A Summer to Remember
1
I’ve finally done it. I have been sober for a couple years now; with the help of Jonathan Toews I have finally gotten myself under control. I’ve changed my look so that my hair never gets long enough to touch my shoulders. I’ve had the support of the Blackhawks organization and my parents and family during the summer. My sister Erica has actually told me that she’s not embarrassed to be seen with me anymore when my hair is almost as long as hers.
It’s been a total of 5 years since Natalie walked out on me and on us and our relationship. I’m a veteran hockey player for Chicago now just like back when I was 19. I had a slump back then going through the first few months but I cleaned up my act and became another one of the stars on the team. I’m up there with Ovechkin and Crosby again in the running for the top point scorer on the team like before. My hockey is improved and I’m happier than I was before, but until I get her back I’m not going to be as happy as I should be.
“Hey Mom, I just wanted to let you know that I’m flying home tomorrow. So if you could pick me up at the airport around 3 that would be great. Yep, love you too, thanks, bye.” I said hanging up with my mom. She knew the struggle I was having with Natalie. So when I had told her that I was coming home this summer to get her back she was of course excited. She hadn’t seen her at all lately either. Natalie’s parents had moved a couple years ago across town apparently. Natalie must’ve had something to do with that one she didn’t want any more contact with anyone with the last name Kane.
I had packed all the necessities up in the high class apartment in Chicago. It wasn’t that much to do since I barely spend any of my time here anyway, especially during the season. During the season the fridge is bare with only bottles of water and maybe some fruit but that’s about it. It used to be filed with beer and other alcohol but as I’ve already mentioned I am completely sober and with more class. I went to the Jonathan Toews’ school at that. I hated that so fucking much but all he kept telling me was to think about Natalie, and how much I cared about her, and I would do all this stupid stuff for her if she was here and she wanted me to do so.
Johnny also taught me to play the guitar. I didn’t think it was necessary at first but next to athletes chicks eat that romantic music crap up! I had learned a couple songs that I knew Natalie loved. Being a big rap fan, I wasn’t too into her song selection at first but I’ve come around. I learned the song “Crow and the Butterfly” By some band called Bright down? No, Shinedown, that’s it. At least I’m pretty sure. Whatever it is, I actually kind of like the lyrics:
Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
Dandelions lost in the summer skies
When you and I were getting high as outer space
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late
It’s kinda strange how much the lyrics connect to what’s going on right now. If you think about it, I’m the crow chasing Natalie the butterfly, other than the drug part of getting high and everything that’s basically out relationship. I put away my guitar that I got for my birthday from Jon a couple years ago in its black case. Then I packed away my clothes. My clothes were the one thing that hadn’t really changed throughout the years, which I am very thankful for considering I like my look.
Tonight I was going to have one last party before we all left to go back to our home towns to see our family. I had invited all the new rookies, and all the veterans that have been there with me since the beginning. Coach Q was there and some wives and girlfriends that lived in town with us. Most of them were pretty thankful that I was finally trying to go after her. Every single time someone told me I rolled my eyes at them. “Aw my peek-a-boo is finally growing up.” Patrick Sharp joked giving me a hug. I laughed at him, “Yep I guess so Sharpie.” I continued to mingle through the rest of the party.
Troy Brouwer and John Scott were playing NHL10 with my face on the cover from about 6 years ago. “Are you kidding me?” I heard from across the room. “That was a trip! Where’s the call ref?” Troy Brouwer stood up angry at the video game. “I’m done with this game.” He threw the controller down on the couch and walked over to the kitchen for a drink. “And this is why I’m not a fan of video games.”Carmen Brouwer said to some of the people around her.
It was an all around good night to end with. I said goodbye to everyone that left and they all wished me luck tomorrow. I thanked them and said I really didn’t need it. But in my mind I was actually freaking out. I didn’t know what I was going to come home to tomorrow. I was really hoping she hadn’t changed a lot. I liked Natalie the way she was. I loved her the way she was.
It’s been a total of 5 years since Natalie walked out on me and on us and our relationship. I’m a veteran hockey player for Chicago now just like back when I was 19. I had a slump back then going through the first few months but I cleaned up my act and became another one of the stars on the team. I’m up there with Ovechkin and Crosby again in the running for the top point scorer on the team like before. My hockey is improved and I’m happier than I was before, but until I get her back I’m not going to be as happy as I should be.
“Hey Mom, I just wanted to let you know that I’m flying home tomorrow. So if you could pick me up at the airport around 3 that would be great. Yep, love you too, thanks, bye.” I said hanging up with my mom. She knew the struggle I was having with Natalie. So when I had told her that I was coming home this summer to get her back she was of course excited. She hadn’t seen her at all lately either. Natalie’s parents had moved a couple years ago across town apparently. Natalie must’ve had something to do with that one she didn’t want any more contact with anyone with the last name Kane.
I had packed all the necessities up in the high class apartment in Chicago. It wasn’t that much to do since I barely spend any of my time here anyway, especially during the season. During the season the fridge is bare with only bottles of water and maybe some fruit but that’s about it. It used to be filed with beer and other alcohol but as I’ve already mentioned I am completely sober and with more class. I went to the Jonathan Toews’ school at that. I hated that so fucking much but all he kept telling me was to think about Natalie, and how much I cared about her, and I would do all this stupid stuff for her if she was here and she wanted me to do so.
Johnny also taught me to play the guitar. I didn’t think it was necessary at first but next to athletes chicks eat that romantic music crap up! I had learned a couple songs that I knew Natalie loved. Being a big rap fan, I wasn’t too into her song selection at first but I’ve come around. I learned the song “Crow and the Butterfly” By some band called Bright down? No, Shinedown, that’s it. At least I’m pretty sure. Whatever it is, I actually kind of like the lyrics:
Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
Dandelions lost in the summer skies
When you and I were getting high as outer space
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late
It’s kinda strange how much the lyrics connect to what’s going on right now. If you think about it, I’m the crow chasing Natalie the butterfly, other than the drug part of getting high and everything that’s basically out relationship. I put away my guitar that I got for my birthday from Jon a couple years ago in its black case. Then I packed away my clothes. My clothes were the one thing that hadn’t really changed throughout the years, which I am very thankful for considering I like my look.
Tonight I was going to have one last party before we all left to go back to our home towns to see our family. I had invited all the new rookies, and all the veterans that have been there with me since the beginning. Coach Q was there and some wives and girlfriends that lived in town with us. Most of them were pretty thankful that I was finally trying to go after her. Every single time someone told me I rolled my eyes at them. “Aw my peek-a-boo is finally growing up.” Patrick Sharp joked giving me a hug. I laughed at him, “Yep I guess so Sharpie.” I continued to mingle through the rest of the party.
Troy Brouwer and John Scott were playing NHL10 with my face on the cover from about 6 years ago. “Are you kidding me?” I heard from across the room. “That was a trip! Where’s the call ref?” Troy Brouwer stood up angry at the video game. “I’m done with this game.” He threw the controller down on the couch and walked over to the kitchen for a drink. “And this is why I’m not a fan of video games.”Carmen Brouwer said to some of the people around her.
It was an all around good night to end with. I said goodbye to everyone that left and they all wished me luck tomorrow. I thanked them and said I really didn’t need it. But in my mind I was actually freaking out. I didn’t know what I was going to come home to tomorrow. I was really hoping she hadn’t changed a lot. I liked Natalie the way she was. I loved her the way she was.
