What's embarrassment? I'll tell you

We all experience moments that we find to be extremely embarrassing in the heat of the moment, only to enjoy telling these embarrassing moments to everyone as our lives continue. I had other ideas of what to write this morning, but I wanted to get these out of the way and hopefully give everyone a few laughs. I find it better that I can laugh at myself instead of hide in a hole for all these years and worry about not telling people these hilarious moments. So with that I bring to you story number one.

"A dinner setting" by Andrew Michael Barrett

It's around 5 o'clock in the evening in the Larsen household and we are all about to sit around for a nice family dinner (this was a common occurrence for me). Sure enough Mrs. Larsen yells up the stairs "Dinner is ready!" so Chris and I stop what we're doing and head downstairs. If I remember right, everyone except Lauren was home for that meal, so that would mean Mr. and Mrs. Larsen, Katie, Jessica and Ben would be joining along also. We all gathered our seats and we said a prayer. Soup was the meal of the night and it was good! I remember everyone saying it was too hot (larsen's have very sensitive mouths) but it wasn't, as dinner went along we laughed and talked about how our days went and of course I kept eating, I usually was the person who was ordered to keep eating more...I'm sure my size had something to do with it. No sooner then 15 minutes into our meal did everything turn into a complete awkward mess. Sitting in my wonderfully made wooden chair I hear a slight crack, a crack that would bring out the "deer in headlights" look. I looked over at Chris, as he heard the noise as well..and we looked at each other as if to mentally say "OH GOD." Before anyone else knew what was going on, my big, massive self fell through this poor wooden chair as if it were in slow motion...I split those legs so fast that I had no chance to catch myself. I remember sitting on nothing but a butt stool and being able to see everyones faces over the table since I was so tall. I will never forget those faces...EVER. With Chris and I laughing almost to tears I remember Mrs. Larsen say "Ohhh Andrew" followed with Mr. Larsen "That chair needed to be fixed anyway" trying to be nice about the situation, but what a pile of bologna. A broken chair and a soup dinner later I have a story to tell, and I will tell it for years to come.

"Bringin' down the house"

It was a hot summer day back in my middle school years and Craig, Gerald and myself were walking our way back from some time spent with our friends Amber and Jana. We walked everywhere that summer, and I never complained once about it..but as we had gotten back into the neighborhood where Craig lived, they decided it would be funny to run back to the house...and for me, that wasn't funny, I was and still to this day am a Big Boy and I will have none of those shenanigans, so I let them run ahead and beat me to the house. As I shook the ground with every step I took closer to the house I came up to the front door, I reached out and put my thumb on the door handle and pushed..."Gerald's foot is in the door" I thought to myself, so I said "Gerald, move your foot" and got no response. I was already irritated because they decided to run when I didn't want to. So I hit the door with my shoulder and said "Gerald, move your foot" and AGAIN! he didn't say anything. I had enough, I threatened him ( I don't remember with what ) but I made sure I put fear into his ears. Turns out my reactions were probably what put the fear in him..but instead of his ears, he got to see it with his eyes. I have never known my own strength, so with that I took my left shoulder and I hit the door for the last time. I couldn't see...wood chips and debris filled the air as I stood on top of the door inside the house. I had just smashed through the Lehman's front door, a door that was massive and made of oak. As I stood there, I saw two figures to my right just standing there...Craig not saying much of anything, and Gerald, laughing so hard with the memorable laugh that he has. All I remember saying was, "I can't see" over and over again. I cleaned my eyes out and then we had to call Craig's parents and let them know what the local giant had done. Thankfully, they loved me enough to the point where it wasn't a friendship breaker. And with a new door put in, and a new kitchen and new paint and updated appliances, I got thanked for getting them into a re-modeling phase ( probably just saying that to be nice ) but I said "you're welcome." 

Those are just a few of the memories I have, and as horrific as they might seem, I can promise you that they were epic. I think we all have awesome stories like this and I think they need to be shared with everyone. Hopefully you guys have laughed a little in trying to picture these moments. Big thanks to the Larsen's and Lehman's for being good sports when it came to the destruction I caused. With that, I leave you with the quote from Kanye West, feat. Lauryn Hill. 

