Saturday 19 December 2015

A World Made of Love

I woke up this morning and got amazed, but not surprised. As I told you in my latest post a few days ago; on this past Monday Home Free was scheduled to perform with Kenny Rogers on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Due to circumstances beyond their control and just as they had chartered a private jet to do everything in their power to get there on time the show pulled the plug as they were not going to make it in time for the rehearsal. It was heartbreaking and even more so when they found out they couldn't get a refund on the money they had spent on the jet, especially since it was money they didn't really have.

In opposite of popular beliefs they don't make a lot of money. They make enough to have good lives, meaning they have homes to go home to and they don't have to starve, but they don't make much more. This is due to a number of things such as the record label taking most of what they make on the albums they sell, the band only gets pennies on the dollar (in Chris' own words). They don't actually make any money from Patreon as they put all the money into making new, and more, awesome videos for us all to enjoy. And even though they do around 250 shows a year they don't actually make a lot of money on it. They keep the ticket prices low so people can afford to attend the shows, and bring their friends, but they still have to pay for venues, rent of the RV, wages/salaries for their staff, food, hotels, insurances, equipment, clothes, flights and anything else that is needed for them to put on a show for all of us fans to enjoy. And we know they do that!

So, the cost of that jet was a deep cut into their pockets. 

The Fries have been telling them that we want to help out with that unexpected cost, over and over again, and last night the band started a GoFundMe to raise 2/3 of the money the jet cost. That means 10,000 dollar, the jet cost 15,000 dollar to rent. That is a whole lot of money for most people to come up with just like that, but they had to it to know that had tried everything to get there. Setting up this fund was a very hard decision for the Guys to make. It is never easy to ask for help, most people struggle with it, and for artists to do so must be a whole lot harder than for the regular person to do it, because you have a reputation to maintain, a good name to keep good, and asking for help, especially financial help, is a sensitive subject. In the end they figured that we have been offering, and begging them, to help and life is not all about giving it is also about receiving. So they went for it. Bravely so. I have a hard time asking to borrow even a few euros, so I know it must have scared them to put it all out there. I'm glad they did and I bet they are too.

In 45 minutes the goal was reached.

That's right. It only took 45 minutes. Mind-blowing. And yet, not surprising at all. And it's not over because even though the actual goal of 10,000 dollar was reached the Fries keep on giving. Not because the Guys asked us to, but because we want to. At this moment it is almost up to 22,000 dollar. I think we all think that they might need that money to charter a jet at some other time in their career, maybe to get to the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and when they do; boy, will they have a great story to tell. Jimmy will not be sorry.

And me being me, I can't help but think that this is the true reason why things happened the way they did. Maybe the Guys of Home Free needed to be shown how great our - their fans, their Home Fries - love for them is. Maybe we needed to show them. There is a special bond between them and us that is unique, and this proves it. The fact that they trust us, the Fries, enough to let us help them, and the fact that we are so willing and eager to be there for them, is proof that the world of Home Free and their fans is a great place to be. It is a world made of love.

So, why do we love them, so much. It is because they love so much, it is because every day they show their fans so much love and appreciation. We just give them back of what they give to us. And we just give each other and the people around us of what they give to us, and of what we give to each other. Again, it is a world made of love.

It is not unusual for a Fry not able to afford a ticket to a show to get a free ticket from another Fry. It is not unusual for a Fry to pick up another Fry and give her a ride to a show if she can not get there on her own. The world of the Fries is a world filled with loving and caring stories of Fries helping Fries, just because we want to, out of honest love and care. Why should we not extend that to the Guys of Home Free when it all starts with them? Why should we not share the amazing experience of giving and receiving unconditional love with those who so willingly give it to us first? It only makes sense to me. They, Home Free, are the love that brings us all together.

This is why we love them. This is why we; Home Free and the Home Fries; are making history. Not just music history because we, as Austin said, are giving the power back to the artist, but also because we are focusing on love and joy, we are spreading love and joy all around us, we are literally making the world a better place to live in. A world made of love. And it all starts with Home Free.

I know they are grateful and appreciative of all the Fries that are supporting them in whichever way they can and do, but I would like to thank them, the Guys, from the bottom of my heart, from the depth of my soul and the core of who I am. Because I am a better person that live a better life in a better world thanks to them. Thank you! Truly and honestly. Thank you!

The Guys of Home Free; Austin, Chris, Rob, Adam and Tim; and all of their loyal and loving Home Fries make my heart grow bigger. They make my world a world made of love.

Love//
Carina



15 comments:

  1. Well said.Have a Merry Christmas!

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  2. Thank you, I'm glad you love it! I do too! I'm not going to share it with myself, but anybody who wants to are free to do so. I'm sure that if they are supposed to see it, they will.

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  3. This is so beautifully written. We are truly some of the most living and caring people I've ever met. This epitomizes what we do as fries ----- we fry it forward. So blessed.

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    1. Thank you! Yes, we are truly blessed! Happy Holidays!

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  4. Perfectly said! God bless & Merry Christmas!

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  5. Perfectly said Carina. Made my heart smile to give to these guys. Their music has blessed us and we're just sharing the blessing!

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    1. Thank you! I agree, it makes my heart smile!

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  6. Carina, this is so true and heartfelt. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you for reading it and liking it, Dori!

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  7. Carina, this is so true and heartfelt. Thank you!

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  8. Carina you had me crying all over again!

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  9. AAaaww, but I bet they were tears of love and joy!

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  10. I have never seen such loving and compassionate fans in my entire life. The guys made us a part of their lives - like family - and so we Fries have made each other family. You have worded this beautifully Carina.

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