Matt's Bio

I'm the elder of the group. (In some ways I wish we could talk like they do in "The Lord of the Rings": "I am Matt The Elder son of John the Missionary.")

I was a senior at Mountlake Terrace High School when this group of freshman arrived. Jason, Paul & Eric. Since I was a drama geek and we FINALLY got a Drama Teacher who actually could teach drama (the previous drama teachers acted like they picked the short straw in the "who wants to teach the class no one else wants to teach?" sweepstakes). Jason & Co. knew Ms. Eling since she was their drama teacher at their Jr. High School. Plus they didn't give a shit.

I mean it, really, THEY DIDN'T GIVE A SHIT. Sure, they cared about their classes and grades (I think Paul in particular) but for everything else - they didn't care. Now, I'd been a senior who had lived in this world of teen angst with, really, no outlet to express who I was. No drama teachers of note who would explore my talent (if I had any). This group, this class of '85 blew the lid off of that and I glommed onto them. Did I feel a bit foolish? Sure. Did they think I was pathetic? Probably. But I found kindred souls who laughed in the faces of bullies. Who mocked the cliques I so much wanted to be a part of. Who pursued a higher calling of self expression and reality. So, yeah, cool.

After I graduated, I stayed in near constant contact with the group, helping with the plays, going to performances, driving them here and there (in my AMC Hornet - with a rag for an gas cap) and trying to be the "cool dude." I missed out on the next three years of their high-school career (more stories to come - trust me) and I met another group of friends (more stories to come) but there was an honesty with this group. A reality of no bullshit. A reality of: "Be who you are. Don't be someone you're not."

In '84 I got engaged and my "soon to be wife" had issues with Jason (I still don't know really know why). One night she said to me: "I don't like it when you're around Jason." And I looked at her and said: "But it's weird, I feel the most true to myself when I'm around Jason." Maybe it was the fact that we didn't judge each other, we didn’t point fingers and, more importantly, we loved and cared for each other deeply. Not that we didn't have our moments of f**king up but I was always four years older and, for some reason, that seemed to make a difference - even though it shouldn't have.

Okay, back to the bio. Now you know my relationship with the other members of this site. As for me. I always saw myself as a mix between Peter Sellars, Cary Grant and James Bond. I felt I was the dashing hilarious type willing to put my life on the line for the woman of my dreams. Too bad I ended up more of the Peter Sellars, Dom DeLuise type - with a bald head.

Writing has always been a passion of mine, but so has film and acting. It wasn't until I was out of high school a couple years until I put two-and-two together and started writing screenplays. 18 years and 16 screenplays later, I still haven't sold one, nor have I acted. It's been way too long to stay away from the stage.

Once out of high school, I fell into a group of friends from Shoreline high school. A rag-tag mix of older girls (4 years older than me) and a group of recent high school grads all my age. They liked to get together and drink and make out. I liked to get together drink one beer and watch them make out (no one wanted to make out with me). I had two girlfriends out of high school: Sandra (who was one of those older girls above) and I dated her for two months and then Florence who was older, met through a church conference, went back to her place and, well, explored. There's another story there, to be told later.

I still hovered in the group behind this site, helping Jason continue to date "Grace" against his parents wishes, going to concerts, attending plays, etc.

In 1983 I fell into a job working in Law. I was a Temp and hired to work on one large litigation. Who knew that this litigation was the largest in US History (at the time) and that it would last 7 years. It's been 20+ years I'm still working in law (I'm just now onto my fifth firm).

In 1986 I got married. Jason was my best man. I realize now that for him, a Jehovah's Witness, to be the best man at my wedding (Episcopal) was probably a REALLY BIG DEAL to his family but he never let on and I respect him greatly for participating. He and the maid of honor hated each other.

In 1989 my wife had a child - just a year before Jason and Jenny had Max. Not only did I beat them out of high school, I beat them to the child finish line. But he got a vasectomy before me - so I'll say we're even.

In 1992 my wife had another child. THEN I got my vasectomy. I lost touch with Jason, Paul and Eric (though I saw Eric walking down a street once). But we lived in the SAME house and, thus, it was THEIR fault if they didn't contact me. Some friends!

Out of the blue Jason showed up on my door-step to tell me that he had lost his faith (or was kicked out from it) that he was divorced and, hey, "how you doin'?"

Jason and I started the process of re-introducing ourselves to each other. The last image I had of Jason: Living the happy-go-lucky life in the Jehovah Witness faith with a gorgeous wife and a wonderful son, was shattered. I did what any friend would do and said: "Get off my porch!" - KIDDING! I just told him to stay in contact. And he has.

Jason got me back in touch with Paul and Eric and it's nice to be a part of their world again. They're "good people." Clint? I don't remember at all. Sorry Clint.

Anything else you want to know? Just e-mail me. I'm an open book.