The Sam Nation Memorial Party was held this past Saturday, March 11, at Sam's living space on the top floor of the Covington Lodge in Covington, Ky. The place was already crowded when Miranda and I stepped in from the cold driving drizzle and puddle strewn 4th Street. Lot's of food and drink and friends assembled to pay Sam some physical and soulful and verbal tribute. A microphone had been set up for those who wished to share thier feelings and/or memories of Sam and with Kendall Davis MC'ing, share they did. Funny stories, personal declarations of heart break, personal illuminations of how Sam touched a life. As the afternoon progressed, the place filled to elbow room only. His favorite albums graced the turntable - oddly many of mine own favs; Neil Young - Everyone Knows This Is Know Where, 5th Dimension - Age of Aquarius...it was like the soundtrack to Junior High and those albums through which you can trace your own melodic development. I spied the rather rare Gregg and Duane Allman Springboard release of the Allman Joys (ah, lamentable band names) LA sessions (with the heartbreaking an oh so apropos Morning Dew) laying on a coffee table - an album I'd seen once in a cutout bin about 30 years ago, purchased, and had not seen another copy since. I remarked to a resolute Melissa how I had that album and she squeezed my arm and whispered in my ear, "Of course you do." I smiled at the notion of Sam, Melissa and I, all the same age, sharing the same sensibilities and musical mileposts.

The Lodge was lovingly arranged with Sam's paintings, sculpures, snazzy clothes, photos of him and The 13's, The 13's action figures (shit, those we're cool!), and battered and not so battered guitars. Artifacts of a life in full motion. As Miranda and I stood in front of a table full of pictures, readying to leave, I remarked to someone, "What a heartbreak, What a goddamn heartbreak." To which they replied "We should all be so lucky to have so many who care when we die". The tears swelled my eyes as I turned and gazed around the packed room of 100 folks with happy and solemn faces. People I've know for 2 weeks, people I've known for 20 years, and thought, fuck yeah. What a tribute to life to know there are so many people that care about Sam and each other. What a truly beautiful music scene we have here in Cincinnati. It really is a community. We should all be so lucky, and I think we are, and that warms this used and jaded heart.