I write this blog from up above…

Weird that kind of sounded eerie, like I had passed.  No, I am definitely not departed.  In fact, I have never felt so alive!  And my journey has really just begun. As I reflect on this past week and a half on the road I see it as yet another important piece of the ever growing puzzle that is my story.  Yes, the big journey (our lives) consist of many, many smaller journeys such as this amazingly awesome one I am currently flying home from.

Yes, I am in an airplane as I type these words into my Blackberry…  Words to be later translated into my blog.  I am in seat 3E on a United Flight heading from Burlington, Vermont to Chicago then back home to Vancouver.  This past Vermont tour was such a treat. I had an awesome week leading up to Vermont, speaking in Alberta and Saskatchewan. My final presentation of my Prairie Tour at the Onion Lake Youth Conference was awesome and really set the tone for what was to come.

Before I left Canada for the USA I had dinner at my new friends and unofficial Alberta family the McKinney’s place. It was really cool to hang out with good people and have a home cooked meal out on the road. I spent the majority of my time at the McKinney home hanging out with my new bff Kira. Kira is one of the coolest kids I have ever met, and at just grade 3 her creativity and ingenuity is nothing short of amazing.  My road life is seldom lonely because my path crosses with the paths of many great people.  Do good things, create good energy, meet good people also full of good energy - I believe it!!  Saturday was a special night in the company of superb human beings.  My night was capped off by a visit with my friend Heather from the Leduc Drug Action Committee before I retreated to my room for some much needed rest.

My flight to Vermont Sunday morning was delayed at the gate and then again on the tarmac of the Edmonton Airport. I can’t say I was shocked at this point. This trip had challenged every last nerve I had with almost every fathomable screw up in the transportation department occurring.  Hours later, I barely caught my connecting flight in Chicago because of this delay. But with a little bit of luck my connecting flight was also delayed, and I did make it to Vermont.

NOTE: I recently went bungee jumping if you didn’t already know. This was a way for me to face my fear of heights head on. Well let’s just say I am a lot less fearful of heights now and thankfully! The turbulence on this flight right now is creating an adrenaline rush in my heart as opposed to a rush of urine in my pants and tears of fear down my cheeks. Watch bungee video here.

I was met by some VTLSP friends at the Burlington Airport late Sunday night and escorted to the Sheraton Hotel in town. I love it when conferences are held at top-notch hotels. And trust me this isn’t always the case. The hotel was baller, my room was cozy and by bed was heavenly.  So far, so great!

I slept in Monday and spent the remainder of my morning trying to get caught up on some upcoming tour planning for Alaska, Arizona and southern Ontario and Ottawa. When I finally emerged from my room, time was a little tight for set up, but I did get everything rolling (pun intended) in time to share my story at the Governors Youth Leadership Conference (GYLC). I have been excited about key-noting this conference since I first met four amazingly awesome Vermont VTLSP students in Orlando, Florida last June.  These superlative students are named Lyndsey, Lindsay, Jordan and Shelby.  In Florida, these girls unofficially adopted me as I rolled aimlessly around Universal Studios and made me a part of their circle.  Their energy and youthful spirits challenged me that night to go on every single ride that they did, transferring from chair to ride and back out, and consequently having one of the funnest nights I have had – maybe ever! So looking back on my fond memories of Vermonters (and I would meet many more in Florida beyond those who called me Steve) I knew the conference on Monday was going to be a goodie.  I planned to rock Vermont with a story like they’d never heard before.

The hype was evident right from the moment the conference MC Craig Tornquist began his introduction for me. I should say here that I was pretty stoked to have Craig introducing me.   Craig is respected and admired and so highly spoken of.  He is genuine and sincere - the real deal.  Craig’s words were humbling and inspiring, and so was the uproarious cheer I got from the crowd welcoming me to the stage. I gave it my all on that stage, and the standing ovation I received at the end was my reward and recognition for laying it all out for these great youth leaders from across the beautiful state of Vermont.

It was a whirlwind from then on out: hugs, handshakes, pictures, autographs, Just Wiggle Your Toes shirts dressing my new friends and supporters (HUGE thanks to Max for manning the merch!!) What an awesome event. I am so grateful and honoured that I was able to be a part of 2010 GYLC. Thank to you to everyone who attended and especially those who planned and worked so hard to put together such a great event!  Steve and I had a blast!!!

