Funny what stories you tell each other sometimes first waking up. A scary story behind this treasured pic with the Queen of Metal, Doro Pesch. One from the road dogging files. I had been covering another show at The Nokia in Times Square, Manhattan the night before and didn’t leave the city until 2:30 a.m., driving home all the way and getting only a couple hours of sleep. I had an on-site interview with Doro and Chris Caffery of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Virginia the following day.

At this time of my life in 2006, I was covering 8-10 concerts a month and getting 3 to 3.5 hours of sleep a night after transcribing interviews and getting my copy turned in for deadline. Back up for my day job, which has been in the grueling title industry for 27 years. If you’ve been in it, you know it’s a business that kicks your ass constantly.

Eventually this dual lifestyle is going to take its toll, and sure enough, after leaving the Doro gig after a final chat with the lady, her way tour manager, Johnny Dee and Chris Caffery, I got back on the road on a work night at 1:30 a.m. with a 2.5-hour drive. I’ll never forget the absolute terror I felt finding myself at a complete stop in my old Ford Ranger pickup in the middle of the road. I’d passed out behind the wheel, beyond fortunate nobody had been coming.

The divine was looking out for me that night, and it would still be another year until my future son came to us for foster care, then adoption, before I slowed my roll and got more sleep. As with my entire life, I have pushed myself like a rabid dog to make my writing pursuits blossom and flourish. Responsibilities first, sensibilities, well…lol. Thankfully I’m still here to talk about it.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.