Nostalgia Setting In

October 7, 2009

Nostalgia Setting In

The banjo strumming is sweet melodic notes tickling my ear as we sit in a room and argue about which pictures we think are worthy of being in our scrapbook. Where has this season gone? Too fast is definitely the answer. We are reminiscing on all the amazing adventures we have had together as we agree on how when you are not happy doing things time moves slow, but when you are enjoying life and living it up it moves quicker than you can imagine. This is absolutely true as our season has come and gone in the blink of an eye.

We have been in the Bitterroot National Forest all season and it has been exactly where we are supposed to be. I am a believer in fate and know this is where we were meant to be as we have worked in the most incredible places and with the most amazing people. Just to let you know who you are dealing with in this moment we are the Bitterroot Bad Aces (as to be appropriate and professional). This consists of Andrea Walker (Andreoto), AJ Edwards (HaaaaaCheeeee/Jesus, insert Big Lebowski reference), Carly Fetzer (FetzBags), Jena Bullis (JennnnaaaBulliss/Jenners), Greg Aerni (Gregoryoto/Moose Knuckle), Schuyler Hollingsworth (Sky Bags/Old Schuyler/Sky Pants) and Vincente Garcia (Vinnie/Uncle Vinnie/Vincenzo). Everything has been as it should be from the word go with this crew. Hate to break it to all of ya’ll who have had a storming faze, but we have been fortunate enough to not have one of those and always been accepting, loving and supportive of one another. I never thought I would be fortunate enough to experience another AmeriCorps year as good as last year, but I must admit this season has exceeded all I had hoped for.

Thank you to our crew for their hard work and FLEXIBILITY! No matter the work, the time, the place, the questionability of how we would actually make certain things happen – nothing ever matters! Ya’ll are always game for anything! I love it! And also, thank you for your insanity! Weather it be chalk drawings on our faces, pants up to your chest, cheese, early (4:00 am!) mornings and random things written on the fogged up windows (you know what I mean ), harassment of one another, any and everything that has to do with all of us is what I love and thank you for. Soooooo, at this moment we are now going to inform you on the ways that the Bitterroot Crew is and will continue to be near and dear to my heart. This is our Top 10 memories (this has been very hard!) of our season.

10. Schuyler is narcoleptic and falls asleep any and everywhere in any amount of time. So much that we can actually pile up things; such as sticks, pine cones, crackers and anything and never wake up. Oh, and Sky Bag’s Christmas tree that exposed it’s self during a camp fire dinner,
9. Weinertitsville and the citizens of this city, the Bo-oobians.
8. Dave Lucas and Conan, without which we would have never gotten safely to a hitch location. Oh, and to the mule #99, who always carried our bear boxes full of food. Such a Brute!
7. FUPA. My FUPA shake brings all the boys to the yard. That’s all we got on that.
6. Jena’s Chasm, nuff said
5. Ghost town, USA. Code word for, “I just flatulated in the small enclosed space that is the rig.”
4. Steve Bull and Charlie Mabout, the real Bad Aces of the Bitterroot National Forest.
3. Vincente’s super hero tighty whities during every river crossing we ever had( my favorite was always IronMan).
2, Carly’s water crossings. She always fell in
1. CROSSCUTTING! The most beautiful thing. The sing of the crosscut as you are in sync with your partner. We definitely crosscut the most knarly logs this season and we kicked their butts!!!!!!

Another thank you to all the members in the MCC who make our jobs possible and give us the opportunity to be your “white hats.” Without you and all of your dedication, loyalty and love, this job is not possible. Thank you and we love you! To all the Crew Leaders out there: the wonderful times at all of our joint trainings, the new friendships formed, lessons learned, hardships (without which we wouldn’t have the opportunity to develop) and the all around love we have developed for Shannon Stober…so belt buckles? ,

Bitterroot Bad Aces
Andrea and AJ's Crew
Western Wildlands