I've been mulling over doing a Top 10 list of my best 20-something-year-old moments. I had a hard time thinking of that many. (Not that it's been a horrible decade; I just didn't want to have nothing but cliche-like entries about weddings and childbirth and whatnot.) So then I thought it might be fun to share my Top 10 worst moments of my previous decade on Earth: working on that list made me depressed. For one, I was able to come up with more than 10 relatively fast. For two, there's a lot I didn't want to share. And for three, I had to pull the knife away from my wrist several times. So I won't be doing that.
Instead, I'll go back to my original idea, doing a Top 10 moments from my last 10 years here with you all. They will be more-or-less in order, so take that for what you will. Not all are great, however. At least one would have been in my Top 3 worst moments, but I wanted to share it anyway, as I felt if nothing else it changed my life considerably.
Counting down...
10. The Final Regular-Season Game of the 2006 Minnesota Twins season:
The game itself was typical-Twins for 2006: solid defense; solid pitching; throw in a homerun (Torii Hunter). It even had the added effect of Joe Mauer winning the Batting Title with a 2-4 effort. But when the game was done- the Twins in a virtual tie for First Place with the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central- all we could do is wait for the Tigers/Royals game to finish. And we did wait. For about an hour. Over 30,000 of us. Together. In the Metrodome. And when the Royals won, and the Twins became the American League Central Division Champions, the place went into pandemonium. High-fiving complete strangers, my in-laws, and knowing I was skipping work to be there... it was great. This moment made #6 on the Twins Top 100 Metrodome Memories list, and it made my list, too.
9. Mr. Waldorf/Ten-Minute Play Weekend:
I don't ever want to be one of those guys that rests on high school and college accolades. But this weekend was great. It was the first time I felt 100% confident performing in front of people, both my written-work and me as an actor. As for Mr. Waldorf, I won the crown over about a dozen other guys that were better looking, more talented, and more popular at the school. I won it by being silly, being genuine, and being myself. Cliche, cliche, cliche. Whatever. Knowing that all of my fellow contestants thought I deserved to win- save for one dick who complained that the audience loved my "Giving Birth" talent over his "solo-drumming-for-10-minutes" talent- made it all worth while. And I took that momentum into that weekend's 10-Minute Play festival. The play I wrote- "The Putting Green"- was second. I received a great compliment from the theater professor in the weeks before, when he accused me of lifting the idea from somewhere else, because he thought it was "too creative and unique" to be an original idea of mine. And then the play was performed beautifully by Stephanie (Jennings) Jones, Luke Something, and Kris Kenison. And then it got a standing-ovation. And it was one of the best feelings I've ever received.
8. Nick Anderson, 5/30/78 - 2/17/04:
For those of you keeping score, this is the moment that would be in my Bottom 10 as well. But it was such a huge moment for me and my new-family of Andersons that I had to put it here. This is also the only one full of regrets. Looking back, there are so many moments I could have and should have reached out to get to know him better. So many times I should have pushed my wife to reconcile with her brother over issues stemming from their childhood. I do remember fondly him enjoying himself at our wedding, and talking movies with him at our New Year's Eve party just a month-and-a-half before his untimely passing... but there are so many more moments I know we could have shared, moments I've since taken advantage of with his parents, brothers and sister. And very little brings me as much comfort and joy knowing that my three-year-old daughter knows her Uncle Nick, where he is, and that she can talk to him anytime she wants. He would have made a great uncle, and that is probably the biggest regret of all.
7. My Pro-Wrestling Debut:
Yeah, the O.W.F. wrestled in a barn in Keester, MN. Yeah, none of the guys had great bodies, fantastic gimmicks, or much of a chance of making it to the big-leagues. But it was a goal of mine to wrestle at least one match infront of a crowd in my lifetime. And I did it before I hit 21. The match itself was fun- OWF Security exploding because the evil-owner was upset that we didn't help him retain his title. It was one of the only matches to gain both sympathy and excitement from the crowd of maybe 50. And I lost. But man, it was a dream come true, and one I wish I could get back again and again and again...
