The Oil Reserve to The Tree House... Life in transition.

4/30/17
The following text was written years ago when I was living at the tree farm.  I never published the blog post for whatever reason. (I think I intended to add pictures)  Anyway, The Oil Reserve really was something special for me and I'm pretty sure it affected a few others that way too.  For that reason, despite being way out dated, here is the lost blog post.

5/26/14
For starters, ever since Dylan and I returned from our backpacking adventure my life has been less than organized.  For this very reason I have completely ignored my duty on this blog.  My intention is for blogging to become part of my weekly activities, however, only time can really tell.   If there is in fact anyone who has been awaiting a new post or followed the Europe trip blogging, I apologize for my tardiness.  Now.... Let's get down to business.

    After returning to the states my one and only focus was hanging out with my roommates.  Dueker, Klay, Eric, and myself have known each other since childhood.  I met them in kindergarten and as you can tell the bond has carried on into our early twenties.  When college finally came around we ended up in Columbia together and naturally, chose to live together. We can be a fun group to be around but i'm not sure we realized how much fun we would truly have.

    This brings me to.... The Oil Reserve.  302 Nikki Way was my home from august of 2009 to June 2013 and we worked that duplex hard.  That first year brought on a slew of house parties and helped in creating some of my favorite memories from my days at Mizzou.  Our new home had become a local watering hole for our friends and brought a group of us together, creating a bond I hope doesn't ever break.

   Before I start to recap some of the many glorious moments at our home, I think it is only fair to address, as well as I can, the reason for the name "Oil Reserve".  Sometime before we moved in Klay had gone on a float trip with some friends.  On the trip they came across many people yelling "Oil" while chugging beer or other alcoholic drinks.  Klay brought the tradition back with him and it became a staple in our nights at 302.  A water tower stood directly behind our house and, as you know, is a reserve of water for the people.  These two factors ultimately led to 302 Nikki way being known as "The Oil Reserve".

   I could never recap all the memories that were created, nor could I even remember all of them.  We had some great costume parties and we went to some good ones too.  We had Snowpocalypse and got 16 inches of snow.   No one left the house we just made snow creations and drank beer.  We had dance parties, Funday Sundays, cook outs, contests, movie parties, super bowl parties, and about a million other social gatherings
  The Oil Reserve doesn't just stir up memories created in that house.  It represents our "adult" life in college.  We were children of college, freshmen year in the dorms, learning the do's and don'ts, adjusting to a new environment and town.  The Oil Reserve is the second part to the whole story.   The name truly represents those 4 years of our lives and all that took part during that time.

For more pictures of our partying days you'd have to check out my facebook page.  my name is nick sunderman.  You know how to find me.

   We all left 302 in some way or another.  Dueker to Nebraska, Eric to the other side of the duplex, Klay across town with Dylan, and myself to a tree farm in Fulton.  We all try to keep in touch but it's hard, and its even harder to keep in touch with those who didn't live there, but who were a part of the experience.  Obviously I hope to maintain every relationship, and obviously that won't happen, but I will never forget those people and those times.  They help make me, and all of us, who we are today.  Farewell Oil Reserve, I hope you make it back into our lives one day.

For anyone reading that was part of that magical place.  I love you all.  We shall reminisce again one day.