went to with friends ditching school, and hanging out at Ontario place before the show itself.
That day we came across Johnnie Dee before the show and chatted with him a bit, then went and watched the sound check that day.
I remember having so much fun at that show that me and my friends sang HMS songs on the way home on the go train. I suppose people on that train thought we were crazy kids cause some shook their heads at us and we didn't care.
I've enjoyed every single bit of it as I think we all have, as I said before in 2002 I decided to put together the hmslounge in support of the band over on Mirc.
And yes as I said before I met Johnnie and Derry and spoke to them on the phone, interviewing them for the old webpage I had.
It wasn't a fun and games kind of thing a fan just talking to the band it was a fan who actually had a purpose to support the band she grew up listening to and asking some questions that new fans wanted me to ask them and it was arranged by their road manager at the time.
It was a pile of fun and a memory or two to last a life time especially when I went to the Hard Ball Cafe in Milton, Ontario on November 30th 2002.
I remember seeing them all walking around the place and then watching the show and when I eventually got backstage to meet them, I was so nervous but I don't think it showed.
Often people ask me why I do the things I do, and I'll tell you why its to give back to those people who share their talent with you.
People who sing their asses off, play their hearts out on the instruments they play and they do an amazing job doing it too.
When you support a band or an actor and have the balls to set up a page , some people think, wow she's really into this or that and sometimes people don't get it .
I've had people ask the loaded questions that you think are so far off the mark that you wind up thinking are you fucking kidding me and you shake your head and walk away.
They say always do what you love to do and run with it, its a passion that burns so bright that you don't care what anyone else thinks and you do it the way you see fit
When you run a fan group, it takes a lot of blood sweat and tears, to set things up and work on projects and share them with the masses, some people seem to think that fanst who run a fan group just discuss the music, shows but there is so much more to it than that.
After some crazy moments with the original group , things that made my skin crawl.
Frankly I don't care to get into the ins and out and the gossip, cause I choose not to revisit it, but I can tell you it was enough for me to want to take a break.
In my time away I learned some pretty awesome computer skills , video editing among other things. Armed with these skills I have come to be called a creative genius by my friends.
Some people will love what you do and others will laugh and say you're crazy for even bothering.
Being the one with the fan page has its ups and it has its down sides, some really cool fans came into that chatroom and some that I said what the fuck about.
As with anything in life and I can tell you no matter what curve balls get thrown at you you have to keep doing what you want to do.
In 2015 I was inspired to reignite the flame and get the lounge started on Facebook with the help of my friends who are some pretty cool chicks I might add.
We've created video projects with the bands music, and done some other cool things too.
I'm a very down to earth chick, who by the way has her moments of craziness, I second guess myself, and yea sometimes you may think what the hell when I voice my opinion about something.
I'm a strong willed little madam , but if I don't think something is right I become like Joan of Arc, and say you know what screw this, and I jump for things with both feet with my eyes wide open.
Some say its not a good thing cause you might get burned in the end but I don't think so in this case
If I learned anything from my family ,my friends and the band doing the job I do its to stick to my guns, trust my gut instincts and always follow your heart and your dreams .
I have also learned that you have to find that light inside of you a passion that burns so bright after all you have to do what you love, and support those who've got the fire in their belly to do something they love too.
And most importantly guys , the hmslounge would not have come into fruition if the band did not exist.
That's why I need to say thank you to them for their amazing talent, for their respect and most of all for being the nicest most down to earth, coolest guys I've ever met.
