If you were to have followed me around last weekend, you would have learned two things: 1) My life is a complete horrible mess, and 2) My life is truly a crazy, good and wonderful life.
I know most would say that my life doesn’t fit into the box of a true young professional lifestyle, but when you have encountered the young professionals that I have throughout the state of Iowa, it will make perfect sense why I decide to stay away from that box.
I never really cared, or understood, what it meant to be a young professional in Iowa until I walked into an office in Urbandale to interview for a photographer position for Iowa Nightlife. I met two guys named JD Nelson and Caleb Barber, who owned the company. During the interview and introductions, they made a promise to me that they both kept, which was that they would always be there for me. All that I needed to do was show up.
On Friday, JD celebrated turning 35 years old at Mickey’s Irish Pub in downtown Des Moines. I found myself sitting among a group of guys who have been making a name for themselves around the Des Moines area socially and in their individual professions. Although many people hold them in high regard, when it comes time to kick back and relax, nobody does it better than those guys.
I found myself pulling out of Des Moines later that night thinking something is missing.
I woke up Saturday with a text message from my best friend, Jeff Haldeman, telling me that the grill will be firing up at 5 p.m. It was truly a classic grill-out, filled with friends, food and fun. I have found the secret to how my group of friends has remained strong for about 20 years: We always get together to celebrate anything.
Even though we’re all older, it doesn’t mean we have grown up, because it was a day filled with trash talking during yard games and a moment that will be talked about for weeks. It’s a reminder that although the people who are involved in my 9 to 5 life are full of expectations and requirements, that ends when your walking up the driveway for a relaxing evening grilling out with friends.
I pulled out of the driveway, after the grill-out, thinking something is still missing.
I woke up on Sunday and headed to church. My pastor gave a sermon on limitations. It was about a conversation she was having with a friend about God. Pastor Jessica thought her friend was wrong, and her friend thought Jessica was wrong, which lead to the conclusion that both of them were doing the same thing: putting their own limitations on God. It lead to the conclusion that God is limitless, even though we limit him.
The sermon didn’t make perfect sense until I stopped by Capitol II Theatre to watch “Moms’ Night Out” followed by the graduation ceremony of Newton Senior High School Class of 2014.
The greatest thing about the movie “Moms’ Night Out” is that its truly a funny movie. The message was amazing how sometimes in life we limit and give outstanding expectations to ourselves, because we feel it’s what we need to do. It’s an amazing movie to be able to laugh about life for a little more than 90 minutes.
I went to graduation thinking, “When I was a senior, these kids were getting into the pool to compete in swimming.” It made me feel old, but it was great to know that I could have that one last moment with this class as seniors. The speeches were amazing, but the speech by Ryan Rosenquist made me smirk because that class motto applies to the individuals set to come Newton for the annual alumni weekend.
I walked out of graduation thinking that, "I have a pretty amazing life," but it made me question what's going to happen to me when I get old and admit it. I have to admit it did get me down a bit, but I went to check my Facebook page to find my seasoned friends were getting together for some fun.
This reunion made me know that my "Crazy, Good and Wonderful Life" weekend was ending on a perfect note because it was Monday with all of us knowing that Tuesday was going to be a painful day. This weekend will live on in my heart, and that I never have too far to go to find that feeling again.
I knew that beginning this week meant my days would be filled with work and continuing my Madden win streak against Ty Rushing, but my nights will always be reserved for living that crazy good wonderful life filled with completely new adventures.