I got myself to sleep a little late on Monday night. My energy levels were jacked from the conference; and a lovely ray of sunshine kept me from wanting the night to end.  I did eventually absorb into my heavenly bed, sleepy deeply until I awoke to the Mad Caddies song “Why Must I Wait” - an awesome way to start the day for sure.  I showered, dressed for success and enjoyed a relaxing morning coffee (Starbucks in my room!) before heading on my way for Mt. Abraham’s Union School in Bristol, Vermont… I should add I headed ‘in style’ in my rental mini-van.  At least my hotel room was baller!

As I caravanned (pun intended) my way along the windy country roads to my destination I could hear words echoing in my head my mother had spoke to me before I  left “take lots of pictures.” My mom was super jealous that I was going to Vermont, as it is somewhere she has always wanted to visit. So along the way from school to school to hotel etc I not only wore the hats of pilot and navigator, but also the hat of drive-by photographer, stopping and snapping shots anytime something caught my eye. Many sights caught my eye in Vermont. I made many stops and snapped many shots.

My first two presentations at Mt Abraham Union School were so rad. I got standing ovations after both and was really feeling on my game. I was pretty stoked at the reception, especially considering time was a bit short leaving me not enough time to show my closing video.  To those of you reading, you this can watch it here. I felt so welcomed and appreciated at Mt Abe.  It is a pretty sweet feeling to be so far from home, but feel like you are right at home in the only place you need to be.  This is how the VTLSP students, audience and staff at Mt Abe made me feel.  Special thanks to the VTLSP students for helping to get a lot of Just Wiggle Your Toes shirts to your class mates.  I left a good amount at the school for anyone still wanting a shirt.  Donations from shirt sales are going back to your school. Shirts can also be found online here.  Mt Abe was as good as it gets in my books. I left there feeling stoked!

More drive-by photography ensued as I drove from Mt Abe to Vergennes Union High School. The students at Vergennes were awesome!  I had another stellar experience here and another standing ovation.  Four presentations in Vermont and four standing ovations. It appeared that Vermonters were stoked on our story, and I was stoked on Vermonters.  I spent a lot of time hanging around chatting well after the school day had ended at Vergennes.  This was a perfect way to end my little Vermont Tour.  Big thanks to everyone who watched me speak GYLC and then brought me to your school.

As I made my way back to my room at the Sheraton Burlington, I chased a Vermont sunset.  I stopped frequently to snap shots, instantly connecting them to my mom’s attention through the convenience of BBM.  She was taken by the impressive scenery, and so was I.  I found the pristine and rural landscape of Vermont to be very peaceful and comforting.  The serene vibe of the land seemed to translate into a relaxed vibe in the people that occupied it.  I noticed that many Vermont drivers drove under the speed limit, as did I.  And as my mini-van and I slowly sauntered our way through Vermont taking in the sights to be seen, I also noticed no jerks tailing me or aggressively passing me like I am used to when driving almost anywhere else I have ever driven.  It is almost like the attitude in Vermont is “what’s the hurry?”   In fact, I am thinking that these three words should adorn the license plates of all Vermont drivers.  I enjoyed this Vermont mentality.  It began to rain partway through my journey.  The skies opened up and unleashed a barrage of rain drops upon my windshield.  This rain coupled with the trees and rolling hills reminded me of home. I found comfort in the rain and endless greenery and the familiar safety hugs of mountains in the horizon.  To put it simply…  I LOVE VERMONT!  Just like my shirt says!  Thanks Lyndsay!

I spent most of the evening Tuesday responding to messages from students. The messages were numerous and at times seemingly never ending. My first response session was about two and half hours long. When I finished responding to everyone I put down my Blackberry and breathed an air of relief upon completion. I picked up my Blackberry ten minutes later and had another 12 messages. It was a busy night. But don’t get me wrong I love reading and responding to messages. If I didn’t love it I wouldn’t do it. It is really as simple as that.

A good amount of the messages I read thanked me for my visit and my story and message I gave at GYLC, Mt Abe, and / or Vergennes. A fair amount of messages shared personal stories of pain, loss and struggle. And a rather large amount of messages spoke of depression and suicidal thoughts. I have to say right now that I am not a counsellor. I have in life faced tough times and have learned to cope and find ways to overcome pain, grief and insurmountable challenges. My greatest hope is that by sharing my story and the strategies and lessons I have learned along the way that those who hear me will be inspired to find their own way and never give up.

Most people that write me speaking of depression or suicide sound as though they have been given a new perspective from my story.  My talk appears to be a turning point in people’s lives.  To be an inspiration for someone to persevere and never give up is something I feel both proud and grateful for, and the only thank you I ask for in return is to remember my story and message and never ever give up. I would never want anyone anywhere to take their own life.  I would never want anyone anywhere to extinguish the flame that is their life ending all potential for the happiness and greatness that could, should and most of all would have been had the person found a way to get through their tough time. Nor do I want any family or anyone anywhere to have to suffer with the pain, grief and unanswered questions left behind by someone they love taking their own life.

This is a call to action to anyone reading this that either has thoughts of ending your life and is truly considering it and also to anyone who is worried about someone they care about committing suicide. I recently added a new link to my website and I ask you to read the words on these pages. This is a Vancouver based resource but the information is universally relevant and useful.  There are also resources available in your own community that can offer first hand assistance and support. 

Now, for those friends out there supporting a friend through depression and suicide I have a story…

I recently called a school and talked to a counsellor about a student I was worried about. The messages the student in question had written me gave me a bad feeling, and I feared that this student could act on the words I was reading. The student was approached by the counsellor, and I am happy to say is now in regular talks and doing well.  Before I made that call to the school, I was worried that this student would feel I had betrayed them.  But when I looked at the bigger picture I realized I was more concerned that this student would end their own life. It was a tough choice, but I am happy to say that I made the right choice – a good choice.  This student did not get angry with me either.  Quite the contrary, this student has thanked me for making the call and keeps me updated regularly on the sessions she is getting.

If you are afraid for the well being, safety or life of someone you care about do not fear making a call and / or getting some proper or professional assistance for this person.  Help is available for anyone out there in need.  Just GOOGLE SUICIDE PREVENTION or HOTLINE and the city where you live.  No matter what a person might say, I feel confident in my conviction that no person wants to be left alone to fend for themself when pain is overwhelming.  No person truly wants to die.  They only feel they have run out of options.  But maybe you being a great friend can provide that other option.  Maybe by making that call to action you can save a life and a whole lot of pain.  Be a good friend and be there to support. If you are really fearful for someone you care for’s safety make a call. It could save that person’s life.

If it is you struggling with thoughts of giving up, please read these words carefully and know they are true.  Nobody wants you to give up. Not your family, friends, school or community. Nor do I. Please find a way to overcome your pain. Please seek out help because you never have to fight alone. Please believe me when I say that life will get better. It always does. And please trust me when I say that when we find a way to overcome the toughest battles in life, the joy and reward inherited through these victories is worth fighting for and never ever giving up for.  Your life has value; your life has meaning; and your life has purpose.  Sometimes we have to go down a pretty rough road to find that purpose, but take it from me there is always a sunny day hiding behind that dark cloud.  With every single day that I am alive I realize how grateful I am to have never given up when times were toughest.  I would never be where I am today (a great place, happier than I have ever been) if I hadn’t faced and conquered the challenges that I did.

I vow to always fight and never give up. I do this for me. I do this for the people who love me. I do this for you. Please do the same for you, for them, for us and for me.  Please make a vow right here and now to never give up and to always find a way.

Forever Finding a Way

-:)

Kevin

It’s Friday night and I am in Lloydminster, Alberta in my room here at the Holiday Inn.  It’s -25C outside with wind-chill, and I am damn glad that I am inside here and not out there…

Frozen tea-bags aside…  I can’t complain…  After all, this tour nearly didn’t happen.  Yes reminiscent of horror stories from my latest What The Halloween blog, yet again a rental car company took a proverbial pooh-pooh in the bed that is my life. 

