Pushing Through
I have to say that it’s been a really intense year of emotions flowing from injury, loss, recovery, and love. I’m in the middle of a divorce. My soon to be ex-wife is living in the house diagonally behind the one I’m in now and we’re co-parenting our ten-year-old son. It all seems to be working out for now, surreal as it is.
On the heels of my strange new existence, I’ve managed not to go full midlife crises, avoiding drowning myself in booze and younger women as the stereotype goes. No heart attacks to speak of. I keep showing up to the office no matter how much drama or negative energy awaits vowing to smoke-out and re-tool or vanquish any remaining dark energies.
In the midst of what at times seemed like crossing over into a parallel universe of the most fantastic fashion, I managed to keep on skating. While rolling around, I solidified old relationships and struck up new ones. Sometimes, I found people. Sometimes, people found me. From the young and old, rich and impoverished, politician and public servant, sane and insane, I sought regularly for yet another year to record and document what time allowed for on the streets of downtown Indianapolis no matter the degree of protest or praise.
For the past couple of years, I have focused more on videoing myself while skateboarding. This is accomplished and made possible, in a way that wasn’t previously available without a film crew, thanks to 360 cameras. I primarily and prefer to use a GoPro Max, but also shoot some with an Insta360. I’m glad to be able to do this now as I have no idea how much longer I’ll be skateboarding. Hopefully I’ll still be pushing through into 2025 and beyond. That’s the plan.
Below are my favorite videos of 2024:
Homeless Hustlers & Hustling: Jonathan Powell is never short on tips when it comes to being homeless. I meant him years ago and could write a whole chapter or two on my interactions with him. May he one day overcome the streets again.
On the Heart Trail: Signs, signs, everywhere a sign.
Hanging out with Hudnut: I’m not doing anything incredible, but it still seems incredible to me to be skateboarding downtown Indy long after the passing of one of Indy’s most beloved mayors.
Back to the Roller Rink: A trip with Buck to the Roller Cave roller rink brought me 4 wheels to 8 for the 1st time in 30 years. It seems to be a new addiction, although, nowhere near as strong as my skateboarding addiction.
The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade: Not only did unicycling extraordinaire Eddie Moffat make an appearance, but Mayor Joe Hogsett finally acknowledged me and actually shook my hand after ignoring me for years.
Larry, The Most Banned Man on Local Radio: After years of hearing his voice on local radio, I finally heard it on the streets of Naptown. What the heck does that sign say?!
Solar Eclipse of the Heart: After doing my TikTok live video interviewing people in town for the 4/8/2024 solar eclipse, I made it back home to Arrowhead just in time to see it with my family and neighbors.
The Agony of Defeat: I race to keep up with the peddle cars during their annual race around Monument Circle. This is one of my favorite, but most intense things to film as I struggle to keep up.
Stomp That Foam: This video allegedly made it all the way back to the owner of the company that produces this foam and may be my most watched video. Stomping on it like that ruins the integrity of the product, allegedly.
Post Indy 500: Young Mantis, Official Snarp, Jackleston and crew happen to be sitting on a corner I skated up to after a long day at a rain delayed Indy 500. Lucky for me, I had my WWE Gold Board under foot. Not long after, my son and I met up with him and 50 or so other people at the Red Lobster for one of Young Mantis’s videos. I think Long Silvers should make it into one of his 2025 videos somehow.
Skate-by Journalism: Fox 59’s Russ Mcquaid caught in a skate-by.
Piano Man About Town: Matt Soverns performs in this video in-between pushing his piano around the Mile Square. I met him during covid and ended up going to his album release party. He’s a great guy who’s struggling to make a living in music. I wish him well in 2025.
Nunchucku on Display: I was afraid he was going to hit somebody in the head so I decided to display how to properly use the weapon. I don’t think he paid much attention. To his nunchucku, me, or anyone else.
Teaching Armani How to Use My 360 setup: I love letting other people video. The GoPro Max on a stick makes it almost impossible to screw up. Armani did a pretty good job. Haven’t seen him since.
Videoing Overly Secure Security Guards: This production crew just wasn’t having it, but it’s not easy catching up to a 51-year-old on a skateboard. I’ll skate all the way around City County and come popping out on the other side where you least expect it.
Lost My Wheel: I had been skating on cruising wheels not realizing that some of my ollies and higher impact tricks were cracking the cores of these wheels. I finally stopped skating them after destroying my 3rd set of them.
Drum Core Stalker: I will find you where you practice. No drummer is safe. If I hear the drums, I will come a filming.
The Overpriced Street Psychic and Her Attack Dog: Living on the streets is rough. Even for a dog with a Skateboard bug. The poor owner of this dog lived out in front of the building next door to my office for in the summer. I heard rumors that she had passed. Her whereabouts and current status as dead or alive are unconfirmed.
Skateboard Giveaway: Jonesing for a skateboard, I couldn’t resist giving my worn down WWE board away. I never saw J again. There are 2 other videos of him skateboarding prior to this one.
Another GD Kickflip Challenge: People never stop asking me for a kickflip. They’re especially demanding and surly after Colts games.
Surviving Cancer and Skateboard Falls: Outside the cancer hospital where I received chemo and blood transfusions in 2014, I enlist some help with my camera and attempt to show off before wiping out.
The Mayor of Mass Ave: Yvonne gets around downtown almost as much as I do but without wheels. A long time subscriber of my YouTube channel, we finally meet on the streets of Naptown.
The Bike Life: Joey Arakawa, Eden, and the gang make for great filming when they’re on their bikes, and are a little reminiscent of the Bad News Bears when they’re not. I hope to run into them again when the weather gets better.
The Girl in The Thumbnail: A suit always draws a lot of attention. Especially when skateboarding around in one with lots of grey hair. The girl in the thumbnail and at the beginning of the video messaged me to let me know who she was after seeing herself in the video on Instagram. Sax Man ends rounds out the video. This is one of my first rides after a long bout of pneumonia.
Motorcycle Stunts On Parade: Anyone who’s every been downtown for a parade has most likely seen the IMPD Motorcycle Drill team in Action. I like to get up close and personal. So far, I haven’t been arrested.
Ready for Take Off: All it takes is one little stick on the ground to throw me off my game. When I go down hard, my best trick is getting back up. As Pee Wee would say, “I meant to do that.”
The Love Bug: Something is happening inside me. I’ve never had it like this before. How could this be? I thought I’d be lonely and blue, then along came something so utterly perfect and true.
The Start of Something Big: After an afternoon of roller skating, I was filled with anticipation as I waited for a visit from one of my dearest friends. What better way to relax my mind and burn off some of that pent up energy than a little skateboarding.
One Last Stranger Skate Session in 2024: It’s amazing how many people get excited to see a skateboard. It’s even more amazing how many people ask to skate my board. I’m usually happy to oblige. I could feel the good vibes here.
The Last Tango of 2024: I wish there were better services for those with mental illness living on the streets. Our country has failed us. Our state has failed us. Our city has failed us. We have failed ourselves. I am lost without answer. I can only be kind and move on during communication breakdowns.
Skata Claus is Rolling Cross Town: Christmas never seems quite right unless Skata Claus makes an appearance inside the Mile Square. Although the sidewalks were as salty as some of the people downtown, no accidents were had, and all was merry and bright.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!