  "It all falls down"

                                   

Our own worst enemy

Let's think about it, what is the thing that gets us into trouble most? Or have we forgotten because we have lost all control of it? I think for a lot of people the second question would be them. Our tongues are so overlooked and so much forgotten about, yet they are so powerful and so evil at times. Why is that? Why do we open our mouths and spit out so much hatred and negativity so often?  I've found myself trying so hard these last few months to be careful with what I let flow from my tongue and what my mind tells me is okay to say, because how often does that happen? We say whatever our mind comes up with and we don't even ponder the effects or the disgust that is about to follow. Don't we want to be more mindful of how we are viewed by people? How our mouths will be remembered for the things we say, the good things. Gossip, slander, hate and so many things more, are not those good things and yet it's what fills the air in most conversations we hear. We are so used to letting our tongue control the filter that we should have on ourselves, but it should be our minds that control our tongue. As often or as little as you say disrespectful, hate filled comments, we still can do a better job. The sad part is, if you put a filter on a lot of peoples mouths I know, it would limit their conversation...because as we get so used to using our mouths for hurtful and wrong conversations, we forget what good things that can be talked about. Don't you ever find yourself in a room full of clean mouths and find yourself feeling awkward because you haven't had the ability to hold conversations in such a clean manner? Don't raise your hand on that one. Feeling disgusted with myself for allowing my tongue to gossip or slander is reason in itself to want change for myself, isn't that reason for you wanting change as well? We regret so many voiced opinions or statements that we have thought little about before voicing, and I know it's just our sinful human nature..but that doesn't give us an excuse to become comfortable with these occurrences and just throw our filters away. Maybe my faith comes into play as to why I'm being conscience about this, and maybe some of you don't care, but I think for other peoples sakes it's a good thing to ponder and hopefully slowly work on. I have hurt far too many peoples feelings in my life with words that I have let loose, and I apologize for that. A good place to start will be in public, when you hear filth..do we have the guts to call people out on what is being said? Or do we just shake our head? I'm calling people out in a respectful manner no matter what the look or reaction I get will be. I guess my wish would be for effort in an attempt to hold our tongue in many situations, and I mean a legitimate attempt. I can't act for you, but maybe you will make that decision. All I can do is write, and with that I go to sleep with a conscience effort that when I wake in the morning, I will control to the best of my ability what will be said. I leave you with this...

    "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, those who love it will eat its fruit."

                                         

Behind the scenes

Laying down with the laptop on my belly I couldn't think of anything to write, but with inspiration from a Princess who happens to be little, an angel and perfect, I have dug deep down into my repertoire and found the goods to create a masterpiece. I love my family, but tonight I'm going to talk about people who make an impact in our lives that don't always get credit or don't know how much they are appreciated. When I got back from Africa my family life changed a lot, and that's okay! But I was blessed to meet certain people and families that practically took me in as a son, and that is an incredible feeling. Having multiple families that will take care of you and be there for you even though you aren't blood is a priceless thing. So that's where I start ( even though I already "started" ) Because of what people have done for me in my life, it has rubbed off on me and molded me into what I'm trying become and who I want to be as far as being a man of solid friendship and utmost care and almost father like qualities goes. I fail as a friend all the time I'm sure, but the people who I am most close with know that I would put my life down before them and even people I don't know, I try be the best man possible for them. I focus so much on the people I care about many times that I always fall short on making sure I'm good, and no matter how bad that is sometimes I still can't find a way to take care of myself before others. I wish people worked harder on friendships, and I don't know if that's okay to say, but I feel like we overlook the important people in our lives and we fall short on being a strong rock for people who need it. We are supposed to SERVE people and not be selfish humans. I get such great satisfaction out of being a servant to the people who need me most, and I think you guys would too. I don't want to make myself seem like I'm boasting because it's not what I'm trying to accomplish, all I'm trying to say is we need to remember that for our entire lives we will have key people keeping us afloat and we need to care for them as if they were ourselves. I don't know why my heart is the way it is, why I am the way I am, but I'm not going to fight it because I like it. So I guess this is just a promise to my people..I promise to continue supporting you, I promise to care for you as best as I know and I promise to keep the exact same sense of humor I have known for years ( you can hate all you want, but I'm funny ) Oh and one more thing..I'm tired of people having to maintain an image of being rough, tough and bad-ass all for not being a good human beings sake. Since when was it a bad thing to be respectful and courteous and polite to complete strangers and friends? Tell the people you care about most that you love them, tell them how much they mean to you..because passing that information to them can change a heart, and I'm all about changing hearts. This post is a mess I know, and I'm sorry. My wish is that we would serve our friends more often, and be support that they need.

