This is the story of the much anticipated,
long-awaited reunion of the Arneson family.
My family had never all been in the same place
at the same time. We are scattered across the country like raindrops on a
windshield, until the dreaded wiper polishes us into obscurity. The Arneson
family, my father’s side, was finally brought together by Grandma Doreen’s 80th
birthday celebration in August, 2016. The week-long party led us to stay at two
cabins in the breathtaking Brentwood Estate
in Garfield, Minnesota. As I journeyed along Interstate 94 across the prairies
of the Midwest with my immediate family, I did not realize the trip would have
a lasting impact on my outlook and change my attitude forever.
The Brentwood Estate is a gorgeous
tract of land, lined by narrow roads that carve through its cabins as it
squishes against the shores of Chippewa
Lake.
Golf carts were the prized possession of the trip and used to cruise the paths.
If I was feeling saucy, I commandeered a cart and set off to the main road on
the occasional late night excursion. However, not all was roses and teddy bears
with these beasts of the links. One instance set the Arneson family into a
tizzy after my cousin, Becky, was rammed by one of the stationery carts as if
it had a mind of its own. We could not figure out why the cart was not moving
when we pressed on the gas pedal. Little did we realize, the cart’s gear had
been left between reverse and drive. Once we switched the gear to reverse, the
cart jolted backwards and sent an unsuspecting Becky soaring. She was rattled
but luckily is a tough lady who will not let a killer golf cart ruin her
vacation.
Another highlight of the family reunion
was our first ever live, in-person draft of the Arneson Fantasy Football League
(AFFL). While we had been doing the league since 2002, the family had never
gathered in one place to complete a face-to-face draft. Friendly trash talk and
well-mannered insults filled the air like moisture on a humid, Mississippi
afternoon as IPAs were drained and cheese plates wolfed down. I had the first
pick of the draft and selected Rob Gronkowski, quickly becoming an easy target
for naysayers and jokes about the breadth of my knowledge. The 2016 AFFL draft
in Minnesota had me dreaming of the day when the Arnesons once again unite,
laptops in tow and ready to denigrate each other’s fantasy football prowess.
The moment that would change my life
forever came by surprise. It was a quiet morning in which I moseyed down to the
stunning lakeshore area to go paddleboarding. After a quiet drift on the lake,
balancing on the board like Shaun White preparing to attack the halfpipe, I ran
into my uncle. Uncle Steve’s profession is motivational speaking for businesses
so he has an incredibly bright outlook on life. As we sat on the beach, sand
tickling my feet, he asked me about my life goals and what I would like to
accomplish. I will not pretend that I can remember the exact words that Uncle
Steve said to me or I said to him but I can evoke the feeling. I have
goosebumps right now as I type this sentence and visualize that shoreline. He
told me about how I could achieve anything I set my mind to and having a
passion and pursuing it until your last, dying breath. He told me about putting
my character to the test and reaching out to people who do what I want to do. It
lit a fire in my belly and ignited a fervor that had been lying dormant in my gut.
Upon returning to college in Pullman directly from the reunion, I began writing
my blog and working for The Daily
Evergreen. A couple months later I wrote my first book. I will bear my soul
through words. I have found my flint.
Follow Chris on Twitter @LilArneson
Buy/rate/review his book on Amazon
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