OT: Linear Moments in Life

Submitted by Winchester Wolverine on

This is my story and how it (figuratively) coincides with Michigan's recent Final Four run. This may be a "MGothreadworthy?" but it's a "cool story bro" nonetheless. So, if you're into the latter quoted, read on...

Have you ever made a decision on a whim? A life-changing, love crazed leap into thin air? It's liberating, it really is. And it's also reckless and irresponsible. It's living life on the edge. Have you ever walked that thin line?

March 29, 2013. It was really cold that morning. A thin layer of frost covered everything, including the road I took on my way to Dayton Airport. Funny thing is, in a mere 8-12 hours I'd be experiencing the other extreme in temperature. I was headed to Los Angeles. I'm 20 years old and I've never even seen a plane up close and in person. And I'm doing it alone.

What a day to pick. Michigan was to play #1 seed Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. And Trey Burke alone would become a real hero in the eyes of Michigan fans across the country in what became to be known as "The Shot"

I'm no real hero, but I sure felt like one, clumsily but confidently finding my way through O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. My overlay flight would take off in an hour or so, so I desperately searched for a TV with CBS airing the game. No such luck. I missed the game of my life while talking to a stranger I had met aboard the plane. She was headed to L.A. too. After some aimless chit-chating, the woman gave me her card which I tossed in my pocket and almost immediately forgot about it. I had more important things on my mind.

When the ball left Trey's hand, it spun in what seemed like a wormhole, it happened so fast. Just like that, the Wolverines we're going to take the game. You could FEEL it. That ball could have spun at less than a one degree angle in any other direction and the result would have been that disappointing loss we had but a microsecond to prepare for when Trey put the team on his back. 'Cause that's what he did when he took "The Shot". He put the world on his back when he let that ball go. Man...

That's life on the edge.

LAX is big. Bigger than the cornfields and cow shit of the 50,000 persons population of Mercer County , Ohio. But yet, it's where I found the girl I was in the City of Angels for in the first place. An almost comical clechie of a tale of love that led me to visit her for a few days across the country. And the first thing I said was,

"Where's the nearest sports bar?"

I had missed it, but I watched replay after replay after replay. The athletic motion of off-balance shooting, the alpha male-esque scream that captured the moment after the ball had made an improbable, perfect trajectory.

I had chills that lasted for days.

Before I knew it, it was almost over. My 3rd day there was to be my last. I had such a good time. Palm trees and mountains are a big change of scenery. Of course I was fully invested in my time there, but I also kept Michigan's next game in the back of my mind...

It didn't stay there for long. Turns out, that same night, I would take my own "Shot" and do something insane. I would throw my life in the air and hope for that perfect swish. That night, with the weight of my own world on my back, (a mere bag of clothes and 1000 dollars cash) I would decide to stay. I would decide to leave everything behind. My family, friends, everything, to be have a shot at something better than the dead end life I watch all those around me create for themselves. I would live on the edge.

Those chills would continue for months.

By Michigan's Final Four game against the Orange of Syracuse, I'd have my first job in L.A. Welding, and making more money than I've ever made in Ohio. Credit that to the woman who gave me her card at the airport in Chicago. She was a job recruiter. How perfect?

Only fitting that the Wolverines would make it all the way to the National Championship. Play like Hell, like Victors.

But come short.

Only fitting that I would too. After a year, my improbable run came to an end. And I found myself back in Ohio at square one. Nothing to show for my amazing, however reckless, decisions. Nothing but memories made and a hell of a story to tell.

The Wolverines hadn't brought home the trophy. But came back with a story's weight in gold. One that will be told forever. I guess life is linear like that sometimes. I guess life is hard. But I'm rebuilding. Just like my Wolverines. Strengthening ourselves for another run at something big. However next time, it won't be so improbable.

Comments

Winchester Wolverine

January 25th, 2015 at 4:14 PM ^

I know! I so badly wished I could have caught it! But yes, I watched the Florida game and screamed "GO BLUE, BABY!" probably a million times. My new roomates thought I was nuts! And well, she got a job in San Diego. I couldn't afford to follow her again, and I couldn't live in California without her, so I made the tough choice to come home. It was fun while it lasted!

