Jared Boots was born on April Fool's Day 1979 and his mother would go on to claim that the day had been a curse, somehow mysteriously morphing her son into a carefree, outgoing, slacker musician with no real goals or dreams. Of course Jared had goals, but it wasn't his fault his mother didn't accept them as that, choosing to think of his career as a musician and his job as a camera man as a way to postpone being an adult. His mother Deb spent her life working hard as an ER nurse and raising her son on her own after his father left when he was eight years old, choosing to start a new life with his much younger and prettier secretary. Life was at standstill after his dad left while Jared and Deb tried to find their footing, but they persevered and he settled for seeing his dad every other weekend. But the visits made him feel like he was intruding in his dad's new life and slowly but surely the visits decreased, his father oblivious to the lack of Jared in his life and soon enough, his dad became a distant presence.
But, despite the strained relationship with his father, Jared was a happy kid. He wasn't the type to mope around, preferring to throw himself into being a goofball instead of dwelling on the negatives and his mom was relieved, even if he was suffering on the inside because a happy kid was a happy kid and Deb was so busy trying to balance a career and motherhood that she took the smiles and the laughter as is. Jared's relationship with his mother was a good one despite her blind eye to any inner struggles involving his absentee father. She took on the role of both parents and despite her hectic schedule, made time to show up to his soccer games and encouraged his love for music, being a good sport about the loud strumming of his guitar at all hours of the day.
Jared very rarely put down his guitar, set on becoming one of the awesome musicians he spent his childhood and teen years admiring. His mother finally relented and allowed him to take lessons, figuring it would keep her mischievous son out of trouble and started paying a neighbor to teach Jared the guitar. The neighbor, a man by the name of Jack Rogen, was a musician himself. He was older, born and raised in the era of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, and his career choice had gotten him nowhere, but who was he to tell the young boy otherwise? He encouraged Jared, teaching him not only how to play the guitar but schooled him in rock and roll, telling him tales of how life was on the road when he was an aspiring musician. Jared was too excited to see Jack for what he was, a strung out man who had battled addictions with little to show for himself and no, his mother did
not know that and he knew better than to tattle on his new friend, but he was too immersed in the stories and playing the guitar to care. This was cool! Pretty flippin' awesome, actually, and Jack became a strong influence in his life. He was like the cool uncle he'd never had and Deb encouraged the relationship, liking that her son had a male presence around, even if Jack wasn't the most successful role model.
In high school, Jared started a few bands here and there, but none of them ever stuck. They would always break up because of creative differences or his band mates not taking the music as seriously as they should, at least in Jared's eyes, but he was happy to keep playing the guitar and lending his vocals whenever possible. Unlike some, high school was a great experience for him. He had tons of friends, got to play his music and while he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he passed his classes and did his homework to keep his mother off his back. But when graduation rolled around, he wasn't keen on going to college, but Deb forced him to go to community college to at least do
something with his life other than playing the guitar. And so Jared took classes, eventually earning a two year degree in Media Technology. He had always been handy with a camera, participating in the AV club during high school and so it seemed a perfect fit. Jared got an internship at a local news station, eventually being hired to work part-time as a camera man after graduation.
In 2000, Jared hit the jackpot when it came to finding serious, passionate band mates, and they dubbed themselves Town Monster. The band has been together for nearly ten years with Jared on guitar and vocals. He's pursuing his dream of being a rock star in the laziest way possible. Jared doesn't really care if they become famous or not, as long as they keep getting gigs and making music and hey, it's the perfect way to score with the ladies. Who doesn't love a man with a guitar?
Eventually, Jared tired of working at the news station and found another position at
The Relationship Co. His main responsibility is to aid in the recording of clients and any and all technical stuff that needs to be done, aside from the website and his hours are a little under full time. It's an interesting work environment and a slower pace than local news, but the hours are flexible and with the type of people coming in and searching for 'the one', his day is always interesting.
As for his relationship with his father, Jared very rarely talks to the man, but is well aware he has two half siblings running around. It's a bit awkward, which is strange for him since he prides himself on being anything but, but Jared chooses to pay as little attention to them as possible. It's not
their fault, of course, but he doesn't exactly want to stick around and watch his father treat his wife and kids the way he should've treated Deb and Jared. For now, he's content to lead his life as is - playing music, working the camera, smoking weed, and picking up chicks at gigs. It's a hard life, but someone's gotta do it!
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