Howdy everyone, your favorite Eagle’s fan is checking in to say hello and get your weekend started on the right foot! But first, consider subscribing (if you’re not already) and sharing this to your friends and family who may care to read about my musings and tangents.
Charlie and The 4 W’s
Occasionally in life we meet people that are unforgettable. For some, it’s their crazy auntie. For me, that person was a guy I swam with named Charlie.
When we swam together, Charlie probably weighed a solid 230 pounds of pure muscle to go with his tall and large stature. He was a giant among men and no one could stop him (no really, he was combat trained in self-defense). He always repped a cowboy hat, cheap sunglasses, and a perfect 5 o’clock shadow. I was really jealous of his facial hair and muscle because I was 6’4” but clocked in at a nice, slim, 140 lbs. Maybe I was 145 on a good day. So yeah, Charlie had it all.
The one thing Charlie did not have was social prowess. He was a bit of a goof and one of those people who often spoke out of turn, but didn’t really understand why that was wrong. He meant well, but it made him insanely quotable. I can’t tell you how many times my old teammates have gotten together over the years and spent entire nights just quoting Charlie (although my wife probably could tell you how many times and repeat the stories and quotes right back at us, as if she had been there). We loved swimming with him because no two days could ever be the same with.
One of my favorite moments with Charlie was when we were changing in the locker room. I was hastily changing out of my speedo and into some boxers, when I looked over and saw Charlie admiring himself in the mirror. The look on his face was the same look you get when you see your favorite meal on the table. Charlie was flexing his arms and chest while continuing to smile (and grunt) as he turned to me and exclaimed, “Billy, it feels GREAT to be fit!”
I didn’t appreciate this observation at the time, because I hadn’t yet experienced being out of shape, but teenage me found it hilarious. I laughed the whole way home as I prepared to devour a meal fit for a small village. As the years went on, I eventually found myself swimming in college with Charlie. During this time, he revealed to me his four guiding principles for life. Well, they’re actually just words, but they really did encapsulate everything Charlie stands for. They are the 4 W’s:
Water
Women
Wolves
Westerns
Charlie knew what he liked. So in honor of Charlie aka The Bull Of The Woods (the origins of that name is a story for another time), here are a few of my favorite movies, tv shows, and video games that fall under the 4 W’s.
Water
Bioshock (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)
Finding Nemo (Disney/Pixar)
Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)
Women
The Last of Us: Part 2 (PS4)
Lady Bird (Directed by Greta Gerwig)
Hacks (HBO Max)
Wolves
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princes (Gamecube/Wii/WiiU)
The Grey (Starring Liam Neeson)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Westerns
Red Dead Redemption 1 & 2 (Xbox and PlayStation)
True Grit (I prefer the Jeff Bridges version)
The English (Amazon Prime)
What To Watch This Weekend
I’ve heard Cunk On Earth on Netflix is supposed to be really funny, so I'm hoping to check that out. Babylon is also out on VOD, which I highly recommend as well if you love movies and can stomach just about anything. Happy Trails!
Suggestions
If you’d like me to write about anything in particular, voice a concern, or just let yourself be heard to feel alive—let me know in the comments.