The highlights of your life

I dunno what is in the air today, but today I?m feeling somewhat retrospective. I posted a few messages on MonctonLocals.Com which lead me to this posting today. I was thinking about road trips and some of the interesting things that have happened and some of the highlights of them. It got me to thinking about some of the bigger highlights of my life. I?m not one to brag or talk myself up. Anyone who knows me knows I have virtually no ego, but today, I?m thinking back on some of the stuff I?ve seen and done, and am feeling pretty proud of it all. So, I?m gonna share some of my more memorable highlights in a rant. A lot of what I?ll post here can be seen in other spots, but I need to write today, so here it goes.

What are some of the more memorable things in your life? I?m referring to typically good things.

In 1989, me and J.C. getting the guts up to walk into Alexander?s park to hang out with two girls we didn?t know. Tamara & Valerie.

In 1991, me, Jason, Chris, and Dave G all won the ?most original dance? at a dance at the coliseum. The prize was a limo for the night. We drove around town like rock stars and even went through the drive through at McDonald?s where Andrea was surprised as hell to see Chris?s head pop out of the limo to order a sundae.

In 1995, I was a huge fan of Faith No More. That year, I got to interview the keyboard player for VAJ magazine. I was so nervous my hands were shaking when I dialed the number to the hotel. I also got to meet him, as well as the drummer when me and Chris went to see them play live in Toronto. I can remember being so excited and not wanting anything to get in my way of seeing these guys play live. No concert will ever match that show.

In 1996, me and Cheez went to see David Letterman in NYC. I remember being at the theatre at 11:10am and being the first people there, but just barely making it in time. We sat down and it wasn?t 10 minutes later, and people started to show up. I remember being so happy that we got front row seats and being too chicken shit to put my moose slippers on until after the first guest had already been on. I wish I had put them on and Dave had seen them. How that would have been cool.

In 1988, being told by my friend Paul that he had asked the D.J. to dedicate a slow song to me and Denise L. Denise was, for all intents and purposes, my first love, and I had never even slow danced in my entire life. I remember being so nervous that I could barely speak. I have virtually no memory of the dance because I was so nervous.

In 1994, finally going to visit my dad in Edmonton after not having seen him for 9 years. This was my first trip back to Edmonton since moving to Moncton, and it was very emotional for me. It was an excellent trip though.

In 1985, being awarded the ?student of the year? award at Overlander?s elementary school. I had been a very large part of that school?s activities while I was there and I was really surprised to get the award. I think I still have it in box somewhere.

In 1984, my mom helped me sell 113 pairs of shoelaces to help me win the portable tv set that was the top prize at school. I remember the fact that the principal would not let me take it home by myself because he thought I might get beat up and have it stolen so he had the secretary drive me home from school so I?d be safe.

In 1985, I walked into my grade 7 home room and was told that ?The kindergarten classrooms are downstairs?. I proceeded to tell my teacher that I WAS in grade 7 and showed her my papers to prove it.

In 1987, some strange kid followed me home from school and we ended up being good friends. Remember that J.C.?

Throwing an IRC party at mom?s place that ended up with more than 70 people there and seeing the mountain of shoes in the back porch.

Playing my first gig with Rounded Edges @ Moncton High and being so nervous about going out on stage but not caring because I was going to have a good time and enjoy it. This of course resulted in the infamous decapitation of Bob.

Putting Bob together in mom?s basement with J.C. Who knew he?d still be with me today after all these years.

Getting the call from IBM telling me that I got the job. I was totally speechless and had no idea how I was going to get there or how I would handle working so far away from Moncton.

Kate?s EBCI grad party where everyone but me and John got drunk and we burned poor Kate?s picnic table.

Hanging the huge EBCI SAYS DING sign in downtown Saint John for the entire city to see

Jumping out of an airplane at 3000 feet and seeing what Moncton looked like from the air, with no one but myself to control how I landed.

Meeting Mike Patton at a Mr. Bungle concert and being so shy about asking for an autograph.

Burning the pizza pouches from Greco at a staff party

Taking 3 weeks in 1997 to drive from Moncton to Los Angeles, by myself. Seeing all of the different places and experiencing all of that by myself was truly an amazing experience. There?s no way I could do that now so I am so glad I just took a deep breath, and went for it.

Buying a house with Tamara knowing that it was all good and it was just right for us.

There are so many more memories I have that I sometimes wonder if I shouldn?t just sit back and write them all down.