After my presentation on Monday at the annual Bereavement Day put on by Valleyview Funeral Home in Surrey I headed home to pack for my current tour I am on (a knarly tour at that).  NOTE: The event at Valleyview was awesome.  The audience were great.  My friends from ICBC were there.  I got an awesome intro from the RCMP, and Marlyn from Valleyview is about the coolest lady ever.  I spoke in the same room where I watched my buddy Chris Whitmee’s funeral, so his chair beside me had extra significance on this day – that’s for sure. 

So before I packed my bags, I figured I should at least call the rental company and make sure that they didn’t screw up my order.  Good thing I called.  Too bad I called too late.  Like really, I just have to say this…  This is the third time a rental-car company at the Edmonton Airport has let me down.  Is it really that difficult?  Maybe if they didn’t pass me around like a bong packed with ineptitude - each teledork puffing their brains into further incompetence this BS wouldn’t go down…

“Sir could you hold please while I transfer you?” 

“Hi there sir, please hold while I transfer you.”

Dude, in one brief phone call to a rental car company I am transferred more times than gonorrhoea was in the Smoosh Room on Jersey Shore!

So I am pissed off.  Like seriously I am choked and I start cursing because well it makes me feel better to curse when I am angry.  And the manager being the saint that she is asks me to politely cease my cursing or else she will end our phone call.  I asked her if she really cared that I was swearing…  You know, I figured it was just some control trip she was on… Maybe her taking action from that most recent National employee training seminar where she learned that the “swearing of irrate customers should not be tolerated… blah, blah, GFYS“  Too bad they weren’t trained more effectively to book a car with a hand control.  If you did your job right, people wouldn’t be f*cking swearing!  But she insisted my frequent verbalization of F-Bombs was an issue. I tried explaining how I was swearing with her and not at her, but no luck.  So I swallowed my F’n pride and ceased my bombardment of Fs and Ss.

I barely made it to my flight in time after the three hours I spent attempting to fix the calamity National Car Rental had pulled me into.  Ironically as I waited in the customs line at Abbotsford Airport I watched a grown man (much older than me – I should add) have a little temper tantrum because he could not bring his hot sauce on the plane.  Yes I agree with the man that this is a STUPID rule.  In fact, I found myself in a similar situation in Arizona with some hot sauce just a year or so ago…  But a rule is a rule and a tantrum really isn’t going to change the minds of TSA in the name of national security.  I’m sure it never changed his mommy’s mind years ago when he layed down on the supermarket floor and screamed in protest that he wanted a cookie either.  Furthermpre, is it not common knowledge that terrorists pose a serious threat to national security each day with Habanero Pepper bombs planted in their pants?   Sadly, such is the way of the world in which we live.  Tantrum man looked so stupid smashing things around and pouting.  It definitely didn’t change the situation any, well that is besides making him look like an ass.  I found myself wondering if my swear tantrum on the phone earlier was any different… hmmm something to ponder.

So me and my clean mouth boarded West Jet flight # - I don’t remember and can’t be bothered to look it up…  I was pretty spent from the day I had just had, so I snoozed most of the flight.  An hour or so later, I landed in Edmonton and headed towards National Car Rental’s kiosk.  See on the ride to the airport by my favourite chauffer – my mom – I called National and asked them how I was going to get to my hotel since I had no car.  The manager Candace aka Swear Police, whom I had verbally vomited on earlier, actually apologetically offered to drive me to the hotel.  My results sans-swears definitely trumped that of those inundated with obscenities.  So I sheepishly rolled up to National embarrassed by my tirade I had unleashed earlier, and Swear Police or (SwoPo for short) is super sweet - this gentle kind soul.  Of course she is!  How can I stay upset at her?  SwoPo drives me to the hotel and we chat and get along superbly.  I apologize for losing my shit on her earlier.  SwoPo accepts my apology.  Diplomacy goes a long way.  SowPo even walked my bags into the hotel for me and even to my room where I had hinted earlier at a possible sleep-over and make up.  SwoPo declined the offer but did ask about my blog.  Apparently SwoPo had read my latest blog “What The Hell-O-Ween” and was wondering if I would come up with a nickname for her like I had for my drooling vampire cab driver from El Paso, Texas.  I told Candace she would be the Swear Police, and she was cool with that…  I never mentioned anything about SwoPo.

