Written from Atlanta after a memorable weekend with friends, Jack Vigliatura’s five-page letter to Mary Shortt captures his excitement over a long-awaited but nevertheless impromptu visit to Athens, Georgia, and the places connected to his favorite band: R.E.M.
Alongside humorous stories about record stores, Peter Buck’s home, the Grit, and the 40 Watt Club, Jack—who made the trip with Travis Tooke and a roommate named Steve—shares quieter reflections on faith, family, friendship, and the people who matter most to him. His enthusiastic and affectionate account offers a vivid glimpse of a young fan enjoying an unforgettable trip.
November 10, 1991
Dear Mary,
I’m writing this on Sunday night in Atlanta, Ga. so I don’t forget anything to tell you about this weekend. I haven’t read your letter yet, but it’s probably sitting in my mailbox in Gainesville.
We left Friday at 2:30 PM (Steve, Travis and I) and drove for 6 and ½ hours to Steve’s house in Atlanta. It’s so beautiful here. It gets to be 20 degrees at night and 40 degrees during the day. There are rolling hills with autumn leaves and their brilliant colors. Open fields and grazing cattle are spread over acres – for some reason I really like it.
I’m sitting in Steve’s living room downstairs in the dark and writing this letter by the light of the fireplace. It’s really beautiful. It’s a huge three-story house and everyone’s up on the third floor two stories above me. I’m in a good mood sitting here by the fire. I think I just have a few moments (hours and hours actually, but it’s nice because the hours pass like moments) to really think about things that are important. I’m not caught up in the hectic, stressful, day-to-day grind and my thoughts turn to the things that mean the most to me. My family, My God without whom I am nothing, and my friends.
Saturday I was able to visit the very place I’ve been dreaming of since I first heard Reckoning in 1985 – Athens, Ga. It was very, very, very cool. We got there at about 12 PM and went around to all the little shops and stuff. We went to the record store Peter Buck worked at. I was able to pick up a couple of hard-to-find presents for someone who has a birthday coming up. Hmmm … who might that be?
At Peter Buck’s record store we found out where he lived and we drove over there. We parked about 2 houses down from his place. I’ll be honest – Steve wasn’t all that excited. But me and Trav were having severe anxiety attacks just being on the same street. Both of us were looking at each other for courage but only found complete fear and a tormenting excitement.
So Steve stayed in the car, we took the camera and got out of the car. This was a huge step – to get out of the car. We now walked up the street, shivering teeth, chattering from both the cold wind and lightly sprinkling rain and anticipation of what we were just about to see.
Trav didn’t want to go any further than the sidewalk when we got to the front of his house but I knew that even if we were nervous and scared as we were, we’d regret not doing more so I said to Travis, “Are you coming?” “Where,” he screamed in horror. “To the door,” I said sarcastically to cover my own horrible feeling of nauseating anxiety. “I guess so,” he said. And we both walked up to the door of Peter Buck’s house – we were there and couldn’t believe it. Peter Buck’s mansion! We knocked on the door and Pete’s girlfriend answered and said he wasn’t home and said we could take as many pictures as we wanted of the house just as long as we didn’t take anything. So we took a picture of the porch where they play all the time, on the swing-chair (they showed them playing on the porch on the MTV documentary) and then we had Steve take our picture in front of the house. It was really cool just being there and looking around. It was really cool.
So we then went over to the “Grit” which is a restaurant that Michael Stipe owns (it was where they were for the Spin interview). It was a pretty nice place. After that we went to the record store and I bought these 2 bootleg CDs (they come together). It cost me $63.00 – it is of R.E.M. in England and Italy. I can’t wait for you to hear them. All acoustic, need I say more?
Anyway, the guys at the store say, “Michael was just in here a few minutes ago. He bought the Nirvana CD. Did you want to see him?” Me and Travis almost fell to the floor. After the initial shock we started to realize something – people in Athens didn’t treat them any different than anyone else. We could go back to Athens and see them anytime we wanted. I have a lot different view of them now, for some odd reason just by being around where they live I now feel some weird association with them. It’s strange, but they seem more like just normal people than these big superstars now. They do make very awesome music though.
We then went and ate some pizza at a restaurant they frequent and then went to Peter Buck’s “40 Watt Club,” where a band named Flip Shakespeare or something was playing. They were pretty good. After hanging out there we took one last walk around the small college town of Athens and hit the road.
I was very happy I went and I can’t wait to go back. I know you’d like it – we can go anytime.
Today we slept in, then went to the Atlanta mall where me and Travis took some rather bizarre photographs. Then we went to the Atlanta Underground, which is just like a whole bunch of shops, bars, restaurants, etc. – you guessed it – underground (where we took some bizarre pictures).
We came home to Steve’s beautiful home and listened to my CDs (it’s about 150 minutes worth of music). We then came up with two new songs. That brings me to tonight, which is now Monday 1AM. I’ve been writing for a while, haven’t I? We go home at noon and we should reach Gainesville by 6 o’clock. It’s only 17 more days until Thanksgiving (only, who am I kidding?) and as you know I CAN’T WAIT!!!
I miss you. God Bless!
Love,
Jack
P.S. Keep this letter. It will make a good souvenir.