Recently, I've been spending a lot of long, lonely nights at work. When one is unhappy with their current station, and has time to let their mind wander, they tend to think of happy thoughts. Well, unless you're a total bummer. In that case, shape up! Life ain't so bad!
While thinking of these happy thoughts, it occurred to me that I have a lot of really happy, fond memories that are attached to, what seemed at the time anyway, inconsequential events. I'm sure everyone has these, and they are super fun to think about. Anyway, here are a couple of mine that popped up recently, please share yours in the comments and we'll all have a fun discussion.
- My dear friend Will and I were supposed to go see the band Ceremony on a Sunday evening. There was a noon Bears game that he came over to watch, and we were to head to the city afterward. It was November and the weather was just starting to turn, so it was chilly with what Tom Skilling would call a "wintry mix". For some reason, neither of us spoke much during the game, and it was almost as if both of us were nervous. Finally, as the 4th quarter was winding down, Will took a deep breath and said; "Hey, what if we don't go to this show...?"
I had never been so relieved to hear a question in my life. As I too, did not really want to go. I told him that I had been trying to figure out a way to ask the same thing, but we both thought the other REALLY wanted to go and didn't want to be a bummer. We laughed and then settled into the couches in my parents basement to watch football on that shitty November day. Like Americans.
This will always stick out as such a happy moment between me and my buddy. I'm not really sure why.
- There's an equally less thrilling story with this one. But for some reason it's just burned into my brain. It was the summer of 2010, and it was a gorgeous summer night in my friend Sam's garage. See, Sam's garage was clubhouse of sorts. For a lot of people all the way back to high school, for myself from the age of 18 until he moved to the city with his now wife in 2011.
Anyhow, it was a weeknight and Sam texted to see if I wanted to enjoy some cold beers. I arrived with some Shiner Bocks and a pack of smokes and we drank, and talked while Pat and Ron gave us the Cubs game as background music. Eventually our buddy Joe Legions arrived and more of the same went on until it was time to call it a night. The Cubs won, but it's not like it was an important game. We had a good time, but nothing significant happened. I can't tell you why I think on it so fondly, even down to remembering what kind of beer I brought over, but I always will. I've had so many good times, with big stories that involve hi-jinx, and way more people, but this one is what I'll always remember. This was the essence of why the garage was so great.
These are the two that have come to mind recently. Like I said they're not of REAL significance, but they're special to me. These little things are what make life worth living. I have a thousand more that I'm sure will come to mind, but for now, these will hold me over.
