The Homies
“Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future”
There are times in your life when you’re in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.
It’s not planned…..it just happens……
I’ve had this happen a number of times in my life with being in a play with a good cast or on a championship football team, but the universe spoke when it put me with my 6 best friends. And let’s just call them what we call ourselves; The Homies
What are the odds that my older brother/mentor/best friend would move to Dillon, MT from Los Angeles, CA for a job? What are the odds that 6 families would move to this small town, have children, raise their kids with similar philosophies, and that we would all be in the same grade? They are truly astronomical…….in a town of less than 5,000 people no less.
Life throws you lots of challenges and bumps in the road. But it also throws you opportunities and people.
I was fortunate enough to create a family of guys who motivate me daily, inspire me regularly, support me unconditionally, and no matter what……love me.
Three of our group were born and raised in Dillon (Andy, Josh, and Tobin), another was born in Butte, MT but raised in Dillon (Steve), I was born in Livingston, MT and lived in Yellowstone National Park, WY but moved to town when I was just shy of 2 years old. Another friend (Casey) moved to Dillon in 1st grade from Bountiful, UT and had deep family roots in the area, and our final member, Brent, moved to town in 7th grade from Jackson, CA but also has about the deepest lineage you can have in Dillon.
So there we were and here we are.
Growing up together, we were always friends. Our circles came and went, and our group didn’t completely gel until we were Juniors in High School at Beaverhead County High School (BCHS).
Steve and I have been friends since before 1st grade. Our parents aligned politically and were in the same circles so we naturally were around each other.
Andy, Josh, Tobin, and Casey and I have all been friends since 1st grade when we were classmates at Mary Innes Elementary School (where I was for three years; Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade).
I was one of the first people to introduce myself to Brent when he moved to Dillon and we were in class together in 7th Grade at Dillon Middle School (DMS).
Being in school together, playing on the playground, and playing sports on the same or opposite team were all reasons why we knew each other. But that wasn’t what brought our group together. And quite frankly, it’s hard to put my finger on what it truly was that formed our group.
Steve, Josh, Tobin, and I really started to hang out together in 6th grade regularly at DMS relating on being Cypress Hill, Insane Clown Posse (ICP), and Marilyn Manson music fans. We also watched a lot of Worldwide Wrestling Federation (WWF) matches and Jackass (which we tried to recreate as our own series calling it ‘Smart Ass’). Andy began hanging out with the rest of the group more often during our Freshman year at BCHS while playing football on the Froshmore Team together, Brent was around our sophomore/junior year, and Casey came around junior year which is when we fully bonded and became "the Homies." It was a gradual organic process.
Most people lose touch when they go to college. But we didn’t. We also didn’t stick together on our journeys either and went on separate paths. But over 25 years of knowing each other and over 20 years of friendship……here we are.
As I was in Hawaii, or Coeur d’Alene (Cd’A), or California, or back to Cd’A we all stayed in touch. College is a journey in and of itself but we made it through. We’ve navigated relationships, marriages, children, and still remain brothers.
At this point, their kids are my nieces and nephews, their wives/girlfriends are sister-in-laws, and we’re family above anything else. Hell, they’re Kiwi’s (my daughter) uncles and had a big part in raising her.
It’s been work. There’s been ebbs and flows. But the intent and desire to remain friends and more importantly, become family has never ended.
I live very intentionally, work hard, and always combine my experiences to achieve in my life. But in order to be successful you also need a little luck.
And man……did I get lucky with this group of guys…….the Homies
Peace/Love