I woke up Tuesday morning and I was not feeling the day much.  For some reason I keep staying at this hotel in Leduc, Alberta called the Royal Executive Inn.  Actually the hotel is awesome except one minor detail.  The shower in the accessible room sucks.  Like I have to somehow toss my body over a two foot gap to land on the bench to take a shower.  Needless to say, I am at about 100% accuracy when it comes to missing and landing on the ground.  Now when all is good I kind of shrug this off, but with all the other crap on my mind ie: having no car and no guarantee that I would anytime soon – meaning I may have to cancel presentations I was none-too-stoked when I found my body sprawled across the shower floor.  I would be lying if I said I wasn’t upset… angry even…  more obscenities?  Yes sir E Bob.  But you know something?… I got over it.

I have this new take on life.  It’s like this new enlightened philosophy I have for when it comes time to face frustrations, challenges and even all-out-clusterf*cks.  What is this remedy for distress you ask?  I have come to understand that the universe has an unwritten law of balance.  What goes down must come up…  Well at least in the case of this philosophy.  I have come to trust that when things suck, the suckiness is actually only a prelude to something better coming along.  Life can’t always be a dark cloud.  So wait for the rain to fall and the dark cloud to pass and BOOM!! all of a sudden it’s sunny again.  This new awareness has brought me to a point where I almost welcome the challenging times.  On this trip I just kept telling myself “At least I am getting the shit out of the way at the beginning.  The rest will be all good!”

Well “all good” would be a blatant understatement if I were to use such a term to refer to my experience at New Sarepta Community High School.  Right from the moment I pulled up to the school in the back of a wheelchair van (the only thing cooler than a short bus or handi-dart) and was welcomed by Students Against Drinking and Driving aka S.A.D.D. students I knew this was going to be a good day.  Laura was the first to introduce herself.  This was only fitting as Laura initially contacted me and was instrumental in getting me to her school.  She even took it upon herself to raise all of the money to get me to her high school.  Talk about taking initiative!  How cool is that?  Everyone else I proceeded to meet between S.A.D.D. students, the remainder of the students, staff and Laura’s mom Janice and her little sister were all super cool and friendly.  The presentation was one I was quite proud of, and I believe that I left many wiggling their toes after hearing it…  I got a standing ovation.  Tre cool!  Afterwards, I had time to hang and chat with many students.  New Sarepta was not just a silver lining; they were a blast of sunshine on what had otherwise been a pretty dark twenty-four hours.  Thanks to everyone at New Sarepta: Laura, Courteney and the rest of the awesome S.A.D.D. group (I hope which grows after my visit).  Keep fighting the good fight.  And Janice thanks for the ride and lunch.  I met a lot of great people on Tuesday, and I have to say this is the single best part about these tours.  The people I meet.  Each trip I go on, I realize more and more that this world is full of amazingly awesome people.

Well it seemed the dog pooh had been cleaned from my shoe because as I left New Sarepta I learned that an awesomely awesome man named Jared who works for Enterprise Car Rental (my new company that I profess my loyalty to – JUST PLEASE DON’T SCREW UP!!!) had secured me a car with a hand control.  I would not have to cancel Wednesday’s talk in Midale!  I would not end up on the floor of a shower until the next time I visit Leduc, Alberta either.  This was great news! 

The journey from Edmonton, Alberta to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was awesome!  And I should probably add that I just might be the first person to ever proclaim such a statement.  I was just so excited to have a car.  I was so glad that the crap was in the past.  I had climbed the herniated hill and now I could coast down it with a smile.  My iPod played this epically unbelievable random setlist that had me yelling “NO WAY” a few times…  Nothing but hits!  I was smiling and loving life. 

NOTE: See the philosophy is legit people.  And you know how we all like being right?  Well not only does the contrast of bad to good make good seem really good and great seem really great and really great seem F’N AWESOME!!!  and so forth… you also get to tell the universe “I told you so!  I knew it would get better!!”  You get to HA-HA ala Neslon Muntz from the Simpsons at the very universe that just had you pinned under it’s thumb.  And who doesn’t like to throw down a well deserving good ol’ fashion “I told you so” from time to time??  Trust me… Shite eventually always turns to f’n alright!!  Just hang on.  Just CARRY ON!

