On The Road Again

Fykus 2: Electric Boogaloo

I was going to be a Fykus again!

I always will love meeting Rodney and Tina and company whenever I get the chance. It was always the plan when the holidays were done that I would head back. It took a little longer. My timing made it so that I would have to go when there’s a cold front going all the way down the south. I travelled between them for the next week and a half as one finished.

I found myself back in Cincinatti and back at the train museum. There I met a man who had come from a dark place. Jack was an interesting conversation. One of the things I’ve picked up doing interviews is I usually get a sense of what a person thinks for themselves in how they talk about themselves. The more specific and detailed the conversation is about the future, the more confident I find the person is in carrying it out.

This gentleman was struggling. People I always believe have great visions for themselves. Often our big struggle is ourselves. Sometimes we are terrified of the visions we find inside ourselves. Jack was struggling. He wasn’t sure what he wanted yet. And it’s okay to not know. I enjoyed my chat with him waiting for Rodney to pick me up.

Seeing Rodney and Tina again was awesome. It was a shorter visit this time. The snowstorm ate two days. But they still were great. The one thing about Rodney I’m a touch envious of is his studio. His studio is absolutely incredible. We talked comics and greatest creators of all time. We both worked on projects. I'm pitching like a madman, interviewing Matt Knowles and Steph Cannon for my podcast while I’m there, and being creative.

Rodney Fyke is one of the most genuinely talented people I’ve met in the business. He can do it all. He can write, he can draw. He can create beautiful works of art. I got to watch him for two weeks make magical things. For my money, Peanut, Puddin and Jelly is one of the greatest comics I’ve read. (The first arc that is. Just incredible.) Rodney understands the importance of real life, and that book is magic.

He has an incredible significant other named Tina. Tina wants everyone to succeed. She’s an astute mind, and is the kind of person willing to sit in the fire with you. Anyone with the kind of substance she has is amazing. Sherman, pictured here, adores Rodney. They tend to bond as Rodney watches football or horror movies at the end of the night.

They are incredible people, and genuine. And that’s a rare thing.

When our days are done, we watched football. At the time I was optimistic about my Lions. So sad where they ended up. We hung out like buds. Tina was great too. Both of them welcomed me into my home, and gave me a cool gift I still have now. I got shoes from them for christmas. My last pair of shoes had seen better days at 7000 esque miles. It was time for a new pair.

Thanks guys.

I’m a lucky guy to have these guys in my life. They helped make this possible. I cannot repay that kindness so easily. I love you guys.

The weather reported that there was a week of warmth before another cold snap. I knew I had to get to florida as fast as I could so I couldn’t freeze to death. So the race was on.

After the weekend cleared, I was off, going back into the unknown. I was back on the road. No more sequels. Everything from here on in was brand new. I was excited.