M-Dog

January 25th, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^

That really is a cool story, bro.  And well written.

I heard some advice from an old guy once that I liked that seems relvant to your story:

In your 20's, risk all you can,

In your 30's, learn all you can,

In your 40's, earn all you can,

In your 50's, lead all you can,

In your 60s, teach all you can.

You did what you did at the perfect time.  You will hit a point in your life where you can never do that kind of thing again.  As time goes by, you will be more and more glad you did what you did.

 

Winchester Wolverine

January 25th, 2015 at 11:34 PM ^

Thanks, man. That really is some good advice! Where I'm from, people never leave. It drives me crazy. There's so much world out there to explore. I learned so much about culture and diversity in the time I spent there. I will never regret it although it didn't work out in the end. The conservative folk around here laugh and make fun of me for it, but in the end, I can at least say I tried.

Winchester Wolverine

January 27th, 2015 at 10:20 AM ^

I tried to keep it short and sweet so you guys wouldn't lose interest halfway through. But, well, it was a grind. L.A. isn't all the glamor and fashion it's copped out to be. Sometimes I found myself in precarious situations, which although I'm accustomed to it, I definitely wasn't in Ohio anymore. For the most part, I loved it. When my welding gig started slowing down, I found a job (ironically) waiting tables for a small, family owned authentic Italian restaurant called the Cafe Italiano. During that time my girlfriend was looking for work that pertaining to movie make-up and effects. She managed to find work at a cafe across the street from the one I worked at called The Honey Badger. After tons of exploring and awesome experiences that would take me days to write, she finally found what she was looking for in SD. It was a sad day for me when I realized the deal didn't include me and she wasn't going to go because of it, but I wasn't going to hold her back from her dreams. I was gone about two weeks later. Man, it was movie-like drama at the airport before I left... Overall, I was probably the happiest I've ever been. Even highway 10 was fun lol.. The girl (ironically named Calli) and I have almost completely lost contact. It was hard for both of us to keep a relationship going. It was amazing, scary, fun, and heartbreaking all at the same time. I'll never have an experience like it again!

Mr. Owl

January 27th, 2015 at 7:29 PM ^

You never know what chance meeting will lead to.

I was living in Detroit & rebuilding a house.  A friend & I went to Builder's Square where the old Bel-Air Drive In used to be to pick up a new water heater.  He was in the "woe is me" mode, depressed that women didn't like him.  I told him it's a numbers game, that if he puts himself out there, blah blah blah.  That I get shot down all the time.  To prove it, I hit on the checkout girl, who earlier in the week blew off another friend of mine.

She gave me her number.

She ended up moving to NYC a few months later & I visited her occasionally (we eventually grew apart & haven't spoken in years.)  When I was in need of a job, I found one a little upstate from NYC.  I liked the city, but hated the job.  Moved back to Detroit for a few years, but when I found myself out of work moved back to NYC & love it here.

My current job is also due to a chance meeting.

I was working at a radio station running a show.  A fill-in host told me she heard about a part-time job, if I was interested.  I needed money, so yeah.  I got the gig.  Eventually I left, but when I needed a job & they had one open up, I returned.  It was a lifesaver.

I can't even imagine what my life would be like or where I would be if I had not hit on that checkout girl just to prove to a friend that she would shoot me down.

sadeto

January 28th, 2015 at 9:58 AM ^

Good for you for taking a leap, young man. Do it often enough and you just might discover what you're here for. Sorry it didn't work out but one day it will. 

xtramelanin

January 28th, 2015 at 9:22 PM ^

and good for you for doing that.   you learned alot more in that year than you would have even at our fine school.

i went to california when i was 21, and i don't miss L.A. one bit.  glad i went, lots of great things happened (most notably met my beloved mgowife), but i am very glad to be back home.  

go blue.   and get out of ohio.  that's crazy.