I arrived in Saskatoon close to 11pm.  I was tired, but before bed I wanted to visit my pal Leanne at the Shark’s Club.  So I stopped at Shark’s and sipped cranberry juice until my eyelids began to scab over my eyeballs.  It was bed time.  My bed at the Days Inn in Saskatoon was absolutely HEAVENLY!  I recommend anyone visiting Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to stay at the Days Inn on Idylwilde Drive even if only for the bed…  I mean what else could be more important when purchasing a place to rest your head?  Like a mishap during a sock-hop slow dance, 6:30am came too early.  Still, on a mission, I was up and out of bed and on the road heading south west for Midale, Saskatchewan with a cup of rocket fuel aka: hotel room coffee by my side.

Four and half hours later I arrived at Midale Central School.  I had déjà vu as I approached the school.  It looked so much like a school in Oxbow, Saskatchewan I had visited and spoke at years earlier.  At least the location and proximity to the railroad tracks was very similar.  Did you really need to know that? NOPE.  Do you know it now anyways? YES.  Inside MCS I had a team of dudes setting up my AV and a really cool principal who gave me the green light to take as much time as I needed.  This usually means a kickass performance.  Says me anyways!  No, it is so much better for me to have no time limit.  I can relax and I can just let things unfold more organically.  Rather than fighting the clock, I am able to respond to the audience and my surroundings and thus a way more impromptu presentation ensues.  I like this.  And my audiences tend to as well.

The formal presentation at MCS is one I was also proud of.  I felt really on my game.  I felt on my game because I had no stress polluting the back of my brain.  My absolute favourite part of the talk was the Q&A period afterwards… Something I seldomly get to have due to time constraints.  The students were kind of slow to ask at first, but eventually one-by-one hands went up and a wide range of questions flew my way.  One question in particular really made for a lot of fun.  A student asked me how long I could stay in a wheelie.  I said I would try to stay in one for the rest of the presentation.  And I did.  So in a wheelie from then on out I rolled around the room weaving through isles of chairs to face the asker of each question.  Each time I wheelied or to be more technical manualled across the room the students laughed.  We really all bonded through this experience together, and I left Midale, Saskatchewan feeling on top of the world!  Even though I was technically near the bottom corner of the province. Thanks Midale!  You are all so AWESOME!

My cousin Phil has been working in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan so I stopped and had a visit with him en-route back to Saskatoon.  What can I say about Moosejaw?  Have you ever encountered the jaw of a moose in your life?  Do you think you’ll be upset that you didn’t?  Enough said.  I picked Phil up from the Norman Bates hotel - his company had obviously splurged on accomodations.  We first tried our luck with Thai food, but upon entering the restaurant and having our nostrils infiltrated with stank, we instead decided on a Pizza joint across the street.  Phil and I had a good visit and watched the Canucks stink it up in Piitsburgh.  It wasn’t just the Pho stankin this night - Luongo was having a bad one.  Through two periods I had seen enough.  I dropped Phil off and headed for Saskatoon.  I slept fewer hours than I would have liked again this night, but was pleasantly awakened to the inviting sounds of Streetlight Manifesto covering NOFX’s Linoleum.  Rise and shine!  I was ready to kick some butt again.

The drive to North Battleford was knarly.  A snow storm had hit Saskatchewan and visibility was extremely compromised.  Unlike the snow I am familiar with in my home province of BC, the snow in Saskatchewan is not damp or heavy.  The prairie wind blows powdery white plumes of frozen precipitation in all directions creating temporary blindness when submerged in the core of one of these snow clouds.  It was a white knuckle ride for the most part – at least until the sun rose anyways and visibility improved.  I arrived at John Paul II about in time – all things considered, I think everyone at JPII was stoked I arrived at all. 

