A Work in Progress

A Work in Progress In Retrospect
I'M SIX YEARS OLD. IT'S a chilly autumn day, with dew still clinging to the grass, a slight breeze in the air-and a lot of people screaming wildly behind me. The street where I stand is buzzing with athletes of all shapes and sizes, dashing for the finish line, cheered on, and, let's face it, semi-harassed by spectators (though some of the five hundred runners are, to be fair, out of breath and nearly on all fours).

In our family, this day in late September is as eagerly anticipated as Christmas. That's because my parents, Cheryl and Peter, are the proud organizers of the annual Applefest Scenic 5K Run/Walk, a popular event on the social calendar of La Crescent, Minnesota, up there with the County Fair, Autumn Parade, and many other shamelessly festive small-town events. It's "scenic" because of the hilly course and golden leaves; it's an "applefest" because my home city is regarded as the state's apple capital. Yes, our apples are the shit, and we carry that prestigious title with the utmost pride.

But the point of this story is not apples. The point is that I'm bored and couldn't care less about all of these sweaty humans speed-walking toward an achievement that most of them will brag about to friends while eating a third doughnut. I prefer to create my own distractions and diversions, which is why my curiosity latches onto the video camera my dad has set up near the finish line to record every second of the madness unfolding on race day. Dad seems forever interested in documenting the things going on in our life. "Home movies," he calls them. Every occasion-birthdays, Christmas morning, athletic competitions, and school plays-is captured for posterity, as if he doesn't want to miss a thing. Maybe this explains why I'm mesmerized by this magical box with a blinking red light at the front. You know, like father like son, right?

Usually the camera is glued to his hand, with the strap wrapped around his knuckles. Or

Connor Franta is an Internet sensation and global trendsetter, with millions of followers on YouTube and many other social media platforms. He is the founder of Common Culture Coffee and works closely with The Thirst Project, a charity that provides clean drinking water in Africa, for which he raised over $230,000 in 30 days. He also curates music from up-and-coming bands for his Common Culture compilation albums. This is his first book. To learn more,visit: youtube.com/ConnorFranta and twitter.com/ConnorFranta