Tom Cooler is a great musician and friend who plays throughout the region and occasionally at Bar Church where, inexpiably I'm the Cleric-in-Charge.
I am no longer a Professional Christian as there's no money in Bar Church ... just a lot of need.
Anyway, the very cool Tom Cooler shows up one Sunday to play and we set up the speakers, do a sound check, run through the order, have a prayer asking forgiveness for cussing the sound system, enjoy the crowd and brunch on the Pool Tables before Church starts.
Actually Bar Church never starts on time because we're composed primarily of musicians, Barflies, tourists and people who couldn't tell you if it's 10nish in the morning or 10nish at night if their life depended on it.
But before Bar Church starts this day, the very cool Tom Cooler CHANGES SHIRTS!
The ratty white tee shirt with holes in it we practiced in is swapped for a very cool blue plaid with rolled up sleeves from American Eagle or some place like that!
How cool is that?
I wish I was that cool ...
I show up for Bar Church typically wearing the same thing I wore on Saturday doing the things I'm asking forgiveness for on Sunday morning at 10nish.
A faded green tee shirt that reads "Willie Nelson First Aid" printed over marijuana leaves, black running shorts and ... I swear to God I meant to actually wear flip flops today.
Oh well ... Lona Crask always dresses nice ... John Iacovini dresses like he's just been transported in from a Hippie campout in the mountains somewhere ... Faye Allan dresses nice too ... Kris Nilson is forever in blue jeans ... Gordo wears a starched shirt ... I wonder if it's from American Eagle too? ... and Tom Freeland dresses like he's playing for tips in a Hawaiian shirt and boat shoes.
When Bob Fulton plays he's dressed for the Grand Ol' Opry.
No body really know what Clark Byron wears because when he starts singles the Angels in Heaven stop.
Ricky Stokes dresses like a guitar player meaning I don't have a clue what he's wearing either because he plays so damn good.
Monty Parks does it best though with his Bar Church tee shirt that he bought for a quarter from Goodwill and he somehow makes songs by The Monkees and Tennessee Ernie Ford really work in a worship service.
Honestly, the people who come to Bar Church dress way better than we do leading Bar Church.
Well ... except for the very cool Tom Cooler.
But Bar Church isn't about what you wear, if you're on time, can't tell night from day.
Technically I'm not even sure we're really a Church but I do know this ... something Holy and it's never planned or guessed.
But every single Sunday God does a drive by and if you happen to be wearing socks ... they're blown straight to Hell.