This was one awesome presentation.  I have to say.  It’s funny too…  I kind of felt at first like I wasn’t reaching the students as well as I would like to.  They weren’t really laughing at my jokes or anything.  Now this wasn’t the first time I had been in situation like this with a quiet audience.  I assumed it was just the seriousness of the topic that created such a serious mood in the room - it was first thing in the morning too!  Knowing that my comedic skills are stellar even on a bad day (wink-wink), I assumed that people just didn’t realize that it was cool and ok to laugh at a joke during a heavy presentation like mine.  I feed off interaction…  So at one point, I got a few laughs and said something like “see it’s cool to laugh.  Please do!!”  And from there on it was like the audience relaxed and were able to fully embrace my presentation.  The response afterwards was so awesome.  I was bombarded with students asking questions, taking pictures, shaking hands and offering hugs.  This was the classic scenario of I REALLY DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE BUT I HAD TO.  I had a presentation I needed to get to and it was still a blizzard outside.  So off I went…  Super huge thanks to everyone at John Paul II.  You were so awesome!  I won’t forget any of you or the time I spent at your school.  Thanks so much for all of the great posts and messages and emails!! Thanks to the S.A.D.D. group and Turquotte family for your fund raising efforts that made my visit possible.   Lastly, thanks to Leanne for braving a blizzard to come watch me speak.

My next destination was a couple hundred kilometres away in the direction of north west.  The Muskoday First Nation community is just beyond Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.  This drive was knarly again.  There were times when blowing snow made it so hard to see that I’d come to a nearly complete stop along the highway.  But all in all the wintery scenery made for a refreshing change to the golden fields I usually gaze upon during my extensive solo journeys across the Canadian Prairies.  For anyone who hasn’t visited Saskatchewan but has heard about it…  You likely assume it is just as I mentioned above – endless fields of flatness.  But depending on the areas you go to, Saskatchewan is actually a very geographically diverse province.  Did you know that one half of Saskatchewan is forest, while only one third is farmland?  Well now you do.  And don’t you forget it!!  For some reason I am enjoying beaking you off right now… YEAH YOU!  I am onto you!  Moving forward…  Heading into Prince Albert there are massive forests.  And like a sight for sore eyes these trees were so welcoming and comforting to me.  No lie…  they reminded me of home. 

I arrived at Muskoday First Nation School a little later than I had planned, but I was still early nonetheless.  I am pretty sure the consensus was more of excitement that I actually made it than anything else.  I had survived blizzard number two!!  Getting to the school wasn’t the hard part though.  It was getting in.  The amount of snow that had accumulated in the parking lot was deep enough for my wheelchair to get stuck while approaching the school.  Thankfully there were some students also approaching the doorway who helped me out of the snow drift and into the school.  My audience was the smallest group I`d had during the tour making for an intimate and personal setting.  There were some very young students in the crowd, so I made sure to be as interesting and animated as can be.  I think the overall outcome was effective in reaching people in the room.  I was happy with my presentation and stoked when almost everyone in the room lined up to shake my hand after it was over.  As I left the school, a kind teacher helped me to my vehicle – thankfully because the wheelchair got stuck again.  Then as I attempted to drive away I got my rental car stuck.  Another teacher pushed me out and I considered only booking tours in Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico and Florida from now on in winter months.  Jason Filler take note - you turdburglar!  As for Muskoday First Nations School… Thanks to Michelle and CJ and everyone from S.A.D.D. and all of the people in attendance.  Special thanks to all of those who helped me out of the snow!  I might be a Crippopscycle if it wasn’t for you.

Leaving Muskoday, the roads were pretty snow covered.  My rental car with it’s awesome all season tires surprisingly fared well enough.  Eric Cartman, the voice of my GPS, led me to my destination in Prince Albert with profane directions (this wasn’t National’s GPS).  This Days Inn was definitely not as legit as the Days Inn in Saskatoon, but seeing I had last minute booked without looking at pictures or anything I really couldn’t complain much.  As I was building up my courage to face the cold ie: sitting parked in my rental car listening to music thinking FML it’s cold outside my phone rang.  I answered, never guessing who it could have been.  As it turns out it was Melanie Kaye a band promoter who runs Fat Wreck Chords Canada… and the Mike she was talking about that was totally onboard was none other than Fat Mike of NOFX! (If you watch this vid look for me off to the right onstage in the yellow shirt)  Once again that little kiddie giddie feeling that I have gotten so often in the past month returned.  Pennywise endorsing me; Volcom sponsoring me; and now Fat Wreck Chords – the home of almost every single one of my favourite bands being down to appear in my upcoming documentary Just Wiggle Your Toes.  This past month or so has been like a steady stream of dreams come true.

