A Birthday Burger with Troy Michael

This week it was the birthday boy Troy Michael. Picked him up and we went to Exit 210 Saloon in Oakwood. Just off, you guessed it, Exit 210 on Route 74. Troy is the first guy to do one of these things with me, so that is a welcome change in case you thought guys weren't allowed.

As I was pulling into Troy's driveway, Prince was on the radio (1999). I know Troy is a big Prince fan, so it seemed like a sign that things were going to go well today. I have known Troy since 2001, and it is always a good bet that we will have a fun time whenever we get together (even if it isn't as often as either of us would like).

I met Troy at Cafe Paradiso when my friend (new friend at the time), Jason Pankoke set up a meeting of local 'Zine folks. I was there, Troy was there, and I believe some of the Ides of March people were there too. Troy says that there was also a Nan there who could have been Nan Holda who you may remember from my first It's My Treat writeup. Not sure if it was her, but it would be a fun coincidence if it was and it would also contradict my assertion that we had only seen each other at local concerts through the years.

Troy was just starting a music that would go on to become Innocent Words (innocentwords.com). I believe it was called Confronting Innocent Words at the time we met, but I forgot to confirm that with him when we met today. At the time, I had no idea how close of friends we would become. I have worked with him as a music photographer and web designer and featured a few of the bands that he had signed to his record label Innocent Words Records. Man, those were some great times. I could write forever about the fun we had back in the day and the great music scene in Champaign, but Troy, ever the editor, told me that I need to keep these things a little shorter.

So, in the interest of making things shorter, the food was good. Troy had the Mother Clucker and I had the 420 burger which is two half pound burgers. That was a little more than I could handle, but at least I have leftovers for dinner.

Troy has had a rough life with some substantial health issues along the way. Had a kidney replaced when he was a teenager. That lasted him a good long while, but eventually it gave out on him some years ago, so he was back on dialysis and hoping for another kidney. One quick aside, he did tell me the only good thing about being on dialysis was all the cute and friendly nurses at the hospital. Ha. Troy put in a lot of work to get healthy enough to be put on the kidney transplant list and was lucky enough to find a donor. It has been almost a year since his second transplant. He says it has been rough for long stretches of time with the healing, but it is a miracle that he made it through and is doing so well. I am so glad that he is still around to have lunches and conversations with.

When things weren't going well, Troy swore that if he got a second kidney, he would make the most of it and make a change in his life for the better. On that end, he is getting out for more lunches and making plans for maybe getting back to CU so he can see more people more often. I really hope those plans come through. Oh, and I am supposed to let you know that he is single and ready to mingle (or was I not supposed to say that?)

I am looking at what I have already written and realize that I am already beyond the short post that I was trying for, so I will leave it at this: As we were getting ready to leave, Troy turned to me and said, "This is a good day." It truly is. Thank you, Troy!