 I'm hopeful

Stay inside the lines

When you're at your breaking point at the end of a long week, or the day just hasn't lived up to a way you would have liked, what do you do? What does someone do to relax and just come down from their frustrations. We all have our little secrets for ways to relax and stimulate our mind in order to become less angry, frustrated, pissed off. So what do I do? It starts with my Grandma Barrett. Oh Grandma, the women who cured my frustrations and crappy weeks. It all happened years ago, sitting in my grandmas living room. As she sat in her recliner chair with all of her odds and ends surrounding her she would reach down by her chair and reach out to what would only turn out to be one of my first loves..Coloring books, "all the coloring books the world could ever supply" I thought to myself. She would color and color and color until she finished her picture, and that was a rule! you had to finish what you started. I remember just sitting next to her and watching as she stayed inside the lines, and the hair on my head would stand up, that was the greatest feeling ever. But I couldn't just WATCH, I had to see what this phenomenon was all about. She handed me a book and she asked me what utensil I wanted, and with that I was on my way coloring in a Dick Tracy book that I had hand selected from the Barrett Coloring Book library. I was hooked you guys, coloring relaxes my mind in a way that nothing else will ever be able to do...maybe that's just because it brings back the memories that I will carry for a lifetime or because it's just fun ( as long as I stay in between the lines ) Not everyone has ways of getting away, meditating or relaxing, and that's too bad because I think we all need that little something when our day just isn't panning out. To this day I still color, and I have converted many talented coloring artists. So the journey continues, and I fight on...And I will pass it along to my kids and my grand kids. I want to encourage everyone to think about the things that make you happy or that relax you, and do them..because no matter how ridiculous you might feel doing it, I promise you won't get any of the looks like I've gotten when I pull out my coloring book and my bag full of pens, crayons, gel pens and coloring pencils. So with that I want to thank Dick Tracy, my brilliant mind, and most certainly my Grandma Barrett...Coloring saved my life ( a little over the top I know but it could be true )

Kabrousse

Turning off the main road I remember looking around at all the huts and people outside in what you might like to call a yard, and thinking..where on earth am I. With screaming kids running behind our vehicle, all who had enormous smiles on their faces. I just remember feeling at home right then and there and couldn't help but smile back. I was 6 or 7, it didn't matter because when you experience something like this at any age you will never forget it. This is just an explanation of first five minutes that I experienced in Kabrousse, my home away from home. I thought it would be fun to talk about a couple stories and things that I got to experience while living in Africa for the time that I did, and with that I will open with...DUN DUN DUN!


Converse shoes for all the kids: 
I specifically remember my sisters and I sitting in a very empty room ( probably a living room ) with nothing but a pot of oil in the corner of it, my parents had just surprised us with brand new Converse high tops and the excitement level went through the roof. As we each got handed different colored shoes my smile slowly turned into a pissed off little demonic sort of face I'm sure. I got left with the nastiest cream colored, boring and just plain gaudy shoe that any of us kids got, while my sisters had wonderful RED and I think it was black ones. I can't remember if it was Ashley or Amber's shoe but I grabbed those RED converse soooo fast and I threw them straight into that black pot of oil in the corner of the room. I wasn't sure what that would do, but I was pretty sure it was the right thing to do. I probably knew that years down the road it would be oh so funny right? Shoulda seen their faces then =)


Poop Hole: ( not your anus )
Some of the best times I ever had were the hot afternoons when my friends and I would finish up feeding and moving the cattle from out in the fields, because usually that meant we would go swimming and just cool down. For people in the states that would usually consist of jumping in your local pool, or maybe you are blessed and have your own. I didn't have either so thank God for something called rain. With enough down pour the cow pastures would form very large water holes for cattle to drink out of and also POOP in, but do you think I gave a crap? No pun intended...I remember throwing off all our clothes and jumping into that nasty, poopy, brown water pot and just having a blast. When you're a young boy and haven't experienced a clean American home and you realize that this life is almost a dream, you say screw it..."I'm going to stand here and let my little toes feel these cow pies wedge themselves right into every little nook and cranny of my feet" and that's what I did. 


It's late, so two stories will have to do for now...but I have many more for you guys to read about on Africa. For the people wondering if that will be my worm or constipation stories, that's a yes. I am very thankful that I got to experience the things I did, and what good would it be if I didn't share those moments with you guys. The picture I put in with the post is a picture of part of my house I grew up in, and the people are some friends who went back to visit in 2008. I will go back to Africa, and I will love it as best as I remember loving it.

Did I grow up too fast? Or are you forgetting to grow up?

Is is bad that I feel older than everyone who isn't in their 30's? I'm sure it has to do with my upbringing, and where I grew up and how God has had his hand on me through the terrible moments of my life. But when did it become okay to be so immature and act as if high school never passed by? Everyone has their moments of acting like children and having fun I understand that, but how can people day in and day out decide that it's okay to "live life" and forget about becoming a mature and respectable person in the eyes of everyone other than teenagers. I don't think people understand me in the least bit and that's frustrating, but all I wish is that people would decide to ditch their childish ways and decide to grow up. This probably isn't the best topic to start a blog off with, but I really do have hope for my generation and I hope writing about it will open up some peoples eyes. We all have different lives and grew up in different ways I understand that, but we all can put the same amount of effort into trying to be more adult like in the things we do. Maybe people will say I haven't lived or I haven't experienced the fun sides of life because I choose not to surround myself with drugs and alcohol and women, maybe because I believe in my heart of hearts that those things will break a man down and ruin him. Living life, to me...is doing the complete opposite. We all have purposes, some will grasp them and others will let them pass by. What will you do?