Living A Good Story

Instead of doing another post about vacation stories I decided to go in a different direction. A couple of weeks ago it was a my birthday and I spent it in Wichita. I went out with friends and it wasn't a bad time. The next day we found out that a man who was supposed to go out with us had died in a car crash on his way home for a wedding. At the same time I started reading "A Million Miles In A Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. There is a section of the book that deals with death. He said (and I am paraphrasing) that people are considered to have died young if their life was worth living, that they were someone who made a difference. I didn't try to think much about it because it can be a troubling topic to think about honestly. But it's a topic that I can't get away from while I am in Colorado. My Grandfather passed away eight years ago and I doubt there is a single member of my family that can visit that special place without thinking about all the memories with Blackie.

How do you lead a good life? I would give anything to know that when I die people say, "He led a great life. He helped people become better. He was a great friend." I couldn't or should say, I didn't always expect people to say that about me. Not all of those things anyway. It's not always easy to change the way you act or change the way people perceive you. No one will ways be 100% changed. Ask an alcoholic how hard it is to stay away from the drink. It is easy for me to think about how easy life used to be, doing whatever I wanted and not caring about how it would affect others or affect my future. But I feel like it would be a waste of a person, a waste of a good life if I didn't stop trying to be the best person I can possibly be. I read an interesting fact in Don's book. "The human body essentially recreates itself every six months. Nearly every cell of hair and skin and bone dies and another is directed to its former place. You are not who you were last November." Change is possible. In fact it's nature.

So how did that post turn from death to that last paragraph? I just hope my life ends up being as good as my Grandfather's was. He was, along with my Dad, one of the greatest men I have known. They changed lives every day. They taught kids life lessons that they will never forget. I can only hope that I am half of the man that they are/were. I don't want to think about death, other than hoping that when my time comes people will say, "He led a life full of happiness. He affected the lives of people in a positive way."

Vacay Day 4

Today was by far the most interesting day of vacation. We went on another hike up the Tonahutu Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park to start the day. It was a trail that I hadn't hiked in years and, while pretty boring, it was a beautiful trail to hike again. After that we took my Grandma up to the Grand Lake Lodge which had been closed for a few years until new owners were found. We made it about halfway up before we had to turn around because Mimi couldn't handle it. They have clear-cut all the dead pine trees away from the road because of the possibility they would fall on the road. If you haven't ever heard about the death of the pine trees in Colorado you should look into it. It's sad, especially for families like mine. Mimi cried so much because of the devastation. It was just too much for her to handle.

My family helped cook dinner tonight and that was a fun time. We all sat outside and enjoyed the evening. I took the kids to play putt-putt which was an interesting time. The kids were a handful and it took a lot of patience to keep everyone in line. Much like a classroom. Andy, Sherri and Erik all got here tonight which was great. They are the people I miss the most because of the distance. I wish I could see them more often than two or three times a year. Andy, Mike, JD, Ryan and I went to the bars and had some drinks and told some great stories. Andy, Ryan and I stayed after everyone and talked about life and raising kids and living a good life. It was a great night. I love my family so much. I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world.

Currently Listening To: Up All Night by Blink 182

Vacay Day 3

Today was a sunny and perfect day. The weather was just warm enough to not need a jacket but everyone who spent time on the beach just walked back with a nice sunburn. This morning we hiked the East Inlet Trail up to Adam's Falls and the big meadow. This is a trail we have hiked every year we have been here. There is a marker where all of the grandkids posed for pictures and I can remember most of the kids in the picture this year as babies. It's crazy how time flys. I took a nap during the afternoon while everyone went shopping since I had gone yesterday and it was nice. I spent some time down at the beach watching the kids build sandcastles and watched people taking sailboating classes. It got cloudy this afternoon so I'm hoping a quick shower is heading through. I love the rain smell here.

One of my favorite stories from yesterday was from the fishing trip most of the kids took. My Dad had snagged a trout that was, as he described, the biggest damn trout he had ever had on his line. Now, my father has been coming to Grand Lake for well over 30 years so that is saying something. My Dad was trying to keep from tangling his line with Peyton's as my cousin Ryan was trying to grab a net to catch the fish. My uncle JD was yelling at someone to "man-up" and get into the water to catch the damn fish when it got into the shallow water and got enough slack on the line to get free. Ryan is an avid fisherman and was pissed that a fish that big got away. Visibly pissed for the rest of the night. That just doesn't happen with him around. My uncle JD was giving him shit, telling him he thought he let the fish get free because it was bigger than anything he had caught so far. He also teased him about school, telling him "Aren't you going to Hayden (Topeka) next year?" It was agreat story that was re-told over supper and had everyone laughing, except Ryan. He got over it though and caught some decent trout today.

Hope everyone is enjoying their week.

The Adam's Falls Marker

The Big Meadow, it's really flooded this year so we couldn't get out into it and take our yearly picture on the old fallen tree.

