TW20HA: Back to the Start
On the 20th anniversary of Jon Foreman wearing the first To Write Love on Her Arms shirt, Renee Yohe and I returned to the place we lived much of the story.
The first box of “To Write Love on Her Arms” shirts was delivered to my friend Gord Marriage in Boca Raton on March 30, 2006. I had that first box sent to Gord because Switchfoot was in town to play a show at Florida Atlantic University, part of the band’s Nothing Is Sound tour, which arrived on the heels of their breakthrough album The Beautiful Letdown.
As the story goes, my friend Jon Foreman wore the very first TWLOHA shirt on stage that night. Another friend, Andy Barron, worked as Switchfoot’s full-time photographer back then. Andy captured a photo that felt instantly iconic.
Renee Yohe and I know each other because of David McKenna. Back in 2006, David owned a townhouse in Orlando and I rented a room from him. After being denied entry into a local treatment center, Renee spent the next five days with us. The story that we lived became a story that I wrote. To Write Love on Her Arms.
Renee checked into treatment. I moved to an apartment on New England Avenue with my friend Dylon York. David eventually sold the townhouse. The three of us bounced around. Renee and David remained close, while I drifted in and out of their lives. Sometimes we were brought together by a project, like the TWLOHA movie. Other times I’d bump into one of them at a concert or event.
David McKenna passed away in a car accident on December 14, 2012.
Yesterday, on the 20th anniversary of Jon Foreman wearing the first TWLOHA shirt, two hours before a screening of a documentary that’s being released to celebrate, Renee and I returned to the townhouse that used to belong to our friend David. It was our first time being back there together since 2006.
This is where we have to thank our new friend David Lawrence, who on very little notice agreed to photograph the occasion. As we’ve gotten to know David over the last couple of days, it’s become obvious that he was the perfect guy to take these pictures. TWLOHA is personal for him. We’re forever grateful to David and I’m excited to share some of the photos with you now.
Renee and I have been hosting a series of online events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the TWLOHA story. Join us Thursday, April 2 for 20 QUESTIONS, a small-group conversation that’s limited to 10 people. It’s the chance to ask us about the last two decades and we’ll have some questions for you as well. And then next Friday, April 10, BYGONES is back. Renee and I are looking forward to this one because with everything that’s been happening, we’ve got plenty to discuss!
Or a one-on-one coaching / consulting session.