Day 46
Location 11: Aarhus
Dec. 16, 2022
A few weeks ago, the NFL experimented hosting a football game (not "soccer football", but American football) in Munich, Germany. The event was a success, but the most memorable aspect was when 75,000 Germans sang John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads in unison. People were quick to point out the hypocrisy of a country and continent that touts their rich culture singing such a deeply American song while attending such a deeply American sporting event.
In any case, this song has special significance to me because when I was 11, my mom sang this song at a karaoke night. In front of real people. Like any 11 year old watching their parent existing in public, I was mortified. It was traumatizing.
Now, looking back, I realize it was actually supremely badass. Despite never having done karaoke, she got everyone involved so expertly that the entire crowd was yelling the lyrics with her by the second chorus. She brought the house down–it was epic!
Anyway, all that is to say that my friends in Denmark brought me along to a house party. It was a mix of nationalities: French, German, Belgian, Dutch, Canadian, British, and more. At some point, a certain song came on and everyone started singing their little American hearts out.
On August 19, 2018 I was attacked. Not physically per se, but via social media by my good friend Jake Frittola. We were at a bar with some friends when I attempted to balance three empty beer bottles in a stack with an ash tray tree topper. Jake, bemused and notably irritated by my attempt to capture greatness, started taking photos to tear me down. Lucky for me, his photos could not tear me–nor my tower–down. The beer bottles and I (and the ash tray) stood tall, and I reposted his photos as my own, but with a happy ending.
A few moments later an employee told me "stop that" to which I immediately realized "oh right, this is a bad idea, Jake was right".
Anyway, all that is to say I reached out for greatness again in Denmark only for it to elude my grasp:
