Lisa, who was at the wheel, noted that her car's clock showed 12:01AM and crowed with real joy, "Happy birthday, Johnny." I didn't know whether to kiss her or kill her.

That tour was the beginning of what I've come to realize was my bottoming out on the lifestyle I'd led since 1976. I spent years as a struggling musician in the Northeast, and I'd always envisioned my return to the area after a long absence to be that of the prodigal son, but in reality, it was more like a setting sun.
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