Hey there my excitable friends! I hope you are all safe, well, and kicking off your July in a positive way. Shall we get to the latest fan spotlight? Let’s hear the story of Stacy Walker!
Stacy’s best friend is Kelli Stephens, who was the last fan spotlight, so we’ve already heard the story of how they found 311. They were in the living room and “Down” came on MTV and they were instantly in awe. “They became a huge part of our lives after that. The positivity, the beats, Nick <3 All of them. It just became a lifestyle.”
Show count Stacy stopped keeping track of after number 50 and that was a few years ago. Her very first show was in August 2006 in Indy at White River. “It was life changing! The tickets were a birthday present from Kelli!”
Choosing a favorite show proved difficult as Stacy loved them all for many different reasons. She wanted to choose the first cruise because well, it was the first. However, she was torn because the beach show on cruise number two was so incredible. Plus the cruise where the 5-timers got a special party and then there was Pow Wow. “I’ll just say all of them have been my favorite so far!”
For the song that means the most to Stacy, she chose “Do You Right.” “It’s always been my favorite, but I used to have this mixtape (yes, actually a cassette tape my friend made) that had do you right, then when you hit the flip button it would be Apache rose peacock from the Chili peppers… I spent an entire summer driving only listening to those two songs! (Until the cassette player ate it.)”
Lyrics that resonate with her, well she has them tattooed on her forearms and it’s from “Speakeasy.” “If there’s a shadow in your life then there’s sunshine,” and “Just rewind, it’s all in your mind.” Then there is the lyric “The Earth has not swallowed me yet” that also stays with her. “ Like, I still have time cause I’m not in the ground. Really all of them hold a special place in my heart at different times of my life.”
Stacy grew up in the township of Tonkel, Indiana until she was 7. “No, not a town, a cluster of farm houses and a church.” Then she moved to the “big city” (population 8000 or so) and stayed there until she was 20. “Surrounded by rebel flags, farmers and misfits (I was a misfit), then I got a job where I traveled the country which had me in a different city every week. I lived out of a suitcase, saw the ocean for the first time ever, expanded my horizons! It was AWESOME and eye opening!!!” After a few years of that she moved back home for some personal reasons and then she moved to Fort Wayne with Kelli. “I’ve been here ever since! Now I just work and go to school to get my Masters of Communications (After being a high school dropout) I teach public speaking as a GTA (Graduate teaching assistant, not stealing cars) and I fund most of my adventures with student loans. I’m gonna pay them for the rest of my life anyway, I may as well have some good memories and not just crying over monster energy drinks at 4 am fearing finals.”
If you’ve been on the cruises, you may have received a necklace from Stacy! “I make necklaces to pass out on the boat every year. The first five cruises I was really drunk so I probably didn’t introduce myself. So I’m that frizzy haired drunk girl that handed you a ball of hemp necklaces and then danced away.” She claims she has no talents (hello, she makes necklaces!), but she has been told that she’s really easy to talk to. “I think that’s really important for someone who needs someone to listen to them.”
While Stacy doesn’t feel guilty about anything that gives her pleasure, she said the one thing she gets ridicule from friends about is her love for teen drama shows. “Like One Tree Hill or The OC. I JUST LOVE THEM!!!!”
Other artists that Stacy can be found listening to include Prince, Dirty Heads, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Simon and Garfunkel, Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies, Allen Stone, Lil’ Dickie, Childish Gambino, Sublime, Alabama Shakes, TOOL, NIN, Blind Melon, Lake street dive, and Al Green. She really just loves music and could go on for days. “So many bands that i met on the cruise for the first time, like RDGLDGRN, PROF, etc….. I could keep going forever. Pretty much anything that grabs my soul I’m down with.”
To the band, Stacy would like to send out these words: “Thank you for providing the soundtrack to this awesome life, and for providing places to go enjoy it!”
Her message to all the other 311 fans out there:
“Hey guys! What a year! I miss seeing all of you at shows, and hope we can dance together very soon! Hopefully on cruise 7! (Please let there be a cruise seven!!!!)”
—————
Thank you Stacy for sharing your story! Virtual hugs to all the readers out there. I miss seeing you all too and can’t wait until we can gather together again. Until next time, go be awesome and spread the good vibes!
Much Love – The Runt