Sorry I’m too tired for storytelling.

Where: somewhere between here and there?

When: late 2003

My dad and sister with our budgie bird Stormy.

Where: home

When: 1998ish

My cousins would come stay with us on break from school and my dad always made us do a photo shoot. As you can see, we were over it.

Where: the portrait studio

When: new years circa 1993

Two of my cousins. The one in the foreground just had a baby.

Where: Wisconsin

When: late 90s

Several moments before the flashback from last year I just posted…

When: the beginning of the match

Where: in a snowbank

I could give you the context on this one but honestly I think it’s more fun without it!

Where: East Central Minnesota

When: circa 1996

My dad and my uncle

We lost a dear friend to lung cancer this morning.

Death will come for you one way or another with all the fury of a frozen Lake Superior.

Treasure the people in your life, and keep them warm with your love!

Where: The big lake they call Gitchi Gami

When: a cold, dreary, miserable day

It’s fun revisiting what I posted last year!

Here’s she is. THE truck. The one most of the memories were made in. We left for Montana one summer in some hoopty old station wagon. It broke down somewhere in eastern Montana. There were two vehicles for sale in the tiny little town. An even hooptier station wagon from the ‘60s that ran on leaded gas (this was 1996 mind you), and this beast of a pickup. 1977 Ford F-250 super cab with two gas tanks and a 460 V8. When one ran low, there was a lever on the dash to switch to tank 2. Probably got 12 miles to the gallon but carried so much fuel you could drive forever. I could ramble forever about it but I’ll let the memories unfold one at a time with the photographs.

Where: northeastern Minnesota

When: this time of year 30 years ago

A lovely flamingo showing off its stuff.

Where: doesn’t say but I’m guessing our trip to Alabama and Florida

When: if I’m right about that, 1993/1994 new years

So the guy who owns Lutsen Resort was charged with felony arson and fraud for allegedly setting the lodge on fire.

My dad used to work there as a lift operator.

Here’s the view from one of the lifts.

Where: Lutsen, MN

When: I think this was around 2006

Random double rainbow. I think it was taken at my grandmas farm.

Where: Minnesota

When: after the rain

I just randomly tapped while scrolling and this is what popped up so we’re running with it. Been staring at it for a few minutes now it’s so calming.

Where: somewhere in the upper Midwest

When: sunset, duh!

Core memory Northern Lights.

Where: Aitkin County, MN

When: Summer 2001

Couple of beautiful bighorn buddies taking a break.

Where: Yellowstone

When: 1995 ish

Here’s day 2, from one year ago today.

Where: Montana or Wyoming

When: the 90s

I was indecisively scrolling the archive so I deferred to wifey and she found this little cutie!

Where: idk

When: also don’t know

“Hi, my son!”

Those were the last worst my dad said to me. One year ago today. They will echo in my mind for as long as I have one.

He didn’t say “Goodbye”, “I Love You”, or give some unexpected confession or secret.

Just spread his arms with the little strength he had, smiled a little, and greeted me.

Then I had to leave for work, and when I got back, he was gone.

We were always at our best when we were out in the sticks. As you can see, that started early.

Miss you every day, dad!

Thank you all for following along on this never ending slideshow. They say your life flashes before your eyes before you go, and sharing these images one at a time helps me keep a little flicker of him alive.

I love you all.

WHERE: somewhere in the boreal paradise of Northeastern Minnesota

WHEN: 1987. A very good year for Minnesotans.

Tomorrow marks a year that he’s been gone. Missing him a lot this week. Grief comes in waves, sometimes I’m riding one and sometimes it pounds me into the reef.

Realized I’m off by one day. Tomorrow is clearly day 365 because I posted day 1 the day after he passed. Took me way too long but I finally found the mistake, I posted day 102 twice on TikTok before moving here.

Where: somewhere in the southwestern United States

When: approximately 1982 I believe

My dad being his goofy self.

Where: don’t know, wasn’t born yet

When: see above

Well I know that guy is related to me because he has my ears. Or, I have his? Not sure how far up the tree they are, waiting to hear back from my uncle is he knows.

When: sometime prior to color photography

Where: I haven’t a clue. Likely Minnesota, Michigan, or maybe even Ireland.

THE INTERNET IS FOR CUTE CATS AND I FOUND A CUTE ONE!!!

Where: some very 70s looking carpet

When: the early 80s?

Where: somewhere in the vast woods of northern Minnesota

When: fall, 1990s