I spent Thursday night creating the playlist for Just Wiggle Your Toes and responding to as many messages as I could.  I also started a campaign to if not get my friend list increased, at the very least have Facebook take notice of my plight.  As many of you likely know I have maxed out on Facebook friends.  It sucks.  So many students want to add me as a friend and they get turned away.  I can’t add anyone either.  I started a group in vein in the summer that has over 3000+ people on it, but as of yet I`ve had no response from the powers at Facebook than can help resolve my friend list woes.  Well yesterday I got a message that inspired me to revisit this battle with replenished vigour.  A student wrote me this simple message…

“Please add me, you saved my life today”

Now, those simple words obviously speak a billion.  An influx of emotions hit me as I read this young students plea.  So I am standing up to Facebook (not bad for a dude in a wheelchair… standing up… too soon?)  I will do whatever it takes to get Mark Zuckerberg to read the words of me of you and of anyone else who wants to fight for my right to have more friends.  If you want to help me out please click here or here and send Mark a message.

I just sent this:

Please Add Me, You Saved My Life Yesterday

The subject is a message I got yesterday.

My name is Kevin Brooks. I speak to youth across North America about many issues that tragically affect and take the lives of young people. I have a huge following of young people, which is great because it keeps my story and message alive also spreads it to people I may never reach otherwise.

I have maxed out on Facebook friends and really want to know what I have to do to get more. The entire purpose I use Facebook is so kids are able to be inspired and motivated. Now kids are being turned away and it is very unfortunate. This issue could be the difference of saving or not saving a kids life one day.

Please Respond

Sincerely,

Kevin Brooks

I slept about as many hours Thursday night as I had slept combined in the two nights before.  I felt replenished enough this AM to even skip my now regular morning coffee ritual.  The air was bitter cold as I left my hotel.  Weather reports estimated upwards or would it be downwards of -24C with wind chill… in lamens terms DAMN COLD!  Cartman (My GPS) did not know exactly where the school was today.  I assumed the direction Cartman was leading me in would at least get me close enough to use my own noggin to figure out the rest.  Well maybe I should have had that coffee because either I wasn’t awake or else Wesmor School is really freakin hard to locate!  I drove aimlessly in snowy circles until finally running into a group of students from a neighbouring school that were actually walking over to see my presentation.  They gave me directions to the school; I told them to take their time because the speaker was having a hard time finding the school.

My talk at Wesmor was an awesome way to close out the week.  It was an intimate and casual vibe in the gymnasium.  I felt on my game and stoked and full of natural energy - pure and non-tainted by caffeinated beverages energy.  I am aware that there is an entertainment factor to what I do.  I need to engage an audience.  I try my best to always do this, but at the end of the day my greatest goal is to implant a valuable message that could change or save a life or lives.  I felt like I succeeded in all aspects of my speaking goals today.  I left Wemor with many new friends and a fresh loaf of banana bread as a small token of of my efforts.  Thanks so much to SGI for sponsorship and Ms. Foy and the S.A.D.D. club at Wesmor for bringing me to your school.  And huge thanks to the audience – students and staff alike.  You were great today!

Which leads me to this moment.  It is Friday night (Saturday morning now - so much for sleep!!) and I am writing this blog.  Directly to my front left is the most amazing looking King Sized bed.  To my immediate right is a flat screen TV.  I think it is time for me to retire for the night and get some much needed rest and chill time after this knarly week.  I am really looking forward to my presentation tomorrow in Onion Lake and my trip on Sunday to Vermont to speak at their state conference!  Steve is a coming soon!

Despite the challenges I have faced on this road trip I can only say positive things right here and now.  I have met a lot of great people, travelled many, many kilometres (over 2000 now) and have enjoyed experiences that I will never forget.  I love this journey I am on.  The open road is my path to purpose, happiness and fulfillment; all of you young people are my friends and inspiration.  We are bonded by our experience we share together each day.  It truly is our story because once I share our story with you, it becomes your story too. Lastly, before I go…  It can be a little lonely on the road.  I will admit.  Brittannia you are my roadie even though you are back home…  Your wit and electronic company have kept me constantly entertained.  Look out for those inland jelly-fish girl!

Until next time… 

\m/\m/

KevyMetal