Backpacking through Europe in 1994
Introduction 6
The Last Weekend
September
This iconic photo of the Dome Crew was taken on Sunday, September 5, the day after Kyle’s wedding. We were all in the wedding, supporting him in various roles.
Kyle Gilson, Curt Vance, Doug Brunnert, Tim Skrastins, and me, leaning up against the Cadillac Doug had rented to drive to the wedding, and behind that is “Stuck”, Curt’s always reliable 1978 GMC Jimmy. Always reliable, that is, to get stuck when 4-wheeling.
This is the day we all ended one chapter of our lives and began new ones. We had been roommates throughout the formative years of college, lived together, eaten together, played together, stressed out together, pulled all-nighters together, gone on road trips together, and of course, partied together.
A couple hours after this picture was taken, we all went our separate ways and started new lives.
However, not only has the Dome Crew remained friends through the years, we have grown closer as we have gone through the trials and tribulations, joys and sorrows of life together. These are my Brothers.
I will always define the chapters in my life of “Ending College” and “Going Off to Europe” with this photograph.
We said our goodbyes and farewells, and Curt and I got into Stuck and drove the two hours to Pam and John’s house in Omaha.
Thirty years ago tomorrow, he would take me to the Omaha airport, and I would get on a plane with a one-way ticket to Ireland. When I landed, I honestly and literally had no idea what I was going to do next.
HOLY SHIT, THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING!!!