This is #MyChewstory

I remember the first time I fell in love with Chewstick. The first time, first handshake, the first vibe and feeling. It’s the type of euphoria that kind of never really resides and resurfaces just like the sun, moon and tides... But before I get into that, let me take you back to when I first met Chewstick. I guess you can say this is my #Chewistory...

Dating back to 2005, only a few months after my accident, I was allowed a “break” from my recovery in Boston to visit home. It was no secret then that everyone wanted to meet the “burned survivor” at the time – it was overwhelming. I think it was just after lunch, I found myself on Queen Street, just outside KFC approached by this bald, semi bearded man. We talk; just simple chatter filled with buzzwords like jam session, poetry and art – all the things my 16 year old self wasn’t into.. He lets me know his name as he reaches for his wallet to hand me his card. I glance it, and he shakes my hand, leaving me “Hey, you should come by.” I look at the card again, it was the first time I saw Chewstick’s logo and ironically enough, I had no intention going.

You can say the universe works in weird ways because months later I re-enrolled back into Berkeley and a few weeks after Chewstick was there hosting a special English class. Tucked in the old library, that was the day I fell in love with poetry. That exact day, sitting three rows back listening to the word play of Tiffany Paynter, I had never seen or head of spoken word with my mind set then aligning poetry to likes of Shakespeare. – Corny.

Fast forward ahead, I bumped into that bald semi bearded guy a few more times, repeating the same notion of “Hey you should come by!” and I did. In ways you can say I never left, but even so, I found myself standing outside of the old Locals restaurant in front of the “Chewstick LIVE TONIGHT” sign. I paid my admission, walked the steps and as soon as you walk in the door the vibration shifts. Your day changes when you met with a handshake and smile, but your life changes when you meet the chew family. I can’t remember if this was a good night or bad night for a Chewstick Jam session, but it was nothing I had ever experienced. There’s no issues there and your own seem to fade away in the bass line. It’s just family there and you’re treated as such. There are some feelings and emotions that life helps you explain to others, but what Chewstick does to you is a need to see for yourself experience - unforgettable. But the thing I’d never forget the most is Chewsticks embrace. No matter what you look like, how old you are or whether you sell like hot garbage... it’s the embrace.

Indefinitely.

As Chestick needs our support, we should all share our Chewstick stories by using #MyChewstory and show themm and Bermuda exactlyy how many people they've touched. 

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