So we did sound

We checked out our favorite li'l open mic night on Friday night -- not to perform, but to volunteer to run the sound. We learned all about mic levels and sound and bass and treble and mute buttons and peaks and valleys and Jesus. Alright. Not so much with the Jesus, but y'all get the point.

Among the performers was Ron, a man in his 50s who's never played on stage anywhere before. He was out-of-his-mind nervous. Like, trembling nervous. But he got through an instrumental Irish ballad with his friend, and then he sang a tune.

We were right there with him every step of the way, as was the room. When he finished, the place went nuts. It was by far the warmest thing we've seen in months. The man was on the verge of tears when he walked off the stage.

We can't really describe what relief meant to Ron, other than knowing that when his eyes reddened and teared a bit, he was conveying a sense of self-satisfaction only found when one takes his biggest fear and punches it directly in the face.

It's easier said than done, but we kind of like the idea of punching fear right in the face.