Last night I had a conversation that I won't soon forget with some really good friends. Both of these friends now live in much different places than Forest City -- one in a big city and the other in a foreign country. But for an evening we were reunited in our hometown and I discovered that our journeys over the last few years had brought all of us to a very similar place in life.
Questioning our surroundings. Questioning our beliefs. But finding confirmation of the incredible complexity and beauty of life in the everyday, simple occurrences that have presented themselves to us.
We talked about religion, spirituality, sexuality, high school and college memories, plans for the future and much more....it was a refreshingly open conversation.
All 3 of us grew up as strong to "medium-strong" Christians but I think all of us agreed that our experiences in life had created lots of questions regarding our childhood faith.
Two of us probably would no longer classify our beliefs as Christian, while one of us was still confident in Christianity but similarly confident about the validity of other beliefs.
We put down a couple bottles of red wine over the course of the evening, ate some pistachios, listened to John Mayer, Keane and La Roux, and read a David Sedaris story. The TV was never turned on.
Shortly after midnight, my friends left for their parent's houses.
They will soon be traveling to places far away from Forest City to enjoy their own journeys. At least for a while, though, we were able to inhabit the same place -- long enough to realize that our journeys were bringing us closer, even as we began to travel away from each other once again.
"Life may scatter us and keep us apart; it may prevent us from thinking very often of one another; but we know that our comrades are somewhere "out there" - where, one can hardly say - silent, forgotten, but deeply faithful. And when our path crosses theirs, they greet us with such magnificent joy, shake us so gaily by the shoulders! Indeed we are accustomed to waiting." --- antoine saint exupery, 'wind, sand and stars'
Enjoy the ride,
Damm
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays!
Well, golly, what a year it’s been for Josh – lots of changes.
In January of 2009, Josh made a career change and began working for Lichtsinn Motors in Forest City as their Marketing & Special Events Director. It has been a challenging new position and he has learned a lot about the car and RV industry in a short time period.
February brought about a relationship status modification on Facebook – from “In a Relationship” to “Single.” And while my friend Joshua felt like staying on the couch for a couple of years without moving except to go to the fridge for cold beer and deli meats, by June he had regained his wits and was ready to start leaving his parent’s house again.
March included a trip to Alabama for Josh. He agreed to conclude the season as the Waldorf men’s golf coach even as he began his new position at Lichtsinn Motors (which, by the way, is a great place to buy a new or used vehicle at an unbeatable price!) and the team’s spring break trip took them to the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama. It was a great week of golf and camaraderie for Josh and his players.
During April through July he was busy training for his triathlons. In May he placed 3rd overall at the Mason City sprint triathlon and in June he completed two Olympic distance triathlons (.9 mile swim, 24 mile bike and 6.2 mile run). The first was at TRINONA in Winona, Minn., and the second was in Rochester, Minn. At Rochester, he improved his time by 22 minutes – finishing the race in 2 hours and 47 minutes!
When he wasn’t busy working out, Josh went to a Keane (his favorite band) concert in Minneapolis, hung out with friends in Okoboji, St. Paul, Des Moines and Mankato, and played some golf.
August was an epic month. Josh went to Boston and Cape Cod with his friend Chris Fitzgerald. At Cape Cod, Josh and Chris went to see their buddy Dan Wellik coach in the prestigious Cape Cod league. A good time was had by all. Only a few lobsters survived.
Two half marathons, his cousin Megan’s wedding, a 100-mile bike ride, and the purchase/renovation of a townhouse (104 Sweetgrass Lane) in Forest City consumed the fall months for Josh.
And then, in November, Josh met me in Peru. We had a magical week of Pisco Sours (a strong but tasty alcoholic drink), delicious cebiche (raw fish marinated in citrus juices), and sightseeing in the capital city of Lima. Josh stayed with the family of Andres Baertl (one of his former Waldorf golfers) during the trip. I made the monumental decision of going back to the States with Josh at the end of his week in Peru and life has been great ever since.
We had a great Thanksgiving with Josh’s family and are looking forward to more Holidays together.
It has truly been a wonderful year for Josh and 2010 is going to be even better. To follow along with Josh’s adventures, check out his blog at http://thedammjourney.blogspot.com.
As for me, I’m just happy to be a part of Josh’s life now and I hope you’ll all be able to meet me sometime soon. I occupy the 6th floor of the IKEA bookshelf in Josh’s townhouse.
