Things that take 25 years to accomplish.

1. Becoming a Seth Duncan.
2. Learning that people are just kids inside.
3. Watching 2001: A Space Odyssey
4. Learning the best ways to annoy your sister.
5. Getting Oscar the Grouch to stop haunting your dreams.

I have a few memories of living on O’Neal.  I remember standing by the back door, teasing our dog, Scottie, and not letting him inside.  I remember playing in the unfinished basement with my airplanes.  I remember sneaking into my Dad’s music-room to play the drums.  There were little bugs that would come in near the window in the basement, and I’d call them ‘my friends’ and sometimes squish them.  My first power-trip, I think.  I narrowly escaped becoming an evil dictator.  I remember hanging out with Blake, playing in the sandbox in the back yard, and hiding from the airplanes that flew over every couple of minutes.  I remember how scary the weather looked on April 26th, of 1991.

I remember moving to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a few months, being closer to my friend “Ben”, going to his house and playing games on his Nintendo, or Sega, or whatever it was he had.  I think he even had the first internet connection I ever saw, something with the original “Prodigy” protocol.

I remember our house in Topeka, finishing the basement, having my little secret room under the stairway where I’d sit with my tape player listening to the Lion King soundtrack and trying to play along with my Recorder.  I remember endless arguments with Cassie and Mom, camping in the basement, listening to DC Talk.  I remember the douchebag that cut my zip-line cord and knocked over my teepee I hand built because I put his Christmas tree (which he dumped in our yard) back in his yard.  I remember having a huge crush on Erin Wallace, buying her a necklace, taking her on a date, and promptly having to move away.  I also remember she wrote me letters for a long time after that.  I’m not sure I ever wrote back.  Sorry Erin.

I remember starting at Maize, learning quickly what acne was, and I’m almost 100% positive that me and AJ Peterson invented the “Hoodie”.  We definitely invented the “Coatie”.  We got in trouble for it, had to stay in for recess.  A few of the people I met at this point in my life have become lifelong friends.  I remember leaving Central Community Church and starting New Live Covenant with Kit, getting to be great friends with Cyle and Brice.  I remember getting to know Justin Mayer, Lance Ochsner, Adam, Jason, Kyle, and tons of others.  I remember being fascinated by guitars.  I also remember Kim Dickey calling me a Lobster.  Not sure I’ve fully recovered from that, just yet.

I remember middleschool being terrifying.  We weren’t lead to classes anymore.  We had to find our own way.  I remember Ralph and I goofing off in band class.  I think we, along with the percussionists (who would later become my best friends), silently (or not) drove Mr. McGinty to become a hippy.  I remember Ralph and I having a ‘radar’ that would beep when hot girls got close.  Some of those girls became good friends later, and I still haven’t told them about that.  I remember being good at track & field.

I remember how different highschool felt from middleschool.  I remember realizing that my side-part haircut, relentless windbreaker use, and awkward social interaction was starting to get me nowhere. I remember Christmas break of my freshman year, changing my closet, my attitude, and my friends.  This is when I got close to Aaron, Casey, Josh, and several others.  I remember the Beige Party.  I remember leading worship for Tuesday Morning Fellowship, Tuesday Night Worship at our church, and I remember thinking the world was coming to an end when I didn’t get my homework done.  I remember where I was on 9/11, which teachers cancelled class and watched the news, which teachers forced us to have a math lesson, and I remember the gasps as the buildings collapsed.  I remember spending hours out at Amber’s house, canoeing around the lakes, trying desperately to hit a golfball across their lake, and finally succeeding.

I remember Xanga.

I remember meeting Naomi at Tuesday Morning Fellowship.  I remember accidentally hitting her in the back during our picture time for the yearbook.  I remember flirting incessantly, dropping cinnamon twists on most of her family, accidentally punching her in the face on one of our first dates, and crying in front of her for the first time.  When my 300zx got stolen and eventually returned. I remember driving home in my Stealth, super proud of it.  I remember joining 3si.org and meeting Jason, Sean, Todd, and several others.

I remember hating WSU.

I remember loving ORU.

I remember loathing coming back to WSU from ORU.

I remember borrowing $50 from Jason before I really knew him, and taking 6 months to pay him back.  I remember thinking it was weird that he was cool with me moving in later on as a roommate.  I remember being so proud that I moved out on my own, had a full-time job, and was making my own ends meet.  I remember Cassie spazzing out for a few months, but calming down.  I remember mom and dad spazzing out and getting divorced.  I remember driving back home after mom told me, trying to stay on the road, and the dreaded drive back over in the morning so I could watch Dad tell Cassie what was going on.  I remember laying on the sofa, not talking, for hours.

I remember moving again.  Buying a raft, learning not to ride a bike down the middle of traintracks, I remember how terrifying it was the first time I woke up at 2am to hear a train coming, thinking I was going to get run down.  I remember getting my airsoft gun, buying my first CDJ’s, and watching Cassie shock herself with a shock-collar.  I remember when I used to go to school for Free.

I remember proposing to Naomi, her flipping out, and going home to tell everybody.  I especially remember calling each of my groomsmen to ask them if they’d be in my wedding.

I remember wishing that instead of editing our video, I would have gotten up early and gone to play frisbee with my groomsmen the day of the wedding.  I remember Mat letting me drive his Mustang away, I remember the awesome reception, and how people to this day still tell us it was one of the best weddings they’d ever been too.

I remember the Bahamas, Naomi’s wind-boat-shoe fiasco, and the people we ate dinner with on the cruise.  I remember moving her into our house, trying to finish music school, missing Toad like crazy, joining a band, DJ’ing frequently, and generally doing all the things I’ve always wanted to do, save only a few.

I remember buying my first motorcycle, watching my wife and my sister systematically destroy it, repairing it, and trying to sell it.