Since
leaving Canada years ago, the smell of pine trees, the sound of blue jays, and
feel of frigid salt water weren’t the only things left behind. The longer I’m
gone the more I come to discover how meaningless those memories can be and how
important the people who fill them are. One of those people in particular is my
childhood companion, best friend, and Cousin Lorenz Arsenault. I’ve known him
for as long I can remember and being hardly a couple month apart in age, we’ve
always challenged each other throughout our youth in which ultimately shaped us
to the men we are today. Much of the mentality I have now probably wouldn’t
have been inspired without him by my side in those developmental years where we’re
in full awe of discovery and curious of limitations. It was Lorenz who made a deal
with me at 17 years old to run our first marathon. Two weeks before the race
day I received a call reminding me of our deal in which I couldn’t back down
from. Two weeks later on one over cast rainy day in May, we both completed our
first marathon without a single kilometer of training. The medal around my neck
wasn’t a symbol of running 42 km/s but my first realization that I could push
myself to accomplish things in which most people would never try and others
would consider impossible. More important yet, those medals were proof of
friendship bond that would last a lifetime.
The
years went on so did our challenges as we ran another marathon together the
following year, dressed in black and broke into active grain elevators, spent
long nights with a bottle of rum in fishing boat looking for parties to crash,
and swamped the competition when we played on sports teams together. An
incredible companion to have growing up but life has separate plans for all of
us. On the last night before my plane left Canada we sat high above the street
lamps on the peak of my parents’ house drinking a beer and smoking the last of
my Cuban cigars before saying goodbye. Both twenty years old we sat gazing at
the same glow of city lights but were looking at perfectly opposite futures. As
I wondered how many countries I would see in the next couple years, he wondered
how many diapers he we need to change as it was that night he told me he was
going to be a dad. That’s why it was so important for me to push out over 800km
in 5 days from Calgary to Saskatoon in order to be reunited with my long lost
friend and spend time with his new family.
An
unequal heat spread itself throughout the cottage in a gentle crackle and pop.
The occasional backdraft emits a smoky plume into the building lingering in a dull
wonderful aroma of burnt hard wood. There’s just nothing like a real wood fire
in a cottage that warms me to the bone. Maybe it’s the fact that I spend most
of my nights huddled in a cold dark claustrophobic tent with the horrendous smell
of my feet and clammy body that make an environment like this so appealing. I’ve
spent the entire weekend now, sitting back being immersed in this wood fire while
drinking ice cold beers and playing games with my two little second cousins. I
love adventure and can’t sit still for more than a few minutes at a time but
sitting here in this cottage doing a whole lot of nothing and spending some
much needed time with my cousins kids fills me with such an overwhelming sense
of satisfaction.
Spending time with my younger nieces
and cousins fills me with a feeling I had never expected to feel prior to
grandparenthood. I know that these kids won’t remember me the next time they
see me, whenever that may be. I do my best to absorb their company in the short
amount of time I have to visit but there’s no making up for the years of
absence that have gone by. I can’t help but to feel guilty in a way for missing
them grow up. Traveling the word is probably the most liberating and satisfying
feeling il ever have but like Isaac Newton put it so honestly (
For every action there is always an equal and opposite
reaction) My own uneducated interpretation of this is for every moment gained is
a moment lost somewhere else. As much as I want to stay and spend more time
with my family here in Saskatoon, I know that there are friends and family
anticipating some cold beers by the fire and an earful of ridiculous stories at
my destination. It’s time to push on and get these wheels back on the road,
next stop Winnipeg Manitoba.
It’s tough to leave but I’ve learned a valuable lesson in the past few
weeks that life is too short to be a stranger to the ones in your heart. I’m no
longer a stranger to myself but there’s no way I want to spend any longer being
a stranger to the ones who fill my memories. Bring it on Manitoba!
The
years went on so did our challenges as we ran another marathon together the
following year, dressed in black and broke into active grain elevators, spent
long nights with a bottle of rum in fishing boat looking for parties to crash,
and swamped the competition when we played on sports teams together. An
incredible companion to have growing up but life has separate plans for all of
us. On the last night before my plane left Canada we sat high above the street
lamps on the peak of my parents’ house drinking a beer and smoking the last of
my Cuban cigars before saying goodbye. Both twenty years old we sat gazing at
the same glow of city lights but were looking at perfectly opposite futures. As
I wondered how many countries I would see in the next couple years, he wondered
how many diapers he we need to change as it was that night he told me he was
going to be a dad. That’s why it was so important for me to push out over 800km
in 5 days from Calgary to Saskatoon in order to be reunited with my long lost
friend and spend time with his new family. 
An
unequal heat spread itself throughout the cottage in a gentle crackle and pop.
The occasional backdraft emits a smoky plume into the building lingering in a dull
wonderful aroma of burnt hard wood. There’s just nothing like a real wood fire
in a cottage that warms me to the bone. Maybe it’s the fact that I spend most
of my nights huddled in a cold dark claustrophobic tent with the horrendous smell
of my feet and clammy body that make an environment like this so appealing. I’ve
spent the entire weekend now, sitting back being immersed in this wood fire while
drinking ice cold beers and playing games with my two little second cousins. I
love adventure and can’t sit still for more than a few minutes at a time but
sitting here in this cottage doing a whole lot of nothing and spending some
much needed time with my cousins kids fills me with such an overwhelming sense
of satisfaction. 
Spending time with my younger nieces
and cousins fills me with a feeling I had never expected to feel prior to
grandparenthood. I know that these kids won’t remember me the next time they
see me, whenever that may be. I do my best to absorb their company in the short
amount of time I have to visit but there’s no making up for the years of
absence that have gone by. I can’t help but to feel guilty in a way for missing
them grow up. Traveling the word is probably the most liberating and satisfying
feeling il ever have but like Isaac Newton put it so honestly (For every action there is always an equal and opposite
reaction) My own uneducated interpretation of this is for every moment gained is
a moment lost somewhere else. As much as I want to stay and spend more time
with my family here in Saskatoon, I know that there are friends and family
anticipating some cold beers by the fire and an earful of ridiculous stories at
my destination. It’s time to push on and get these wheels back on the road,
next stop Winnipeg Manitoba.
It’s tough to leave but I’ve learned a valuable lesson in the past few
weeks that life is too short to be a stranger to the ones in your heart. I’m no
longer a stranger to myself but there’s no way I want to spend any longer being
a stranger to the ones who fill my memories. Bring it on Manitoba! 
p.s. Kaylee will still bring up your name every day or two. "Uncle Jooo". Whether it's something that reminds her of you, picture, article, or if she overhears us in conversation talking about your latest blog. haha. She's got a good memory of you, you'll be hard to forget.
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