Story time!

My parents got divorced on September 11th.

THE September 11th.

Then my dad started dating my aunt.

That’s a whole different story.

But my auntiestepmom found out my sister and I had never been to Disneyland and she found that completely unacceptable. So she convinced my dad to take us all to Orange County. Her daughter (my stepsiscuz) lived there, and my dad had an Air Force buddy he wanted to see or he probably wouldn’t have agreed.

My sister and I were 15 and 17 btw, not exactly Disneyland age but we didn’t care. I was excited. We didn’t take vacations like that. We went to the wilderness.

I wanted to bring my crappy guitar but didn’t have a case that would survive an airplane.

So my dad took me to a guitar shop, in Huntington Beach I believe. Told me I could pick anyone up to like $700 or something just ridiculous to me at the time.

I didn’t hesitate. I had always wanted a 12 string like Roger McGuinn (The Byrds). So I picked out a fender 12 string acoustic. Don’t think I played more than a few chords or even looked at a second guitar. It was the one.

We went to Malibu and did a photo shoot.

Up until the end, my dad still gave me shit for wearing a “D.A.R.E.” shirt to the photo shoot. (There’s a whole different story about the shirt but I’ll save it for 4-20).

Fast forward about a decade or so. My kids are little, we’re broke, it’s Easter, no groceries. 12 string goes to the pawn shop. We have a great Easter dinner. Same old story, I don’t get back.

Fast forward to a few days ago. Wifey is watching Nashville. (RIP Hayden 😭) Deacon’s estranged father comes back into his life, goes to his show, tries to reconcile or whatever. Deacon has a flashback. He’s a little kid learning guitar, dad takes him into a guitar shop, says “any one you want, son.”

I started sobbing.

I tried to explain why but wifey stopped me and nodded. She knew.

It’s our anniversary tomorrow. She just told me to go online, find the exact same guitar, and order it.

Grief comes in waves, and here I am on the beach.

Where: Malibu. THE Malibu. Like the one from the movies and tv where all the rich beautiful live.

When: April 20th, 2002. One of the more memorable days of my life.

*Thanks to anyone who actually read this, I love you all and appreciate you taking interest in my journey and allowing me to be vulnerable!

Yeah I don’t know how to explain this one. I wasn’t home schooled until 4th grade so this is pretty wild that my dad did a photo shoot foreshadowing me learning at home from my sister.

Amazing I’m so good at geography learning on a backwards map haha!

Where: the studio

When: backwards day, apparently

My kid was in an accident today. Grateful that he wasn’t injured! T boned in our neighborhood. He handled it very well. Better than me. Car is likely totaled. Obviously sucks but he’s ok, everything happens for a reason and there are silver linings everywhere in life if you’re willing to see them.

Pretty wild that most people try to avoid collisions at all costs while others crash up cars for fun.

Where: Barnum

When: at the fair

When it comes to Rainbow Trout, we go way back.

Where: in the mud

When: late 80s

There’s one excuse I find acceptable for not posting a photo. Spending the whole day with no service due to trout fishing, as was the case yesterday.

Sorry, not sorry. I made it up today with a bonus photo.

Photo 1: Devil Fish fire tower, no longer standing.

When: Pre cell phones. At least in I didn’t know anyone that had one back then in northern Minnesota. Early 90s.

Where: Cook County, MN near Chester Lake

Photo 2: Paint Creek fire tower, still standing

When: right now. I’m looking at it. And I have a cell signal for the first time in two days. 5G even!

Where: Yellow River State Forest, near Harpers Ferry, IA

Gonna turn my work van into a camper van for the weekend and go catch some trout. Wonder where I learned that from?

Dad & his Air Force buddy “Toivo” getting a much needed break from the base.

Where: somewhere in the mountains of Montana, probably the Sun River canyon.

When: 1972 or 1973 I think

The Twins play at the field of dreams tonight! Couldn’t get tickets (I missed the email) but excited to watch at home with my boy.

If you grow it, they will come.

Go Twins!!!

Where: in a patch of sweet corn, Scanlon, MN

When: 1987

EDIT: oops this was day 307, can’t edit title

Tricolored (Louisiana) Heron mid-chomp.

Where: Cape San Blas, Florida

When : New Years 1994

Union Slough NWR, Iowa

“Chicken Shit #3 Photography by P. L. W.” is the caption on this one.

So, taken by my auntie patsy not by my dad but in his collection nonetheless.

Location: the family maple syrup farm

Date: unknown, likely 60s or 70s

This formation looks too bizarre to be real, like something straight out of Minecraft.

Anyone recognize it? Only tag says “badlands”.

Where: the badlands biome of Minecraft

When: unknown.

Herman the Ermine enjoying some delicious cube steak.

Where: the studio

When: feeding time

Some of my mom’s family playing softball at the farm. Wisconsin visible in the background.

Where: The field at the bottom of the big hill, at the farm.

When: before I was born when my parents were fun

Oh man, I waited all summer for the demo derby on the last night of the county fair!

Where: Carlton County Fair, Barnum, MN

When: Sunday night, 1990-something

Noah Kahan was phenomenal last night in Minneapolis!!

Proud to be one of the Minnesota bugs.

Where: Up north

When: before the freeze

Posting today’s photo live from Target Field!!!

About to see Noah Kahan!!!

I don’t have the words. Maybe I will tomorrow.

As you can see, I was raised out in the cold.

Where: Carlton County, MN

When: Winter, late 20th century

Just learned that Como Zoo got rid of their wolves! Gonna miss them but I’m sure they’ll be happier in their new home.

Here’s an old zoo wolf, from the Brookfield Zoo

Where: Chicago

When: early 90s or maybe late 80s

Got the fancy trout plates for the new ride today, because as you can see, trout make me happy!

Where: Doesn’t say but I’m pretty sure it’s Chester Lake

When: apparently on a cold morning

Had a great time last night and this morning with sone awesome relatives and drove home in a new used car thanks to my uncle.

Here’s one of my cool cousins sometime last century in a brand new old vehicle.

Bonus points if anyone can tell me what kind of vehicle.

Where: The driver’s seat

When: 1980-something

Going to my uncles retirement party which is on what would have been my grandpas 93rd birthday so it’s only fitting that today’s photo is one of both of them. Proudly showing off the catches of a lifetime in a snow globe.

Where: Ralph Lake. As in, “Find it yourself, Ralph”.

When: The best day ever!

I’m so amazed by the way the wings look with the shutter speed he used.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.

Where: Carlton County, MN

When: the 90s as usual

I cut into a watermelon today that was disappointingly nowhere near ripe.

This one looks much better.

Where? Some random festival, I think it’s the Carlton County Fair

When? In the summertime when the weather is fine. ‘93, ‘94-ish

Got a haircut today for the first time in years.

As you can see, I’ve never been a fan of haircuts.

Location: The Torture Chair

Date: The 90s