Heaven's On Fire |Dimebag Darrell

Bringing In The Y2K

December 31st, 1999

  "You think we have enough for everyone?" I asked, looking over at my best friend. Rita looked over the table we had set up for food. "Uh, Darrell is hosting. When does he never have enough?" she stated sarcastically. I raised a brow in her direction with a smirk on my face.

  "How about Christmas, two years ago. We were short on gifts and Darrell started going around the house, randomly gifting our things to our friends." I couldn't help but laugh at the memory.

  I think that Christmas is when he gifted a jar of pickles, couldn't find them after that night.

  "Guess it never gets boring here at the Abbott household," Rita chuckled. I was about to agree when knocking from the front door drew me from the conversation. "I'm coming!" I shouted, making my way towards the front of the house. Passing Darrel when I noticed the smirk on his face. "Not yet you aren't," he spoke. The man was closing in on his 40's, yet he acted like a little boy who just discovered his penis. Always finding the moment to be perverted towards me.

  I rolled my eyes and chose to ignore his flirtatious ways before opening the front door. Standing on our doorstep was Zakk and his beautiful wife Barbaranne with their daughter Hayley Rae. My smile grew when seeing the couple that both Darrell and I grew close with. Both Zakk and Darrell had hit it off since meeting at Monsters of Rock festival back in 94'. That was when Zakk was playing for Pride & Glory still.

  Those two have been getting into trouble together ever since.

  I greeted the two and moved to allow them into the house. I glanced over at their daughter with awe, "miss Hayley Rae, you are growing before our eyes!"

  I was amazed in how the little girls was no longer that toddler that I had remembered, following her mother around wherever she went. Now, she was becoming a young lady as she was closing in on the double digits. Barbaranne lit up and lightly shoved her elbow against my arm, "right!" The two of us watched her skip towards the backyard.

  "Where is Dime?" Zakk asked, looking for his friend right away. Laughing at his excitement, I pointed towards the sliding glass door. "Both Riggs and him are out back maintaining the grill. Please help yourselves to the drinks and food. Pool is also available if any of you brought swimsuits." Usually, it was always Darrell and I hosting Christmas every year, but we eventually got suckered into doing New Years one year and ever since then it was thrown here at the fortress. Clearly to our friends it was a big hit.

  Zakk and Barbaranne headed towards the backyard; I was about to join when another knock came. I turned and opened the door once again, seeing Trey and his now wife Charlotte who was 5 months along with their second child. Trey and I did our best to keep in touch even though our lives were steering us in different paths.

  I lived a crazy life and traveled more than I was home. Trey was busy being a husband and a father, but somehow, we made work. This New Years party was a bigger turn out than usual, Kerry from Slayer was here while Jerry Cantrell was pulling jokes to those around him. Everyone from White Zombie was here as well. Rob did go solo over the years, but we were all happy to see each other again like old times.

  I stepped out to the back patio in time to see Darrell give Zakk a manly pat on the back. Seeing so many people who showed up told me in how bless we were, and I had a certain guitarist to thank for that. It was Darrell who accepted me into his world, and in that world, I met all these amazing people.

  Darrell talked with Zakk and Barbaranne for a moment till his eyes landed on me. I couldn't hold back my smile as I approached his now outstretched hand. Darrell gave me a warm smile before leaning in to place a kiss against my forehead, bringing me closer to his side. "Baby, you mind grabbing that pitcher of black tooth from the kitchen for me?" he asked. Looking up, I gave one last kiss. "Of course," turning towards the house once again.