Adventures in recollection:

I’ve been planning this entry since appx mid may when I realized that my summer was going to be amazing.  I wanted to capture it somehow.  It made me think about going back into old photo albums, old piles of letters, or through old blogs and feeling connected to a part of your life you lived one or more years ago.  So I decided to chronicle as many wonderful moments from my 2009 summer as I could in spare journals, on slips of paper or in the back of my mind.  So, I honestly apologize if a moment gets missed but I tried my very best.  Here’s a look back at the halcyon days, or my summer 2009:

  • Carl and I deciding it would be a good idea after getting invited to show up to Laura Dyste’s bonfire completely wasted.  For no other reason than we decided it’d be a good one.  Oh, and we walked all the way there from Carl’s house.  Good times.
  • Visiting Dit’s cabin in Wisconsin.  It felt like a little piece of my heart has a permanent residence on that lake and my life feels one ounce more complete each time I visit.  A wonderful weekend filled with Max, Ceda, uncle Bob’s pontoon boat tours, seeing Cole and Isaac grow up, bitterness over the lack of beer truck in the Mercer 4th of July parade, getting rained on by debris from the fireworks display, the young nieces and nephews in all their adorable glory, and a slab of prime rib as big as the plate it was served on.
  • The 135 long comment convo between bingethinker, the gospel of thomas, derek was here, and blogless michelle.  :)
  • An adventure to Chicago in late June.  Max and I walked in Out of the Darkness, a walk to spread awareness about suicide and raise money for suicide prevention.  The energy on that night was full of healing and positivity.  An honor to walk in the company of such resilient people.  Met friends Shonna (sp?) and Stephanie.  Also in the weekend, I went to the taste of Chicago with fellow Loyolacappellans Kara, Matt and Oliver.  Earlier that day Kara watched me shower.  I didn’t know you had stalker tendencies toward me Kara.  That morning I lounged on the beach for 2+ hours, read, and got joined by Atra.  That girl is inspiring.  The previous night were full of antics.  Here’s a sampling: Derek drunk in CFSU at 10 p.m.  Getting Lauren Paris on video doing fake tap dancing.  Sneaking into Mullady and watching Lauren rehearse her song on a blank stage for an audition she had the following day.  It was a striking memory.
  • Bubblefest.  My first black out.  Whilst blacked out I decided it would be a good idea to “find the girls” so they could hook up with my friends.  Also, The baby police+sleeping shorts+Skull and cross bones tree+brat barn+ Yusuke+Rodeo burgers+ I got balls stick em+ Where do i get off????  Carl and Chad.  You are amazing guys.
  • Seeing HP6 in 3D at the Imax.  Absolutely breathtaking.
  • Hot tubbing at Mike’s house.  We used to do this a lot more and I miss it.  We smoked cigars, drank a few beers and talked about life.  This guy will always hold a place in my heart.  He’s taught me many things.
  • Apple River.  Singing “What I’ve Been Looking For”.  Getting trashed in about 30 minutes and then deciding it’d be a good idea to touch the far shore of the Apple River, which I then did.  I then took a nap at about 4 p.m. Those succulent burgers.  Carl and Chad getting “the best hot wings on the face of the earth” from the hick who had the campsite next to us.  Peter falling asleep at 10 p.m. and telling us to wake him up in 15 minutes, which we forgot to do.  Feeling supported in the strongest and most silent way by my best friends.
  • Colonial Youth.  I volunteered at my church a few times this summer to help out with the youth group.  Highlights were Man Fest, a night where all the male youth got together for a night of white castle, vault, halo 3 link ups, and nerf wars.  Let me just clarify.  FUCKING NERF WARS.  Epic battles were had, all in the name of Jesus.  Does this sound like some sort of fantasy movie to anyone else?  Also there was the all nighter for Crash, a Wednesday night youth group.  We played a game called Grog, where me and two other leaders dressed up as monsters and lurked in the dark church while the kids tried to collect pieces of their magical lanterns which they could use to shine on us to slay us grog.  Many screams, elaborate grog plans and eventual kid victory were had.
  • So Carl, Chad and I had a seance.  Ya nbd.
  • Jack and I went camping in the yard of our new house when we hadn’t moved in yet.  He told me about his secret girlfriend Betsy (he’s not allowed to date until he’s in high school) and we had KFC.  Epic.
  • Watching and reveling in the entire Saw series with Chad.  (Saw VI halloween ’09!!)
  • Reviving the Dungeons and Dragons tradition with Max, Jack and Ceda.  Don’t bash the nerdiness, DnD rocks.
  • Mom’s wedding.  My mom got married this past July to Bill Bieber.  Upon their union we welcome Kerri, Kristi and Jimmy into our family as step siblings.  The day before the wedding, all the children of the couple went out on lake Minnetonka and had a boat cruise laden with vodka tonics.  Singing at my mom’s wedding was an honor and her tears were worth all the long years I’ve spent in lessons and the practice room.
  • Toasting my mom at her wedding.  What an honor.
  • Jumping off the dock into Lake Minnetonka and just laying there for about 10 minutes.  So serene.
  • The Garden Party.  Two days ago I had a fancy hampton’s-esque garden party.  It was really just an excuse to dress up, drink and play croquet.  We beared our souls, danced to P.Y.T., stood in the rain and talked to God, and ate way too much food.  I love my friends.
  • Watching the Swiss Family Robinson with Ceda and Laura.  ”It would be nice to be called roberter again!”  :)
  • Deciding I’m going to backpack through Southeast Asia after I graduate.  Both my step sister and my step brother in law have done it and they got me extremely pumped up for it.  Mekong river basin, here I come!

Well those are all the memories that made the list.  I hope I didn’t forget anything, because if I didn’t remember it then it probably will go on being forgotten!  I thank God for all the blessings in my life.  Here’s to the next adventure, and the next horizon!  My blog will start to live up to its name again as I can resume my adventures in chicagoland.  Thanks for the good times Minnesota!

Alex “I’ve moved places of residence 5 times in the past 2 years” Halverson

Advertisement