u/Street-Ad7570

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

I was so happy when the loon called, then drifted between the sun and my telephoto lens this morning.

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

Three of us were in the queue for presale. I was the only one who got through. Hoped for four tickets but only got one. Immediately gave it to my oldest kid who introduced me to NK. (I still hear Dial Drunk in my head at the stoplight she first played it at)

I was sad I couldn’t go, but that’s being a dad. We sacrifice and live vicariously.

Then Father’s Day came. She gave me a heartfelt card, saying she appreciated me and everything I’ve done for her. Which is all I could hope for already.

Then I read the end.

She wanted me to have the ticket. Insisted I have the ticket.

Been trying for months to find more affordable tickets, as we all have. Got a text yesterday. They found two tickets reserved for an hour. Ecstatic, I clicked and added to cart.

Almost $800 for a pair. I could only afford obstructed nosebleeds at best, like most of us. Went through all the emotions in about 30 seconds.

The fam insisted I go and have the time of my life. So I did. I was nowhere near first in line at the gates but arrived right before they opened. I’ve been to Target field dozens of times, it’s my happy place, so I know the layout really well after 16 years. I dodged the crowds, went to the upper deck, and despite the odds found a merch table that was completely empty.

They had one hat.

It’s on my head.

I love you all so much, and I’m so proud to be part of this community.

I really wish my family was here, but I’m about to have the time of my life anyway.

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