To Neil
5
By 123PleaseComeForMe
One of my earliest memories is drumming to “Tom Sawyer” on the seats of my mother’s car on the way to daycare. Even as an eight year old, it was apparent to me that Neil’s drumming was something special, powerful. He was the spark that hit a lifelong fire for the drums and music. I’m not alone in this realization. That young boy from Iowa could have never imagined the friendship to come with Neil Peart. He shared his adventures motorcycling, sailing, touring, and drumming. Every day ended with a Macallan and lots of laughter. More than all of this, Bubba was there for me when my dad died of cancer. He brought me In-N-Out after I got creamed on my motorcycle. He’d meet with Make-a-Wish kids in secret, play drums with them, and take them for milkshakes. He was that kind of dude. Extraordinarily kind, even after the universe took everything from him. He left our world a better place then he found it.
“The measure of life is a measure of love and respect,
So hard to earn so easily burned
In the fullness of time,
A garden to nurture and protect
(It’s a measure of life)
The treasure of life is a measure of love and respect,
The way you live, the gifts that you give
In the fullness of time,
It’s the only return that you expect”
Neil wrote these lyrics for the last song on the last Rush album. To the last... you measure up, Bubba.
