I don't know how to write this. Casey was an amazing friend and I loved him like he was family. Nothing is going to be the same without him.
Warped Tour 2005Danny Del Principe introduced me to Casey during Warped 05. He would come by my tent every day in his mesh shorts, flip flops, and messenger bag slung across his back to say hello and hang out for a bit. He'd apologize when my tent was set up near his band's stage because I couldn't do anything about having to hear them play that day. Casey was a smiling face I could always count on seeing that summer.
Casey and KT at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJWhen Hawthorne was recording their second album in Hoboken, Casey used to come hang out in the city. We went to a bar with Anthony Raneri one night and Ant spotted a girl checking Casey out. A little while later, when Casey went outside with Ant while he had a cigarette, the girl approached Katie Brown and I to tell me she thought I was really pretty. We ran outside and had a good laugh about it with the guys.
Sold out crowd at Nokia Theater, NYCCasey scared the shit out of me when he called me crying on Halloween morning last year to tell me that Beatz had died in a van crash. I had never heard any of my friends sound so heartbroken and vulnerable. I imagine that's what Matt heard in my voice when he called to tell me the news on Saturday.
Casey and Nick, Nintendo Fusion Tour
I pretended to get mad when it turned out that the brilliant birthday present I had gotten Casey during Nintendo Fusion Tour was the same gift their sound guy had given him. But being able to hug Casey every day for almost two straight months of tour was a blessing I took for granted. Casey hugged so tight he shook a little. I'll never forget that.
Warped Tour 2007It was so hot in the midwest that Casey came running to my tent shirtless telling me he was ready to strip down to his boxers. I begged him not to, threw him a pair of Skate 4 Cancer shorts size x-small (that's all we had left), and he wore them the rest of the day. Casey was always making me smile through thick and thin, especially on the long hot days when I needed it most. I could always count on him to look out for my best interests. He made me kiss the boy I liked in front of him just so he would believe it... I made him kiss Nightbeast in exchange.
November 8, 2007
surprise visits
one of the best things that could happen while on tour is unexpectedly crossing paths with friends who are also on tour. amber pacific and hawthorne heights had a show tonight at chameleon club in lancaster pa, which turned out to be 1.1mi from the college we played. i got the runner for our show to drive me to their bus and got an hour to hang out with friends that i never get to see often enough. greg from amber and casey from hawthorne are two of my absolute favorite people in the whole world, i adore them and it really gave me a boost getting to see them today. sometimes you need that boost to get you through the inevitable slump of a long tour, and this whole tour has pretty much been one big slump.
-- posted in my buzznet.com journalI saw Casey a little over two weeks ago. It was an unexpected hangout, which are the best kind. The memories weren't supposed to end there. Words can't do his character justice. He had battles within himself, but he had an endless love for his family and friends. I was lucky enough to share that love. I'm going on two days of knowing he's gone and I'm still in shock. I'm not sure I'll ever completely recover from this. I can't believe we'll never share jokes or hugs again. He won't be around to give me shit for the dudes I have crushes on and remind me that he gets approval over any future boys i date or marry. It wasn't supposed to end here.
When Tim died two years ago, I made it a point to always tell my friends how much I loved them. I can credit it to Tim's memory that I can say with confidence that Casey knew how much I loved him and what he meant to me. If anything, it should encourage us more to tell our friends and family that we love them, because they could be taken away from us at any moment. I miss Casey so much. I guess that's all I can put into words at this point.