Hi All,
Just thought I would get in on the introductions, although a little late. My
name is Jim O'Hara I now live in Valrico, Florida, a bedroom community of
Tampa, I have lived here for 20 years. I grew up in Jacksonville Florida
where I first discovered the Doobies with the release of LTTM. I saw them
several times while leaving in Jacksonville. Once my other favorite band Poco
opened for them in Jacksonville. In 1979 I got a job transfer to Birmingham,
Alabama.
I had tickets to see the band perform there and was working with a parts
distributor salesman (I work as a field sales executive for a large US based
auto parts manufacturer) and we were talking about music and I told him I was
going to see the Doobies that night and he said, well I guess you know who
Mike McDonald is then. I said sure I do. Then I started telling him how I
missed Tom Johnston with the band and how the sound had changed but I still
liked the music although it was different. Well, he asked if I would like to
meet the band that afternoon at the sound check. I asked how would that be
possible. He said "Mike McDonald is my cousin and he invited me so I am
inviting you to go with me".
I could not believe it I actually got to go meet my favorite band and even
got to sing with them at the sound check. It was a blast and one of the
thrills of my life.
In 1981 I moved to the Tampa area when I changed jobs. I got divorced in 1989
and met and married the love of my life, Karen in 1993. I have a son 23 from
my first marriage in college at University of South Florida. We are huge
Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans I have a stepson that is 19 that is still looking
for his place in life. I ride a Honda Shadow on weekends and boat with the
family when whenever we can.
I saw the Brothers twice in 2000 once in Clearwater and once in Jacksonville
with fellow fan club member Ralph B and his wife from Gainesville, FL. Have
never had the chance to go to a fan club convention yet. Maybe sometime if we
ever get one on the east coast.
JimO' from Valrico.
