Farewell to my 20s

July 3rd, 2004 I transformed from a teenager into a 20 year old. If you would have told me then what all the 20s would hold for me, I might have turned around and ran.

In 2005, I had one of the coolest cakes (That's the Steeda logo for those that don't know. Steeda is an aftermarket manufacturer for Mustangs.) ...

... and had a lot longer hair.

2006 I went to Graceland for the first time.

I became a Harley-Davidson model (who's that sexy lady beside me? Wait, that's my future wifey)

Went to a concert that this guy named Eric Church was one of the opening acts. I've since seen him over 10 more times (with 3 more concerts planned for later this year).

Oh, and I saw this other guy ... his name is something like ... Garth Brooks

If that wasn't enough ... I got to talk to him over the phone for winning a contest. We're like best friends now. I call him GB, I mean that's just how we roll.

The "Beasts" became a dominate force in team trivia, at one point running off a 8 consecutive winning streak. 

I got to drive at Lowe's Motor Speedway with the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

2009 I pimped it out for my birthday.

Since my Junior year in high school, I had my '95 Mustang known as "Steeda". It was "just a v6", but I spent every dime I made on that car. I used to have people tell me that I was going to wash the paint off of it, because I kept it so clean. One rainy night, I rounded a curve on balding low profile tires and texting, as I accelerated to go up the hill I lost traction and ran my pride and joy 45 miles an hour into a tree. I used to never wear my seat belt, but as I sat in my car (what would end up being) the last time, something made me buckle up. I walked away without a single scratch or bruise. My baby wasn't so lucky. 

Went snowboarding for the first time. 

Went to THE Yankee Stadium before it closed.

I became an Uncle

In 2010, I went with a Red, White, and Blue themed party. This is one of my favorite pictures ... although it's slightly blurry.

I started smoking, started this blog, bought a new fancy smoker, and have gotten pretty daggum good at all things outdoor cooking.

That lead me to visit Memphis in May's World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest ... as a guest, NOT a competitor. 

One night while in Memphis, we went to Silky Sullivan's and I was forced to leave this note for the waitress. No, we didn't have a dying dog, but if we did ... it would have sounded better than the mess that was on the stage. Sorry, this was just a funny picture I found while looking through pics.  

2 years ago, just over a month before I turned 28, I went through an event that would forever change my life. It showed me how quickly everything I thought I knew about life can change. If you're new to my blog, and want to read more on that event. You can do so here. I have never in my life worked on my birthday. I know some think that's dumb, but I want to celebrate being given the chance to be alive and I want to do so with a day to myself, relaxing or doing whatever I want. I was cleared to return to work for July 2nd, and couldn't see requesting a day off of work 1 day after returning from missing a full month recovering ... so July 3rd, 2012 I was forced to work for the first time on my birthday in my life. To add insult to injury, on that same day, Andy Griffith passed away.

Back to the up beat stuff ...

I went to Bermuda

Bahamas

Jamaica 

and Cancun 

The last day that I was out for recovery, I met my sister to pick our a ring for Dawn. From day 1, she's been there for me through thick and thin, and has loved me more than I thought ever possible. Eric Church has a song called "You Make It Look So Easy". It's about a guy that's hard headed and hard to love (basically a typical guy), but she makes loving him look so easy. I don't know how Dawn does it, but she always makes loving me look so easy. She's made me the happiest man for over 3 years now, and the happiest husband for just over a year. I'm a lucky, lucky man to have such an amazing woman in my corner. I'll never win the Mega Millions lottery because I've already won the lottery once in my life ... and I'm ok with that.

I got a Dexter cake for my birthday in 2013.

I got to meet Sting (on of my all-time favorite Wrestlers ... hence the bright red face) at a Gamecock vs. Kentucky (where his son played) 

For Dawn's birthday, I told her we could get a puppy like she's been begging me for. I didn't realize that that little rug rat would end up having me wrapped around his little paw, too. If he looks happy in this picture, it's because this is his favorite spot. It doesn't matter how I hold him. He always tries to rotate so he's sitting right here.

July 3rd, 2014 I woke up with a couple of grey hairs poking out of my head, the love of my life beside me wishing me a "happy birthday old man", and a little puppy jumping on the side of the bed ready for daddy to get up so he can play. If you would have told me back then how my 20s would end ... I wouldn't have changed a thing.