look who goes there! is that james elroy? iâve seen them often around maple trace, which may be because they are a employee @ the right tune. theyâve been in town for thirty years and iâve known them to be determined but also forgetful. for some reason, let it be by the beatles reminds me of them, as well as the scratch of a record that has reached the end, forgotten cups of coffee sitting around the apartment, and worn down drum sticks stuck in his back pocket.
Bio: ( tw; foster care, slight mention of drugs, military, injury, hospital, mental health )
James and his sibling was born to a mother that was much too young, whose only worry about who was her next hookup or where she was going to get her next hit from. Raising her kids were the last thing on her mind so it came to no surprise that by the time he was seven, James and his sibling were taken and placed into foster care.
For the first few years that they bounced from home to home, they were placed together until James was ten. The two of them were placed into separate cars and a promise they would see each other again. That was nearly twenty years ago.
After that his time in foster care was lonely and James turned to music at an early age to help him hope with things. He found his love in old music, jazz and swing, in the tempos and beats that brought him an odd comfort. And shortly after, James would drum on whatever he could get his hands on. Old pencils, pots, pans, anything he could make music with.
By the time he was twelve, James was placed in what would become his permanent home. Adopted by a couple who welcomed him into their family with open arms, who allowed him to truly feel safe for the first time in years. Not only that but they fostered his love for music and bought him his first drum set for his thirteenth birthday.
While he wasn't exactly the best in school, James found his place in jazz band along with playing soccer. However he kept the best grades that he could with his sights set on college in a big town once he'd graduate. So when he got accepted into college in Chicago for percussion and music composition, it hardly came to the surprise of anyone.
However, little did anyone know that in his first year away at college, James was questioning everything. He felt like he wasn't good enough to make music his career, doubted himself more than he would ever admit, and finally the fear of failure was too much and James dropped out without telling anyone. Returning home the summer he turned twenty to let his family and friends know that he wouldn't be returning to school, instead he would be joining the military.
While it was a very surprising turn of events, something no one, himself included, ever expected him to do, James turned out to enjoy serving. And what was supposed to only be three years in the Army, James found himself in it for nearly ten years. He exceeded at what he did, enjoyed the comradeship he had with his fellow soldiers, and thrived with traveling to foreign countries.
However, he knew his time was coming to an end in the Army and had plans to get out in the next year. However, just six months before he would be home for good, James' entire life would be turned upside down. An unexpected explosion would nearly take his life, leaving him fighting to hang on. And land with him spending over a month in an overseas hospital before he would be able to fly back home, where he would spend another six weeks recovering from the ordeal.
While some scars are visible from what he had been through, some are not, including the TBI that he had suffered. Which affects his memory quite a bit- he's awful at remembering dates, numbers, directions. Most of his memories of life before the accident are blurry at best while some are just completely gone. There are days where he feels beyond fuzzy and confused, where he can't make sense of things but he does his best to not let that bring him down.
Now James has been home since January, taking the last six months to try and figure out his new normal and how to navigate life and not let his injury define him.
Misc:
Basically lives in old flannels and shirts, isn't the most fashionable person that there is.
Recently took in a stray dog (maybe not his best idea) which he named Ringo.
Is an absolute sucker for The Beatles.
Hasn't gotten behind a drum set since his accident, afraid that he's forgotten how to play them completely.
Loves being outdoors- Always enjoyed going hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, ect and would love to find his way back to doing those things again.
Can't cook to save his life, even before he was injured James lived off of frozen meals and left overs from friends and family.
Has some PTSD and anxiety from serving/his accident though he tries to keep it under wraps, not wanting to make those around him worry even more.
Despite everything, James is a very laid back and easy going kind of guy. Still laughs and jokes and sometimes uses it as a way to cope.
Connections:
Best friends
Ex friends
Exes (good or bad terms)
People he might have served with
His biological sibling he hasn't seen since he was ten
Adoptive parents/siblings
Ex bandmates
Give me all the things!!!
