A Weekend I Won’t Soon Forget

Pop soldier edited smallerI had an unfortunate reason for driving down to Tallahassee, Florida last weekend. My grandfather passed away but you know, it wasn’t really a dose of bad luck like the word ‘unfortunate’ would lead you to believe. He was 91. He lived a long time and got to see the next 3 generations of Wilders. He was married for over 60 years and was a romantic even till the last moments. My dad told us how, the day before he died, Pop kept saying “I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow.” That’s what he always told Mom Mom. He loved her. And not like the love that we often hear about today in the news and stuff. Here today and gone tomorrow. It was love, the kind that lasts through wars. Through distance. Through time. What an amazing privilege to not only see that, but be a result of that. He might be right in line with God on this one because in Psalms it says that God’s love endures forever. Seems like Pop’s love for Mom Mom was that kind of forever love.

So the whole weekend was more like a celebration of a long life, well lived. A lot of tears, but a celebration still. And if there is such a thing as luck, then I feel lucky, and always have, that Pop was my granddad. I remember in junior high feeling sorry for my friends because I had the best grandparents. It seemed unfair. It was a feeling of compassion for my friends, and excitement of being in the Wilder family. We are proud. And with Pop’s passing, I think our pride grew stronger, actually. I can speak for my brother and sisters, we are so proud to be Wilders.

Pop with familyWhile I was driving the 8-hour trip from Nashville, I thought about Pop, memories of Monticello, and growing up. Sometimes I couldn’t help but cry it out. I pretty much went straight to the hospital and had a chance to see and talk to Pop the day before he died. Sitting there with him and Mom Mom. Talking. Reading Isaiah 40. Crying (I thought I got all of that out in the car!). But these are memories I won’t soon forget.

Like the gigantic rainbow the morning after Pop died. The funny breakfast conversation with Mom Mom about relationships and breakups and her saying “Well, you know all about that.” Soccer in the park. A jungle gym pull-up contest with my brother and brother-in-law. Working on Pop’s memorial tribute video (and that’s Pop singing in the video!). Driving his truck. Seeing my oldest friends. Helping with the funeral program. Talking about our favorite Monticello memories, like getting our first beagle. My dad letting me have his warm Coast Guard jacket, which I already love. Peeing in the backyard at the same time as my brother-in-law and dogs, like the exact same time.  The circus.

The kindness of friends and neighbors bringing over so much food. Regret of not spending the night with Mom Mom the night Pop died. My sister Shannon playing a verse of “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” on the piano at the funeral. And the way she always sits up straight on the last note.

true loveRealizing I’m not as good as Pop was. How proud Pop was of my dad, and my dad’s career in the Coast Guard. Pop’s awesome picture with Mom Mom on the beach (on the right). People commenting that I walk just like my dad. My new “2013 National Championship” hat. Taking Pop’s Epiphone guitar back to Nashville.

All of these things will be remembered. But even today, a week later, it doesn’t seem real.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40: 28-31

-Out of the Wilderness

What To Talk About When You’re Riding An Elevator

I spend a lot of time in elevators at work. I’m running floor to floor, going to lunch, and of course leaving to go home. To avoid an awkward silence for 20 seconds, I’ve noticed there are a few go-to subjects, and these can work on any elevator across the country.

1. Weather. Try this: “Gosh, it’s so cold outside!” Note: There’s a better ROI when it’s so cold outside.

2. Day of the week. Try, “Hey, we’re a day closer to the weekend.” People like weekends. And this can naturally lead into…

3. “Any big plans for the weekend?” Also, be prepared to answer this very question.

4. If you’re feeling adventurous, try “They should’ve put stairs between the floors.” Using this will add “athletic” to your reputation, whether you ever workout, play sports, or use any stairs ever.

5. Another common topic is where the car is because my work location is above 9 floors of parking. If we don’t park where we always park, we’re lost for another 5 minutes.

Do you ride elevators? If so, what do you talk about? Comment below!

A Riddle

Here’s the riddle: You can jump in it, take it, and throw it. What is it?

Well, I’ll tell you what it’s not… me. For about 3 days Nashville was so cold the pipes to the water heater froze. Think about that for a second: No hot water. So if your thoughts led you to to the conclusion that I must not’ve taken a shower during that time, well I won’t confirm or deny. But I will say this: there wasn’t a moment were I stood in a tiled enclosure and let water fall on me. Glean from that what you will.

-Out of the Wilderness

shower

The Longest Runway Ever

I recently met up with a few friends to watch The Fast and the Furious 6. We all kind of knew what to expect. The cars wouldn’t be slow and happy. There would be comedy relief thanks mostly to Tyrese. But one thing we didn’t expect is the… cue the three one-word sentences… longest. runway. ever. Runways in most movies are your standard size, sometimes short enough to cause a dramatic barely-avoiding-disaster takeoff. But this one? Nope. Plenty of room ahead, guys. Take your time. We need you to keep the engines at full throttle for the entire final act of the movie. It’ll be fine. It’ll make sense.
Fast-and-Furious-6-airplane-crash-scene

-Out of the Wilderness

Dr. Mario on Nintendo

Maybe because you wanted it, got it as part of a bundle deal, it was inherited through marriage, or you just never got rid of the N64 you had in college, but according to Nielson research over half of all households own a gaming console. That doesn’t mean everyone actually plays them, like my Wii, for instance. Up until a few weeks ago, I almost forgot I had it and that’s when it occured to me that I should either use it or sell it. So I fired it up. There are the obvious favorites like Wii bowling, Mario Kart, and often my choice, Excite Truck. But it was one of my first few friends in Nashville that got me hooked on Dr. Mario. Sarah and her roommate Kara had an original Nintendo so on nights I was downtown working late, I’d stop by their apartment on the way home. I’d say it was to unwind with a few Dr. Mario wins, but 1. The matches were intense and 2. Sarah usually won.
drmario2

Now I have Dr. Mario on the Wii and when I powered the console on, I decided to call in a prescription that can only be filled by one guy. A plumber actually. That’s right. I knocked off the rust and sharpened my virus-killing skills. There’s a reason why this particular game has been popular since it’s introduction in 1990. I’m obsessed. I play in the morning, in the evening, during halftime of any game I’m watching. Manipulating the pills as they drop is as addicting as real pills! I almost feel like I need to go to rehab. But it’s not a problem, I can quite whenever I want.
drmario1

-Out of the Wilderness