Mom: What are some of your favorite memories growing up?
Austin: My favorite memory is going to Lake Chelan or snow skiing. I love family gatherings for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Those are always my favorite. I love catching up and having great laughs. It’s my favorite thing to have funny conversations and we all start belly laughing. Lake Chelan is probably my favorite. It’s my favorite place in the whole world and I would live there if I could.
Mom: How does your first home run or your first touchdown rank?
Austin: It’s good, but it’s not overly inspiring. It didn’t make want me to be a NFL or MBA star or anything.
Mom: Do you remember how it felt to get your first home run?
Austin: It was amazing!! I didn’t think I could hit the ball that far. I was doubting myself and then I did it!
I remember getting a phone call from my uncle Jeff and he said “A ROCK!!!”
Mom: How does your trip to Europe rank in your memories?
Austin: That’s got to be near the top. That’s when my turnaround happened with all my social issues. I got out of my comfort zone. I met people and I had so much fun with them. It felt like we were best friends on that trip. Not only were the people amazing, I got to see stuff I just read about in text books.
Mom: Where did you go?
Austin: Italy and Greece. In Italy we went to Rome. Rome was really fun. My favorite was going to the Colosseum or the Sistine Chapel. I don’t know what it is, but seeing something ancient is fascinating. Reading about it in text books is boring, but seeing it for yourself is crazy. I never thought I would get to go there in my whole life. I’m incredibly grateful.
Austin: We also went to Greece. Greece was my favorite part of the trip. Italy has more history, but Greece was amazing. Everything was foreign. Food was different. I hated the toilets there. I don’t want to go into full detail, but the toilets were disgusting.
Austin: We first stopped in Delphi where the Oracle is in Greece. That was my favorite part of the trip. The whole town is on a hillside. The people in Delphi and even in Athens were so nice, even to foreigners. The people were so happy. I don’t feel like you see that very many places. I mean, it’s a country that is in turmoil financially and yet they are so happy.
Mom: I just have a few more questions.
Austin: Okay.
Mom: Pizza or burgers?
Austin: Burgers, any day.
Mom: Ice cream or cookies?
Austin: Ice cream.
Mom: If you had to lay in a pit of snakes or pit of spiders what would you choose?
Austin: Ooh…that’s a hard one.….I’m not too fearful of spiders. I don’t know if I like snakes too much, but I’d probably pick snakes. I’m not scared of one spider, but a thousand of them. I’d probably poop my pants.
Mom: You have to choose one of these options. Would you rather have your mom sing the national anthem at your school assembly or perform a dance I’ve choreographed?
[head in hands…rubbing temples]
Austin: I’d rather have you sing.
Mom: Does this make you feel incredibly uncomfortable to think about.
Austin: It kind of does, but I’d rather have you sing.
Mom: If you could have one super power what would it be and why?
Austin: Time travel. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time to change something I said, because I feel like a dumb ass for saying it.
[Mom laughing...knows full well how that feels.)
Austin: Or I’d like to go back in time to better prepare myself for something I've done. Or maybe go into the future and see what I’m like, but that kind of scares me.
Mom: I’d go back in time and spend more time with you as little kids. I’d relive those moments over and over again, except for maybe some of those tantrums you threw.
Mom: What is important to you in life?
Austin: Being happy and finding people I appreciate and love. I could care less if I’m popular around school or anywhere else. I just want to spend time with people who like me for who I am and think I’m funny.
Mom: That’s important, really important. I’m so glad you said that. Having a good group of friends and people whom you love is what's most important.
Austin: I could care less about being the richest man in the world or the most famous man in the world, I just want to be with people who I love and who love me.
Mom: These leads me to my next question. How do you define success?
Austin: How happy you are.
Mom: How do you define happiness? What makes you feel happy?
Austin: Something that makes you feel warm inside. Doing work you love.
Mom: If Grandpa were here right now what would he say to you?
[Austin smiling]
Austin: He’d say, “TURN THAT DAMN TV OFF!!!”
[cracking up]
Mom: Yeah, he would say that.
Austin: He’d also say, “Good man! Good man!” He’d say that all the time.
Austin: I miss grandma and grandpa. I want to be just like them. I want to be just as happy as they were. I mean, they didn’t care how much money they had. The worked their tails off, but they loved being with the family and doing family activities. They loved camping at Lake Chelan State Park. That’s not luxurious at all, but I would absolutely love to do something like that because you get to hang out with your family.
Austin: They just cared about making other people happy and being happy themselves.
Mom: What else do you think Grandpa would say to you? Do you think he’d say he’s proud of you?
Austin: I think he’d say he was happy with me, happy I have a great group of friends and happy I'm going to college.
Mom: How did I get so lucky to have a son like you?
Austin: You take the time to make us happy. You care about us more than yourself.
Mom: That’s it for my questions. Is there anything else you want to talk about?
Austin: Through the seriousness, the tears, the crying and laughing, sadness and happiness, I’d just like to say thank you for interviewing me. Thank you for being such a great mother. You asking me these questions shows you really care about what I have to say.
Mom: I do!!! I care very much!! Thank you Austin. I love you! Thank you for saying that.
Austin: Thank you for asking.
Austin....these videos are my gift to you!!!
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