6. "Damn You Banana" Gets Recognized:
I wrote about this on an earlier blog. But it was during a time of mounting depression on my part, due to losing a job and mounting debt after just having a child. I drew "Damn You Banana" as a way to share a bit of myself with the world... of course, that doesn't mean much if it's never seen, right? One day, however, I somehow stumbled upon a medical blog. Really? A medical blog? The only way that would happen is if I truly did stumble across it. But right there, on the top page, was this:
5. The Outtakes/Stage II Players/Hobo Chili:
I hadn't really performed in front of people since college, with the random "Live Appearance" at KG-95.3 thrown in here or there. But I was bored. And I told my wife I wanted to take an improv class. And I did. And I met one of the best friends I've ever had. And her and I made it into The Outtakes, which at the time was advertised as the "up-and-coming" performers for the Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret. Regardless of what I think of that advertising-slogan, every other Saturday night for the past two years I've been on stage performing my own brand of improvised humor. As a member of The Stage II Players, I've not only become a leader of my group, I've been given the opportunity to perform with the main-stage, taking part in what was described by some in the audience as "the best show we've seen here ever." And- when the fates align- I get to perform with that friend of mine- Emily Barrett- as Hobo Chili, a creation of ours that has improved, entertained, and given us the creative outlet we cannot get on a Stevie Ray's stage. I truly enjoy any opportunity I get to perform, and- seeing as how this may be my last round performing at Stevie Ray's- I can honestly look back and say I've enjoyed every minute of it.
4. "Detour" Gets Third Place In Audience-Favorite Voting For The 2009 24-Hour Film Festival:
It was our second year in the 24-Hour Film Festival. Kris Kenison, Lance Morgan, my brother Zach, and myself: Damn You Banana Flims. I'm very, very proud of this film, and can honestly say it has made me look forward to the 2010 entry more than I've looked forward to anything in a long, long time.
http://www.youtube.com/kriskenison
3. The World's First In-Utero High-Five:
I was originally only going to put one Minnesota Twins moment on here, but this one still gives me joy. I wish I was better with dates, as I wish I could go back and see which game this event happened during. I know it was in the midst of the Twins 20-1 run in mid-2006. I know Gina was pregnant with our first child. And I know it was hot, and Gina was grumpy. But I also know the Twins were on an absolute tear, and I was going to enjoy every bit of it. So when the Twins came back to win in their typical come-from-behind fashion, I wanted to celebrate. I wanted my wife to celebrate with me. So I layed it all out, and stuck my hand high in the air for a celebretory High-Five! And I was denied. Gina just did not want any part, and left me hanging. Instead of sulking off, or pouting, or letting her ruin my moment, I turned my attention to her stomach. I placed my right hand on her stomach and said to the growing child inside her, "High Five!" And I got it. I don't remember if I'd felt kicks before that moment- I'm sure I did- but the timing of that one moment was beyond perfect. I knew I was going to love my daughter regardless... but at that moment I also knew that I'd like her.
2. May 31, 2003:
Yeah, yeah. It's my wedding day. I know I didn't want to go "cliche" when listing my Top Moments, but still... it was a great day. I love my wife, and this wedding proves why. Our wedding cake? A dozen-dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. Our cake topper? Homer and Marge. Our recessional music? "Linus and Lucy." Our wedding party dance? Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love." (Yes, a break-up song. It's my favorite.) I'm still told by relatives of mine that it was the most fun they've ever had at a wedding. And for that I'll give all the credit to my wife. Even if some ideas were mine, or our parents, or whomever: everyone knows the wedding is for the wife, and what she wants she ultimately gets, so for her to let anything fun or unique in shows how much fun she is. And how perfect for me she is.
And number one...
1. And Aurelia Makes 3...:
What kind of dad would I be if this wasn't here? A piss-poor one, that's what kind. I could go on and on here, but you know what? I think I'm going to save this for another blog. My daughter- Aurelia Noelle Woolhouse- deserves her own entry. So she's going to get it.
As for me? I'm quickly-approaching 30, and only a comet crashing into the Earth is going to stop it from getting here. Because I like this planet and all of you too much, I'm not going to wish for that. Besides, I've been going to the gym more frequently these last few weeks, and I actually feel better now than I did 2 years ago... I think I can make this 30 thing work.
Should be a piece-of-cake next 10 years.
God-willing.
Adam R.W. Woolhouse
