Dallas Miracle
July 10, 2005 10:05 PM
Musical Journey Turns Tragedy
A Miracle for two families
Craig Snow, a friend from Tyler had never really seen Eisley outside of
BrewTones and was interested in the band... so I said, "if you really
wanted to see the band in their element... like, to get a feel for what was
happening, you should come to a show in Dallas." He said, "When's the
next show?" I informed him of the July 7th show - the finale on their first
headlining tour. He said he'd like to come; I told him I'd put him on the
guest list if he'd come.
Fast Forward.
It's the night of the show... the band is sound checking, Craig shows up in
the doorway of the Gypsy Ballroom and watches and listens with an
eager expression. It was great to see him... I told him I was glad he
made it.. how many were with him. He said his wife... and Laura (our
friend also), his daughter was on the way. "Great. I'll put you on the list".
I then got busy and wandered off in my usual random-problem-solving
mode...feeling good about the fact that they were all coming.
Fast Forward.
We drove home after the most successful show probably in Eisley
history... "the perfect night" as Stacy said, because all our friends were
there, the perfect opening bands were there and almost 1000 Dallas fans
were there. It wasn't until the next day I found out that Craig never saw
the show.
He received a phone call while sometime after I saw him that his
daughter - Laura, and that they needed to get back to Mother Frances
Hospital in Tyler. They promised each other they wouldn't look at the
wreckage - knowing they'd pass it heading back toward Tyler... but it was
impossible to avoid - a smashed up semi-truck and a piece of metal -
unrecognizable as a car. Both girls had been life flighted separately.
Rosie was still being cut out of the car as the Snow past the scene. The
mother burst into tears...
What happened: Laura's friend Rosie was driving, Laura was in the
passenger seat... they were on I-20 heading W. around the Canton hwy
64 mark, when they began hydro-planing on the fresh layer of rain.
Losing control completely, they began to spin round and round, skithering
off the interstate into the center median.. "oh God!!" - they thought
they'd never stop... The spinning finally stopped in the oncoming traffic
in time for them to look up and see the semi truck barreling straight for
them at 65mpg. "OH God!..NOT NOW!!", Laura screamed - and closed her
eyes because she didn't want to see - knowing she was about to lose her
life.
The 18 wheeler slammed into them nearly head on... she described the
awful noise...metal crunching, ear piercing terror...decibels of horror as
their small Isuzu and bodies were crunched into a mesh of broken bones
and blood. (sorry... I get carried away with the wordage)
Here are pictures of the car in the junk yard the day after:
Laura, concious, searched for her cell phone in vain...but remembered
Rosie's was in the dash. The dash was now pressing against her; and
Rosie's cell was in the seat. She dialed home... talked to her brother -
"come get me please, I've been in a wreck"... climbed out of the vehicle
after trying to reassure her very injured, semi-concious friend, Rosie,
who was covered in blood and moaning, "oh God, oh God.." and
collapsed halfway outside the vehicle on her side. She had enough
adrenalin to make one last phone call to her dad - (in line for will call at
the Eisley show) before going into shock.
3 hrs later, she was in intensive care, life threatened, due to internal
injuries and bleeding. Emergency surgery lasted hours...
Meanwhile, Rosie was flewn to ETMC. Her femurs (the biggest bones in
your body...leg bones that attach to your pelvis) were broken,
compounded... (yes, poking out) and a mangled ankle among many
other abrasions and cuts;
As we speak, both are alive and recovering! They're both still in the
hospital, but Laura, whom we visited today, might be able to home soon
to recover; Rosie, whom we tried to visit, will be in the hospital for 2
months; She'll be in a body cast and in therapy after the bones heal for
probably a year. Hopefully we can see her when we return. We've never
met her... it's so sad, but at the same time, can you believe either are
alive?!
It's so weird. The band felt guilty... even though it's not their fault, of
course. But it's eerie, knowing that someone narrowly escaped death on
the way to an Eisley show. It's a sobering tale... and I know it's not so
uncommon; when it strikes close to home, the impact is greater.
I look at the circumstances and the photos and... I just scratch my head;
it's a miracle either of those two girls survived that head on crash. We're
so thankful. I just wanted you guys to know...
Thanks.
boyd
p.s. hope that's readable. I'm falling asleep really bad.
Dallas, TEXAS. July 7th, 2005. Gypsy Ballroom
July 08, 2005 02:38 AM
"Home, Home on the Ballroom Stage
Where the dear ole Eisley's play... and seldom is heard, a discouraging word, and the Texan's seem rowdy all day..."
That was the single most stupidest, embarrassing phrase I've crafted on this forum... but I deserve to say a stupid saying. And I'm saying it on my very own bed. My bed is as magnificent, soft, square trampoline coated with a firm, fine layer of foam. I can wallow too and fro'. Life seems good right now.
