Memories

Happy Birthday, babe. I contacted some of your loved ones and asked them to tell me their favorite memory they have with you. Most of them had a hard time narrowing it down. I have to agree. Life is never boring when you are around.

Joanne/Mom: "When you were born 37 years ago, you were the highlight of my life because you were a boy and you had gorgeous red hair and handsome, too. You have a great memory for places you've been to. Even as early as two years old. I am so blessed to have you as my son."

Dan Ernstrom: "When we went and stayed the night in Salem before the National Board test and you and Kade did MASH trivia and Kade peed on gospel side of toilet".

Amy Ernstrom: "Watching the Notebook with you and Dan and sitting in dead silence for minutes afterwards because we were all bawling. Bless your tender heart."

Jon Marchant: "When I was mad at you before you were married and I chased you around the garden with a shovel handle wanting to beat you within an inch of your life, but I couldn't catch you."

Seb Rodriguez: "Dragging me out of the house to go fishing in my wheelchair and getting attacked by a bull snake."

DJ Marchant: "When you took me fishing down Devil's Canyon. It made me feel really good that you asked me to go with you and we caught a shit ton of fish."

Bill Pulver: "How mad you got when I made you wreck your Corona in Cowley because Brett Jones told me to hide behind your seat. I think I paid you back. . the F150."

Angie Rodriguez: "When you were first married and you used to take me out shooting rabbits and snakes. I thought you were so cool."

Brook Tippetts: (Brook had a hard time thinking of a memory that was PG13) "It's hard to pick just one but your ability to make people laugh. Wether it was the way you ordered french fries at McDonald's, licked the windows in Cody or the way you laughed while George explained the weight of his testicles at huntin camp."

Milisa Hessenthaler: "Its not really a memory but it's your laugh that is so unique. That is the one thing I always remember. Also, more recently I remember someone very humble and loving. I had never seen that side of you before."

Dave Strecker: " The first time I met you. It was later in the night of initiation at college. I was walking back to my room and these two dudes were walking behind me and this punk asked me if I wanted to go eat. I fugured why not, so I said sure, which was weird because I'm not like that to go eat or anything with a stranger, but anyways, I climbed into a little yellow car and in the backseat with me was a little baby sock. I was thinking what the hell is this? So I tried to figure out a cool way to ask you what this would be doing in the back of a 17 year olds car. I couldn't come up with a cool way so I just asked you straight out. (He said he used a little different verbage) So, after you told me, I though Holy crap, you gotta be kiddin me. But that turned into something I never forgot and once we got to Taco Johns, I had one of the funnest and funniest times of my life. I don't think I've ever laughed that hard before in my life. I couldn't believe a dude this funny and crazy had a baby but after I got to know you and seen how and what you were, I thought it was pretty frickin cool. I think we hung out every single day I was in Powell and you are one, if not my best friend to this day."

Kevin Spann: "Plastico was very funny...hockey game in Billings, softball. The hard laugh...my humor...a good friend."

You've touched so many lives, babe, and like you said "You're only halfway done!" I am so excited for the next 37 years with you. I love you so much!! Happy Birthday!!