Chris Hare

It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. So when things were at my worst, I'd been on disability leave and I went back to Microsoft. So I was at Amazon, went to Microsoft, went out on leave, and when I came back, I had a new manager and the best manager I'd ever had. And he had tattoos all over his arm, Pearl Jam tattoos, the band. I'd never been a fan of Pearl Jam.

It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. So when things were at my worst, I'd been on disability leave and I went back to Microsoft. So I was at Amazon, went to Microsoft, went out on leave, and when I came back, I had a new manager and the best manager I'd ever had. And he had tattoos all over his arm, Pearl Jam tattoos, the band. I'd never been a fan of Pearl Jam.

In fact, I didn't like them. And I thought, I live in Seattle, like I tried to like them. In the 90s, I tried to like them because they were cool and I couldn't. So I asked him, tell me about your tattoos. And he said, it was 1991. So I was driving across Michigan. He called his mom and found out that his dad had just passed away.

In fact, I didn't like them. And I thought, I live in Seattle, like I tried to like them. In the 90s, I tried to like them because they were cool and I couldn't. So I asked him, tell me about your tattoos. And he said, it was 1991. So I was driving across Michigan. He called his mom and found out that his dad had just passed away.

So he turns around and drives three or four hours home and he's listening to Pearl Jam on the radio. And one of the songs was the song Alive. It's this really haunting song, beautiful song. He listens to that the whole way home and Pearl Jam has become a part of his healing and healing journey. And so he told me this.

So he turns around and drives three or four hours home and he's listening to Pearl Jam on the radio. And one of the songs was the song Alive. It's this really haunting song, beautiful song. He listens to that the whole way home and Pearl Jam has become a part of his healing and healing journey. And so he told me this.

And so because he told me that story, it didn't make me like Pearl Jam, but I thought, okay, I'm willing to give it another try. So I tried listening to them again and put on the song live. Everything changed in terms of my perspective about that song. So all of a sudden I went from disliking them to being open to listening to this song. All of a sudden it became an anthem for me.

And so because he told me that story, it didn't make me like Pearl Jam, but I thought, okay, I'm willing to give it another try. So I tried listening to them again and put on the song live. Everything changed in terms of my perspective about that song. So all of a sudden I went from disliking them to being open to listening to this song. All of a sudden it became an anthem for me.

And I remember driving down the road past the place where I, this is at least how I envision it, past the place where I nearly took my life and seeing that song at the top of my lungs. And that became healing for me because of the story that he told. Fast forward to last year, and around September or October, I come across this video of the lead singer of Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder, from years ago.

And I remember driving down the road past the place where I, this is at least how I envision it, past the place where I nearly took my life and seeing that song at the top of my lungs. And that became healing for me because of the story that he told. Fast forward to last year, and around September or October, I come across this video of the lead singer of Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder, from years ago.

And he's talking about that song live, and he said, didn't mean what fans have come to believe that it means. When I wrote that song, it was an F you to my dad. He said when I was 12 or 13, I found out that my dad wasn't actually my dad and my parents had been lying to me. That was filled with bitterness and anger, and it became a curse to me.

And he's talking about that song live, and he said, didn't mean what fans have come to believe that it means. When I wrote that song, it was an F you to my dad. He said when I was 12 or 13, I found out that my dad wasn't actually my dad and my parents had been lying to me. That was filled with bitterness and anger, and it became a curse to me.

But what ended up happening is fans believed it was a song about life and freedom. Over the years, as he heard it, he started to be open to the fans' interpretation, and eventually he completely changed his belief about what the song meant. And he said, as soon as I believed what the fans believed the song meant, It literally broke the curse and I was free. So it's like, how incredible is that?

But what ended up happening is fans believed it was a song about life and freedom. Over the years, as he heard it, he started to be open to the fans' interpretation, and eventually he completely changed his belief about what the song meant. And he said, as soon as I believed what the fans believed the song meant, It literally broke the curse and I was free. So it's like, how incredible is that?

That narrative was completely shifted for him. Two weeks later, I go and I tell my daughter, okay, let's go to the record store. And her best friend goes with us. And we get there and I said, okay, here's the deal. Everyone only gets $10 and we'll see who gets the best, the best album. So that means you obviously have to buy used. So we'll see who gets the best haul.

That narrative was completely shifted for him. Two weeks later, I go and I tell my daughter, okay, let's go to the record store. And her best friend goes with us. And we get there and I said, okay, here's the deal. Everyone only gets $10 and we'll see who gets the best, the best album. So that means you obviously have to buy used. So we'll see who gets the best haul.

So we go in there, we dig through for vinyl and it was complete failure. None of us gets a record. So we said, oh, let's go to the bakery down the street. And so we're walking across the crosswalk. The sun's going down. And I said, there's an album that I actually forgot that I need that I want to get. And so why don't you all go to the bakery and I'll meet you there.

So we go in there, we dig through for vinyl and it was complete failure. None of us gets a record. So we said, oh, let's go to the bakery down the street. And so we're walking across the crosswalk. The sun's going down. And I said, there's an album that I actually forgot that I need that I want to get. And so why don't you all go to the bakery and I'll meet you there.

So I walk back inside the record store. I walk upstairs and Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, is standing right there digging for vinyl. I was like, you've got to be kidding me. So internally, I thought I should go say hi to him. And I had something internally tell me, you need to go tell him your story. So at first I was like, he doesn't want to be bothered.

So I walk back inside the record store. I walk upstairs and Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, is standing right there digging for vinyl. I was like, you've got to be kidding me. So internally, I thought I should go say hi to him. And I had something internally tell me, you need to go tell him your story. So at first I was like, he doesn't want to be bothered.