Killer Combo Reunion

I remember when Andrew and I were just 13 years old and terrorizing Baraga every day. Now, ten years later, I’m a guest of his place out in Montana. It’s been about three years since I last saw Andrew, and that was only briefly in the parking lot of the grocery store back home. We’re all growed up now. It’s been over five years since we graduated from Baraga High School together. Speaking for myself, I’ve changed and grown a lot in those five years. I can see it in Andrew as well.

Yesterday was spent catching up, reminiscing, and living like we used to. I would have to say it was quintessential, a word that Andrew once taught me. And did we ever teach each other a lot of words. In high school we would sit in the back of class being the cool tough kids we were and work on “Killer Combos.” We would flip the dictionary and thesaurus endlessly looking for new words, cool words, and slapping them together as if they were never used together before. Rather than rhyming they would usually start with the same letter our sound. I haven’t done it in years, but this would be a weak example, “sophisticated samurai swords.” As nerdy as it seems, it worked. Andrew has always been an inspiration to me with his writing and artistic side. A talented writer with a great future in front of him. He writes with an edgy side that most writers aren’t able to pull off.

So what else did we do. We grew up playing hockey together, that’s where our friendship began. We were into skateboarding as seventh graders. We would throw our favorite music at each other. We enjoyed movies that were too violent for our age and enjoyed independent films. Though we’re both good kids I’d say we each had our rebel years. For my 13th birthday we were at the mall in Houghton and he bought the Smashing Pumpkins “1979” single and I bought Shaggy’s “Boombastic” single both on cassette tape. I think he made the better choice. In school Andrew was the wittiest kid around.

If there was any one thing that summed it all it I would say it was driving with Andrew. I always sat shotgun. We shared conversation, listened to great music, had moments of silence, and it was always the best at night, usually to or fro Houghton. And the best part, driving to places like Red Ridge or the old Houghton High School. We loved to explore ruins and take pictures. To his credit if we hadn’t taken those trips I wouldn’t have had the interest in photography that I have now. Yesterday, we went right back to it. We headed out to the ghost town of Elk Horn, looked for an old tunnel that we never found, and explored the tiny town of Basin. That’s what it’s all about.

Throughout high school we would always ponder about our future. We would come up with these elaborate and wild ideas. We were dreamers. I remember one time particular just before graduation. We were on the balcony of the gymnasium overlooking the stage and everything for graduation. It was a mellow conversation looking back at high school and looking into the future. I had no idea that I’d meet up with him one day all the way out in Helena. Stuff like that makes friends for life. This trip is a great chance for me to meet up with one of my best friends, someone I respect, who I’ll always admire, and always be inspired by.

p.s. York Bar you have amazing hamburgers!