August 2013

I looked at the email one more time. I had to be sure this was real.

This was actually happening. And a whole thirty-five thousand dollars coming my way! After a final summer semester of anticipation, my Jeep Patriot was finally loaded to the brim, my diploma secured, and all that was left was the thousand mile journey ahead of us.

My caravan mate was Jake Goldman, then my fraternity brother, and years later my Best Man. Equally unsure of his postgrad path, Jake accepted a software sales job in Austin to have something to do. At the end of our road a questionable South Congress condo already occupied by a pasty man that we had only met once in person.

We knew Rob a.k.a. Bacon, of course, but only in that weird internet way. I had freelanced nearly two years at this point, and Jake wrote for the site here and there, so our interactions with the almighty Bacon were frequent. Often times, he was in charge of editing our work. This usually consisted of spelling, grammar, and adding a few dashes of the depraved humor that granted Bacon his legendary status. Our comedy improved dramatically as a result.