Thomas P. Rainey - RIP

Yes, fellow bloggers TSB is alive and well.  Unfortunately, its been tough getting excited about NASS where the self-proclaimed oracles of the industry fellate one another in a spinal bacchanalia.  Alex is licking his wounds, while David rode in on his elephant with his sidekick Tatoo pulling on the reins, the VBrothers believe that they invented spine, of course, that's Robin Young their personal shill putting that spin on their recent success. Who really cares whether LDR is up for sale? What death teaches us is that life is nothing more than an illusion. The things that many of you place tremendous value on can be snuffed out or taken away in a single gasp of one's breath. Does any of this make sense?  Are any of you really that important?  Maybe in your own mind, to assuage your insecurities.  

This week delivered a cold dose of reality to those of us that ever had the opportunity to know Tom Rainey. Unexpectedly, he succumbed to multiple myeloma. If any of you knew Rainey, he was one of the good guys. You won't read about him in OTW because he wasn't kissing anyone's ass, or blowing anyone's horn, or telling everyone how great he was. He did his job. He left self-promotion up to the nitwits in this industry. And God only knows that there are many nitwits in this industry, just take the blinders off as you walk down the aisle at NASS this week. You might even be working or representing product for one.  

So as many wonder what happened to TSB, at times reality rears its ugly head and bites you in the ass. Look around and come to grips with your own mortality, death has a rude way of reminding you of how insignificant this really is. NASS?  Who cares.  Remember what Jackson Browne sang:

Keep a fire burning in your eye, Pay attention to the open sky

You never know what will be coming down, 

I don't remember losing track of you

You were always dancing in and out of view

I must have thought you'd always be around, Always keeping it real by playing the clown

Now you're nowhere to be found

I don't know what happens when people die, can't seen to grasp it as hard as I try

It's like a song I can hear playing in my right ear

That I can't sing, I can't help listening

And I can't help feeling stupid standing around, crying as they ease you down

'cause I know that you'd rather we were dancing. dancing our sorrow away

No matter what fate chooses to play

Just do the steps that you've been shown

By everyone you've ever know

Until the dance becomes your very own

No matter how close to yours

Another's steps have grown

In the end there is one dance you'll do alone

So in closing, go to The Lodge tonight and have a drink and remember we will all do this dance alone.  Rest peacefully my friend you will be missed.

TSB