I shrink to recant the day... but quickly, we awoke in a Super 8 Hotel along I-35 in Austin today... after a quick jaunt to Starbucks, ( I had to get on line to send an invoice) A quick meal to go and we were off.... with no slop in the drive time system. "Mag" said we'd be there right at 4:00pm if we had no stops or trouble. But at 20 miles outside of D, we hit the wall of doom - a parking lot or motor-cars, blocked and rubbernecked from an 18 wheeler that crashed into the middle post of a bridge... (condolences) needless to say, we arrived late - about 4:45pm, loaded in, sound checked, went to eat vientamense
....see, i fell asleep. woke up typing not knowing if i was dreaming or typing some fictional story. I better crash. It's 4:44am.
There were about 1000 people in the hotel.
i just did it again. not a hotel. sorry. falling asleep bad. Only 900 on record, but there were tons of guests and employeeds, etc.... a f
i did it again. can't stay awake. how lame.
A truly amazing night. Thankyou Dallas.
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Goodmorning. (the morning after - the same morning) @#!%?? VIETNAMESE? No... that was the day before. What drugs was I on. We sound-checked, loaded the Rhodes, Chauntelle's amp and the acoustic into the seats of the van with the girls, my crew (Chad and Micah n me), my mom and dad - and set "mag" to Virgin Megastore for Eisley's "instore", acoustic performance. We never ate anything... weird.
The instore was wonderful. Official counts were above 200+, but one accurate one was 260. They took requests and played 6 or so songs... good times. Virgin Megastore probably sold more Eisley cd's than anyone store in the country... Dallas is biggest market, of course, the LA, then NY.
Anyway, speaking of numbers, just because I'm sure some of you like to know, the packed house last night at the Gypsy Ballroom was well over 900 including advanced sales, walk-ups and comps... but guesses exceed 1000 when you include totaly warm bodies (club personnel, etc.) It was an amazing blow-out night to cap off this tour.
Sadly, under 17's comprise at least 1/3 to 1/2 Eisley's budding base - so, I look forward to the day when we can do a real "all ages" show. The ballroom would have been a sure sell out last night if that were the case.
It was great seeing so many...many, many... scores and droves and goads of friends spanning the 7 year history of the band's existence. All of you are dear and precious to us... I wish there was more time to visit. It's pure chaos... I couldn't even walk in the back of the club last night without seeing groups of friends... I felt bad cuz' i couldn't spend quality time with everyone. Please forgive if any of us inadvertedly dissed you or came off indifferent. Life is getting difficult in this regard.
Last night's show was.... like, the perfect night, i think. I just wish we could have hung out for hours. We were so zombified - Kim and I struggled to talk ourselves all the way back to good ole' Tyler, TX.
I have to hit the ground running. It's overwhelming - the amount of work i have to get done in 4 days before departure on the HHH tour. I need 4 of me. 4 non-lame versions that is. I hear glasses clanking in the kitchen. Amazingly, someone is up. My home made latte served in a new House of Blues New Orleans mug is entirely wonderful.
Much love to you all. I mean that from the bottom of my cup.
boyd
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Final words:
Thanks for making Eisley's first US/Canada Headlining tour such a wonderful experience. No. Iamb serious. It could have been so hard... on the band, so discouraging; but you guys gave of yourselves and came to support them. It's not really about the band as much as it is about the eager ears and patrons - music lovers and lives that give it credence.
i'm going to spend more time on reply's...posts than journaling. i'm tired of being a mono-log-head, but I just want to say one more thing:
All of ya'll are so amazing... i tear up when i read the kind words people report. It's overwhelming. Eisley is just a simple, song-writing band - not so accomplished, but with a lot of heart. I think their unbridled, poetic license to express personal feelings - combined with their awe inspired view of life, the world, eternity, realms, creation, love, loss... give their neighbor's next door persona a magical flare. I don't deny that it's God inspired, though i'm not making making this a platform. I just want to say thanks. And remember - Eisley is no more special than the heads and ears and arms that hang from the torso's of the amazing base of humans that reciprocate - completing the circle - making this music, this experience, significant to us all.
Austin, Texas. July 6, 2005. The Parrish
July 07, 2005 10:06 AM
woah. only dial up in cheap hotel last night. no phone chord. couldn't get on line. in starbucks. leaving for Dallas.
Sold out show.
wonderful times. great venue. Thanks for coming Austin!
nobody passed out, vomited or had a heat stroke.
Gotta go!!! More later.
boyd
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What a lame excuse for a journal. I'm revisiting this while on the next tour w/ hot hot heat. I posted images from Pat Kauchic. He's good, ehh?
thanks pat!
Austin was so fun. The food, the people, the promoter, the venue, the response, the show, the band, the anythings I left out. It was a grand night... thanks again.
boyd