Once again, Happy Holidays,
Pedro
Well, golly, what a year it’s been for Josh – lots of changes.
In January of 2009, Josh made a career change and began working for Lichtsinn Motors in Forest City as their Marketing & Special Events Director. It has been a challenging new position and he has learned a lot about the car and RV industry in a short time period.
February brought about a relationship status modification on Facebook – from “In a Relationship” to “Single.” And while my friend Joshua felt like staying on the couch for a couple of years without moving except to go to the fridge for cold beer and deli meats, by June he had regained his wits and was ready to start leaving his parent’s house again.
March included a trip to Alabama for Josh. He agreed to conclude the season as the Waldorf men’s golf coach even as he began his new position at Lichtsinn Motors (which, by the way, is a great place to buy a new or used vehicle at an unbeatable price!) and the team’s spring break trip took them to the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama. It was a great week of golf and camaraderie for Josh and his players.
During April through July he was busy training for his triathlons. In May he placed 3rd overall at the Mason City sprint triathlon and in June he completed two Olympic distance triathlons (.9 mile swim, 24 mile bike and 6.2 mile run). The first was at TRINONA in Winona, Minn., and the second was in Rochester, Minn. At Rochester, he improved his time by 22 minutes – finishing the race in 2 hours and 47 minutes!
When he wasn’t busy working out, Josh went to a Keane (his favorite band) concert in Minneapolis, hung out with friends in Okoboji, St. Paul, Des Moines and Mankato, and played some golf.
August was an epic month. Josh went to Boston and Cape Cod with his friend Chris Fitzgerald. At Cape Cod, Josh and Chris went to see their buddy Dan Wellik coach in the prestigious Cape Cod league. A good time was had by all. Only a few lobsters survived.
Two half marathons, his cousin Megan’s wedding, a 100-mile bike ride, and the purchase/renovation of a townhouse (104 Sweetgrass Lane) in Forest City consumed the fall months for Josh.
And then, in November, Josh met me in Peru. We had a magical week of Pisco Sours (a strong but tasty alcoholic drink), delicious cebiche (raw fish marinated in citrus juices), and sightseeing in the capital city of Lima. Josh stayed with the family of Andres Baertl (one of his former Waldorf golfers) during the trip. I made the monumental decision of going back to the States with Josh at the end of his week in Peru and life has been great ever since.
We had a great Thanksgiving with Josh’s family and are looking forward to more Holidays together.
It has truly been a wonderful year for Josh and 2010 is going to be even better. To follow along with Josh’s adventures, check out his blog at http://thedammjourney.blogspot.com.
As for me, I’m just happy to be a part of Josh’s life now and I hope you’ll all be able to meet me sometime soon. I occupy the 6th floor of the IKEA bookshelf in Josh’s townhouse.
Once again, Happy Holidays,
Pedro
Saturday, December 19, 2009
You Can Change or Stay the Same
As winter blows its cold breath across the cornfields of Iowa, my body and mind enter a type of hibernation period each year.
The bike rides of summer are replaced with shorter jaunts on my basement trainer. The enjoyable 10-mile runs of July are replaced with the nearly unbearable repetition of the treadmill. Swims in lakes are replaced with lap after lap after lap in the YMCA pool.
And for me, the blissful days of being outside as much as possible are replaced with nights on the couch watching movies contemplating life and plans for the year ahead.
A few days ago I watched "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" for the second time and was once again struck by a scene in which Benjamin Button leaves his family to start all over.
In the movie, we learn that growing younger (even staying the same age) is really a curse. Humans were designed to grow old. And growing old is a blessing.
But growing old doesn't mean we have to stay the same. We can change.
---
Right now, as I type, I'm watching the Ford Ironman World Championships on TV. It's a call for me. Toward 2010. Toward my 70.3 Half Ironman in June. Toward change.
The sessions on the bike trainer will need to get longer. The treadmill and cold runs outside will need to become more bearable. The lap after lap after lap will need to turn to lap after lap after lap after lap...
"For what it's worth, it's never too late...to be whoever you want to be."
The Ironman continues on TV right now and it's screaming at me to get going. To be who I want to be.
Spring is never as far away as we think.
Even during the cold, dreary months of an Iowa winter.
Enjoy the ride,
Damm
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