I just came inside after about 15 minutes of literally hammering on Serena’s bike. I knew I had to stop “working” because I was just making everything worse. I was pretending to install her new headset but I was really angrily grieving the death of one of my favorite people in this world. I learned this afternoon that my old boss Chris Matthews passed away earlier today.
I started working at the Poet and Patriot in Santa Cruz in October of 2001. I’d heard stories about “the boss” but I didn’t meet him for a long time. I had never been much of a bar person and I was as green as could be when I started bar backing. I finally met Chris at Jersey Night 2001, the Poets ode to the Garden State which occurs every December. I apparently passed the test and was loving called a “foo foo head”.
Before the Christmas party that year I was told of the tradition of giving a toast, wherein all employees had to sing or toast in some manner before eating. I was so scared that I drank everything in sight and ate a pot brownie to try to calm my nerves. I was top shelf wasted but when it came my turn to toast I read a limerick that I had written the night before.. I killed it. Even in my wasted state I could tell that I had done good.
Later on I told my co-worker Andre that I had also brought a joke in case my limerick didn’t work. He then got everyone’s attention and he and Chris made me tell that to the small but packed room. It went as follows..
Q. Why don’t vampires live in gilroy?
A. Because it’s a shithole..
I killed again.. and I felt on top of the world. Later that night I had to be driven back to the pub by two co-workers.. I have no idea how I got home.
Working at the Poet and Patriot for three years changed the person that I was. First and foremost I soon realized that it was the only bar that I would ever work in. I respected the atmosphere that Chris Matthews had worked so hard to create and could only see myself backing a man of that caliber.
Secondly bartending changed my life. I gained confidence and learned to trust my instincts. I had amazing times and I had awful nights. I got hit on and I got in fist fights. Most importantly I met my wife.
Leaving the Poet was the hardest career move I have ever made. I knew I was doing the right thing but it felt so wrong.
Chris had always had my back and when I let him know I was leaving he shook my hand and let me know that I was always welcome back..
Four years later he let us have our after wedding reception in his bar and pumped our wedding party full of free beer all night. He always made me feel important and that I was part of something great.
There is so much more that I want to say but I can’t right now.. Goodnight Boss.
