Memories...

:ast night while I was struggling to fall asleep I started to look through pictures on Facebook (it's like a shoebox, but you don't have to climb through the basement to find it). I found myself reminiscing and remembering all the good times in my life. Particularly in High School. While I know that I complained about high school all the time while I was there, and I still occasionally complain about it now, the truth is I had wonderful times at Lone Peak. I grew and I made some of the best friends I have ever had. I struggled and I fought to become a better person. I am so grateful for the people that were there to make my experience as amazing as it was:

• Jonathan Ruesch: You always made me smile. It didn't matter how bad my day was going, you could make it better. Thank you.
• Michael Ruesch: You gave me something to shoot for. You were talented, and smart, and a genuine good person. When I felt that I wasn't good enough, I looked to you and tried to be like you. Thank you.
• Sierra Bottita: You helped me through some of my hardest times. I was able to tell you things that I couldn't tell anyone. You kept me sane and drove the car when I was emotionally compromised. Thank you.
• Jesse Pyne: You are the most amazing man. You have been with me for a long time. And even when other friends fell away, you were there. I love you so much and I am so excited to see where you are going to go and what you are going to do in your life. You helped make me who I am. Thank you.
• Randilee Warner:Best friend. Our relationship started out...rough. We struggled, but when we finally got through we found each other. And I am so glad that I have you. You are one of the few people who supports me as much as I support you. I am so grateful for that. I love you and miss you and I want you to come home!!! :)
• Matt White: I am not even going to say anything, because then I will start crying nobody wants that. Even though our friendship only last one year during high school, I don't think I could have survived that year or the year after without you. You are the best ever. Yep...you know the rest.

There are so many others, but these are the people that I see when I look back on my times at Lone Peak. I love you all!!

Ok, now for some elementary reminiscing...

I recently received a message from my elementary school best friend. He is a freshman in college like me and he is writing a memoir for one of his classes. As he has been writing it he was thinking about our friendship and how it came about and evolved. His message started me reminiscing and enjoying how easy life was back then. And the simple things that brought so much joy. For example, me and my friend wrote a song and commercial one day just out of the blue. Here is what I can remember of the script:

Man: (singing and staring out towards a beautiful woman) I see you far across the water! I see you looking back at me! (more lyrics I can't remember)
(As the man nears the woman she begins to sing and walk toward him)
Woman: (singing and staring at the man (but not really!)) Lyrics, Lyrics, Lyrics!
(The woman walks past the man and picks up a shiny new cell phone.)

The End.

I know! We were marketing and songwriting geniuses!!

Anyway, the point to all this is to remind you all that you didn't get here on your own. You had good moments and bad moments that helped you become who you are. Don't let those moments disappear. Take the time to remember them. And take the time to thank the people who made it possible. Memories are a good thing. Don't ignore them.