Turbulent, is how I’d describe 2024. Most of that was my own doing. I signed up for some challenges and put the pressure on myself to really see them through. Some were purely for fun. Others, a necessity to move my life in the direction I want.
I launched my Substack 224 days ago to help with both. I wrote my first post as a reminder to document more regularly. The intention was to revisit that post in 4 months and see what I accomplished. An accountability tool to put my money where my mouth is. I’m writing this on January 2nd, so my retrospection is a little late… but I’m happy with my 365 days in 2024. I accomplished a lot, learned more, and created experiences I’m proud of. What’s in store for 2025?
A trip home for Christmas gave me a glimpse. I got some ideas for the future by digging up the past. My hometown is small and quiet. Nothing really changes. There are buildings that predate the American Revolution.
Four days in a place that never changes can be a challenge. I try to spend it well and find new ways to pass time. I texted my brother a few days before I arrived, asking if we still had those old compound bows in the garage. We dug through dust and mounds of gear, tools, and parts we didn’t even know were still there. We brought the bows out of a long hibernation, went out to the front yard, hung a heavyweight bag on a tree branch, and put some arrows into it. I can recall exactly one time I’ve shot that bow… close to 10 years ago, so I took a few pointers from my younger brother.
“Dude, what am I aiming at?” I asked as I stared down the black punching bag we dragged out of the garage.
“Uh, I guess just aim for the letters in the middle”.
We let a few fly, stepping further back each time to see how much we really sucked. We ended at an unknown yardage when I sent one into the base of the tree. A couple laughs and a brisk walk through snowcapped woods followed. I forgot how nice it was to just wander in nature with no agenda… something we hadn’t done since we were kids.
Mercedes 300TD
We put the bows back and stopped to admire my favorite gem in the garage: my future car.
It’s a glorified tractor engine in a station wagon… Slow as shit… The radio and AC didn’t even work when I drove it in high school… but it’s perfect. I walked into the house to announce my yearly reminder, “Dad, don’t sell it until I have a chance to bring it out west. I’ll buy it from you.”
“Dude, you really want that thing? You can have it”.
That’s been his response every time I bring it up, but I have to make my intentions known. I know he has no other plans for it… Doesn’t even want my money for it, but I’ll be buying it for 2 reasons:
I love old vehicles. It’s a sickness, really.
It was my grandfather’s car, and the only one of his whole collection that stayed with the family after his passing. I’ve written about my grandpa before. He was the master of machines, and my idol. For that reason alone, I would pay well over market price for it.
When I landed at the airport, my dad picked me up. We stopped to pick up Chinese food, then drove 45 minutes home. On my best day, I’m not much of a talker. Even less so after a 5 hour flight… so I was happy to do most of the listening. The drive turned into stories about my grandpa, how they used to drive into Chinatown at midnight all the time. Stories of his fabled Porsche 930… a seized hub that caught fire in an old Shelby… how he taught my dad to to drive stick in a Ferrari. My dad recalls those moments with such reverence. I can listen to that shit all day.
So yes, some people might just see an old yellow Mercedes. I see a diesel wagon carrying a legacy, and I’ve yet to imagine something that could make me pass that up. It needs some all-terrains and a fly rod holder, for sure. Then my grandkids can talk about how we took a Mercedes station wagon on a cross-country fly fishing tour. Or into NYC for a Chinatown midnight run.
2025
Dusty compound bows and a 45 year old car… old, stagnant things I rediscovered, both likely to play a part in my 2025. I know as much about archery as I do about German diesels: zero. So it should be fun.
In the meantime, a trip to Zion with
for a quiet New Year’s Eve was the best start to 2025 I could ask for. Not sure what’s lined up for this next year, but I’ll figure it out.
Photos:
Keep putting chips on the table. Even if they’re only $1.
See you out there.
Glad you’re looking forward to the year. I’ll let dad know you’re willing to pay over market. 🤭
Love your writing! I'm from NJ as well but live in southeast utah with my husband who also has the same "sickness" of loving old vehicles, haha. So, this post caught my attention in many ways. And definitely made me hungry 😅