Mr. Matt

My good friend Matt Ellingson passed away on Monday, May 24, 2010. It was about 9 1/2 years ago that I met this incredible man. Little did I know back then that he would be a huge influence in my life. When I first met him, I had just started at my current job...bartending/waitressing (in effect slinging drinks to whoever wanted to forget their problems or whatever). He became my friend quickly, I really had no choice, he was such a likeable (sp) guy. He was quick with a joke, and so witty. He would talk about hanging out with Elvis and Joni Mitchell and I was more than willing to share my John Denver and Ted Nugent stories. Little did I know that we were all in the same play. I miss his imagination and ingenuity. He would talk to almost every person that came in the door. He touched so many lives. I would call him on my slow shifts and persuade him to come and visit. He was my guinea pig for all my jello shot recipes. He was my sounding board for all the crazy random thoughts that came into my head. He always had a cot for me to crash on if things in my personal world got too overwhelming (which they did, many a time). Several years ago he took me to go see one of my favorite concerts, Scorpions, Dio, and Deep Purple. I rode on the back of his motorcycle and met his son Jordan for the first time. It was so fun. That was the first concert we went to. He understood my unnatural love for John Denver and Simon & Garfunkel. Every time he came into the bar he would play me a song from J. D. or he would play "Who Knew" by Pink (my fav). He was such a dynamic individual and I miss him terribly. Ok, no more today.