I was reminded on a flight this week to Jersey how miserable some people are.  A young woman, yes, my row mate, seemingly all together and kind of tasty, in no uncertain terms floated out of her head hole, “I don’t think you could make coach more miserable than it is right now.”  My thought was, yes it could be. 

How about you keeping the red relish from your nose off my finely pressed Freak Wear after I give you a good ‘ol Texas punch drunk… F**k, five hours with this little loser.

On went the computer, the MP3 and some kickin’ jams from Junior Brown, Saxon, Beck and SRV… Ahhh, back in Pleasureville.  Woof, she scared me.

This bad episode of Rod Serling unplugged, unwelcomed weekly by many, was another reminder why cats like Travis Pastrana should be an education for some.  He’s a reminder for me of the road less traveled.

You know the proverbial (god***n, one of my favorite words in the history of man) sayings, it’s easier to frown than to smile, easier to push someone down than to pull someone  up, etc.  Freakin’ death on a biscuit for the soul is what I call it.

Travis?  He pulls you up like a neutered wildebeest.  WHAT?

Look at T Pas (Travis Freakin’ nicker’ for the rest of the read).  Knowing what little I do about his life outside of sports, life at home and other filtered press anecdotes, this cat has beat the system.  Not with his Motocross or Supercross championships (name two), not with any inheritance, and not from any roll model I know of.  But then again, this is me a few steps outside of T Pas’ day to day.

He’s done it the Sinatra “My” Way!

I have spent my decades living life on the edge, hoboin’ on the road less traveled and running on fumes, but this guy, he’s blazing a trail for a massive congregation. He’s doing it without infomercials, without F’d up hair and bullsh** anointed clothes.  Don’t make me go there.

T Pas is authoring his life by example. FMX, SX, MX, Rally, Sports Cars, base jumping, double back flips, foam pits, off-road, sword swallowing, you get it. 

If there is any indication for self pity, pessimism or negativity to be seen in your circles, you should send your kids, aunts, uncles, hell yourself, to Travis School.  But, not to sound pessimistic, he’s not teaching the course.  He’s just leading the parade bitch.

His interview in the Freak Nation this past weekend just reiterated what I have always thought of this one time kid.  In my own wicked-ass-way, I have looked to T Pas for inspiration and energy.

I’ve seen his scars literally parallel to his vertebrae, his double back flip into the T Pas Pit, and I’ve caught that infectious smile and attitude more times than I’ll ever know. 

Inhale! 

He is the new millennium’s version of picking yourself up by the bootstraps.  He’s doing it while attempting a one-handed-suicide-can can-bone-throwing-side-waggle-joo joo-coffee bean.  Results?  Nails baby.

His is a lesson in positive thinking and chance. You, your kids, politicians, the band Rage Against The Machine (of old) and that walking death knell sitting next to me on my flight should all take a class. 

Yes, we can learn from our mistakes, Mother Nature’s roll of the dice and even from the nicotine sitting next to me on a plane to Brick Town.  But its courage and charm like T Pas that sets him apart.

I choose to be an understudy to the likes and certain lessons of T Pas, Matt Leinart, Forest Lucas, Gwen Stefani, Buddy Guy, Maya Angelou, Ozzy, Carl Edwards, Kyle Rote Jr., Pele, Evil Knievel and my mom.  The world’s birth to never ending opportunity is the road we ride.

Do you think Smoke got there while dwelling?  What about John “Hey Densy” Force?  The man’s been on fire more than the liver of a State Fair carnie.  Yet, Force’s attitude gives birth to bravery and inspiration weekly.

Eat’em, drink’em but don’t pull away from those adventurous humans. They can be so infectious that Grim Reapers on plane rides are passed off just for what they are, passengers.  Disembowel’em, spit’em out and push’em away.  They’re on the easy road, spewing negativity and relentless yanks while on the train to pain.

Pain?  Travis’ broken back.  Pleasure?  Piloting Pastrana Air back to a spit shine and living life one or two adventures in a single seat grab.

Leinart, University of So Cal’s all world QB said it in a few short, well cultivated words…I don’t live or play scared.

Back to the friendly skies.