In celebration of Elite Streets Magazine's fifth birthday, I present to you a history lesson...

It seemed my whole life changed in late 2000 when the girl I thought I was going to marry, Angie, decided to break off the relationship. In the aftermath, day and night I found myself absorbed in just thinking about her and what I could have done to salvage a relationship that had turned from wine to vinegar. In fact, it began to affect my collegiate studies, my health, and pretty much my overall well being.

Fast forward one year later and I found myself sitting one day at a downtown Nashville restaurant discussing that soured relationship with a good friend of mine. It was obvious to him that I hadn't quiet moved on yet. After we had finished our meal and reflected on the more positive aspects of the past, he recommended I find something to do besides think about Angie, so I could get refocused on the "paper chase" (college) as well as other commitments I made. As he got up and left, he gave me a pat on the shoulder and said, "Toughen up, you were a Marine! You'll figure it all out."

To make a very long story short, my friend was right, and I started doing a little photography for Sportruck.com in early 2002. After a year with Sportruck.com, I decided to move on and thus created this online publication which now fills up the remaining hours I have left in each day.

I still think about Angie every now and then, but most of all I think about all of the things that I have accomplished and all of the friends I have met due to a poisoned relationship. I have forged many new friendships since Angie decided to dump cold water on what could have been, which certainly didn't mean that is what "should have been." Elite Streets Magazine (ESM for short for all the new readers out there) is the child that was born from the ashes of the extinguished flames of love, desire, anguish, hope, and disappointment. I dedicate this issue to Angie, but more importantly to all of my new friendships that branched out from "the one that got away."

Happy Birthday ESM... and may you continue to grow for another five years!