Tribute

Well, we did it. We set out for adventure, we found it in many places and forms, and we made it back in one piece. This year was one for the record books in so many ways. By some of the formal numbers; 9 months, 30,000 miles (more than traveling around the Earth’s circumference), 43 states, 19 tournaments, 5 national parks, 3 river-floats, 2 oceans, and 1 other country. By some of the less-than-formal numbers; 666 Tenacious D jokes, 300+ bets made, 100 sleepless nights, 23 crashing of open mic nights/spontaneous jam sessions, 14 concerts/musical acts attended, 2 skinny dips and 2 jumps from an airplane, and only 1 night that resulted in one of us vomiting. 

I do regret not having done more blogging this past year. I wanted to do one per month (total of 10 including the two half-months) and I missed that goal by 3. It’s easy to say that I was too busy off having too much fun, but surely I could have spent less time scrolling through my phone or staring out the window while in the passenger seat at times. It’s a bummer because I wanted to share more of my amazing experiences with you all, my dear friends. So if there is one thing I will attribute my last blog post from this epic journey to, it is friendship. For without that, I never would have had nearly as many of the unforgettable experiences that did transpire. So here’s to the friends, old and new, that I got to create memories with this year. 

To my friends of old, for some of you it had been waaay too long and I’m so thankful for you all for opening up your humble adobes to me and making time in your busy lives for this wandering soul. From skiing in the Rockies, to exploring the crazy zoo that is 6th street, to tearing through the cow pastures on a quad, to partying our way through the big apple, to being caught in rain storms in Florida and beyond, I’m deeply grateful that this year gave me the opportunity to see you again. Not only were we able to catch up and reminisce on the good ol’ times but we also got to delve into some shenanigans again anew. 

To the new friends that I made this year, y’all are fucking solid humans. I was so blown away by how many unique, kind, funny and passionate people I got to know this year. Whether it was floating down a river at night in canoes and singing Acapella, or camping out alongside a lake or ocean and partying until someone couldn’t hang anymore, or playing around with your adorable kids, or going into battle on the disc golf course together, I will cherish all those moments for the years to come. I hope all of you keep kicking ass and that we may reunite one day; I know that it shall be glorious. 

Quick shout-out one more time to all those who wished me luck and support during my travels from the sidelines as well. Your words and actions from afar still had a great impact on me and helped me to keep striving. I thank you dearly. 

And, of course, there is one particular individual who I must give special mention to. My touring partner, my partner in crime, the Rage Cage to my Jables; Kevin. He’s the man pictured opposite myself in this most epic of photos featured on this post. Remember that night, Kev? Where we flute-dueled in Paige Pierce’s sprinter van after the final round of the MVP Open? I love this damn picture so fucking much. Bless the soul who captured it (Peter McBride?). I couldn’t have done it without you and I’m so glad we got to share in this epic journey together. You are my brother for life and I love you. 

Well, that’s that. I didn’t get to write about every single amazing adventure I had but I’ll always have the memories and the friends to remind me when I forget. One of my favorite lines from a beautiful song goes, “Got no time to take a picture, I’ll remember someday, all the chances we took…” and so I must adopt that philosophy due to my own lack of blogging, or daily journaling, or stopping to take a photo because I was too present in the current, magical moment. So with that, “Couldn’t remember the greatest song in the world…no, this is just a tribute”.