Currently Listening To: Re: Stacks by Bon Iver

Vacay Day 2

The mountains always take my breath away. Day two was spent driving from Denver up into the mountains and into the great town of Grand Lake. The drive is just beautiful. Once we get our first view of Lake Gramby, it feels like home. Mount Baldy over looks Shadow Mountain Lake and is a perfect view. We walked down the boardwalk downtown and went down and watched the kids swim in the lake. It was a pretty relaxing day all around.

Vacay, Day 1

Day 1 of vacation is thankfully over! It was a day full of driving, stopping, driving, battling Denver rush hour (which I usually don't mind but we took the long way through downtown Denver) and finally watching my Mom spend two hours in the Eddie Bauer Outlet store. The best part of the day was the epic lightning storm we had last night. The news said there were over 9,000 strikes of lightning in the Denver Metro area within thirty minutes. It was insane. And Beautiful.

Today will be a another day of driving but it will be spent driving up into the mountains and past all the beautiful lakes and streams, past all the old mining towns, past all the meadows full of big elk and meece (moose). It is my favorite part of vacation. The sun roof will be down and the jackets will be on for the 50 degrees going up Berthoud Pass.

However, this morning I spent a little while setting up my new Google+ account. It looks pretty sweet and, while it may not overtake Facebook, it will make people get another account or at least think twice about tha 'Book. It reminds me of when I first got Facebook because not everyone was allowed to back then. It was strictly college kids who went to a college that paid for Facebook. It was such a cool thing back then! Now my 11-year-old cousins have it because they can lie about their age. Stupid but addicting. That is all for now. My next post will come while I am...in the mountains. And yes, I will add that to every post/activity/tweet I send in the next 5 days. Enjoy!

P.S. My favorite part of the mountains is opening bottles such as shampoo and contact solution after going up altitude changes. EXPLODE!

It's the Wonder of Nature

Tomorrow morning I leave for one of my favorite places that I have had the pleasure of visiting. Grand Lake, Colorado has played a huge part of my summertime memories as far back as I can remember. My father's side of the family, the Lane side, has a tradition of going almost every year at the end of July and renting cabins in the small tourist town. My grandparents used to manage the Lonesome Dove Cabins in town and so we started to vacation there as a family.

It is a very scenic spot, even though all of the trees are dying because of the beetle epidemic. The family memories of hiking up to Adam's Falls and the Big Meadow, driving Pontoon boats on the lake, fishing in the same spot and my father and grandfather did, spending hours on the bumper boats as a kid with all my cousins will always bring a smile to my face. That's why I have many framed pictures from different spots around the Lake and Mount Baldy. It's my happy place.

The last few years have given me chances to drive out by myself because of different things that have come up like Derek's wedding last year. It is a long drive, especially from Kansas City or with back problems but it gives me the best chance to just enjoy nature and enjoy thinking about my life. You get completely different views from the Flint Hills to the flat wheat fields, to the barren land of eastern Colorado and finally the gorgeous snow-capped mountains over Idaho Springs. It's quite a moving experience. Especially if you get the right mix of music playing in the background. One year I had John Williams and Explosions In The Sky going and last year I had a mix of Coldplay and Abandon Kansas. This year I am riding with my family but I can't wait for the moment we stop in Idaho Springs to get our jackets out of the trunk so we can roll down the windows and open the sun roof. The beauty of nature will then proceed to take my breath away.

Currently Listening To: Death In His Grave by John Mark McMillan

I am going to start learning our next setlist for SuperSonic in October. This is the first one I will give a good listen to.

26 and Counting

It has been another year of getting older, feeling older and yet acting and being young. Tonight was a good night with time spent swimming with Brock and Dane and having a country cruise with Brock talking about life and music. I had a bunch of thoughts the other night but I didn't write them down or anything as they seemed like passing thoughts. Brock asked me how it feels to get older and turn 26. It really doesn't feel any different but it does at the same time. It's a weird feeling really. I guess it has more to do with the fact that I'm 26, still in school and living at home. It's not exactly the place I thought I would be at in my life right now. I know growing up we all have these grand visions of success and happiness in our lives. The vision changes for different people but they all include being happy. And not living with our parents.

That last paragraph makes it sound like I am not happy. That is simply not the case. As I was telling Brock, I don't think that I have ever been happier. It took a few years to get back to my vision of happiness and success. If not for a few wayward steps I would not have met so many great people. Brock, Christy, Dane, Emily, Abby, and so many others I am sure I'm forgetting. I would not have re-discovered my love of music and playing music. If it weren't for meeting Brock and Dane I would not have picked up my bass guitar again. Just because of that I am thankful for coming back.

Where did you/do you envision yourself at the age of 26? It's probably not where you will end up but I truly hope that you are as happy as I am now. While there is always something to build on, always something to bitch about, always something that you can change, remember that it's the simple things that make life worth living.

Currently Listening To: See You Soon by Coldplay

Cause in a bulletproof vest, with the windows all closed

I'll be doing my best, and I'll see you soon

In a telescope lens, when all you want is friends

I'll see you soon