My First

I didn't even have a CD player but I asked for the single Enter Sandman by Metallica. I can't remember where I first heard the song, nor can I remember what exactly it was that turned me on about the heavy metal ballad. All I know is that I needed it!

I couldn't have been over 10 years old at the time. I couldn't ask my Mom or my Dad for the album. They certainly would have said no. I had thought long and hard about the best prospective gift-giver. It was about three-weeks to the day from Christmas when my Uncle Roger asked me what I wanted. With big blue eyes full of yearning, a said "I need Enter Sandman by Metallica." He was, by far, my coolest Uncle. If ANYONE was going to get me a Metallica CD it would be him!

After I asked, he started laughing. Looking down at his battered and torn AC/DC t-shirt and shoulder length, blonde hair, I said a silent prayer to myself. I knew it was a shot in the dark, so a prayed every night until Christmas.

Christmas day came and I had opened all of my presents. No Metallica. My brother who had asked for a million things had gotten everything on his list. He was taunting me with the remote control for his new Nintendo game system when my Uncle walked in the room. I watched him walk through the cluttered space, past the Christmas tree, past my obnoxious younger brother. I watched every step including the last one he took before standing right in front of me. He bent down and placed a small red package, with a silver bow, in front of me on the floor.

With twinkling eyes, I reached for the package. I knew what it was. I ripped the bow off and tore into the delicate paper like a hungry animal. I flipped the case around, and there it was Metallica, Enter Sandman. I was so excited I shot up from my stooped position on the floor and shouted in excitement. My uncle, again, started laughing.

It was the very first of a long line of albums to come.