Chris Holstine and Eric Holstine

[00:01] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Hello. My name is Chris Holstine I'm 18 years old. Today's date is August 15, 2022. We're in Boise, Idaho, and I'm interviewing here with my father, Eric Holstine

[00:16] ERIC HOLSTINE: My name is Eric Holstine I'm 55 years old. Today is August 15, 2022. We're in Boise, Idaho. I'm interviewing Chris Holstine who is my son. Chris. I going to start this interview off, so we drive you to college tomorrow. How are you feeling? Are you feeling prepared?

[00:41] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah, I do feel really prepared. I feel sort of in a way, anytime I get any bit nervous about college, I really just become more excited because it is so. I feel like the nervousness can be a bit exciting for me. And I'm just really looking forward to that new change and meeting a bunch of new people and keep going on. I feel prepared.

[01:08] ERIC HOLSTINE: Are you, as you look back at the. You went through a lot of applications, we vetted a lot of schools. How are you feeling about University of Montana?

[01:19] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I feel good about it right now. And honestly, I think it is the best choice possible I could have made. I think. I wouldn't say I'm 100% fully, like, thinking it will be the greatest thing ever, but I think in this given moment, it was my best possible option. And I think it could become that 100%. But if it doesn't, then I'll leave and we'll go from there. But I think it was the best choice I could have made. I feel confident in it.

[01:53] ERIC HOLSTINE: Good. That's great. You did a lot of research and a lot of work getting there. So nice job. And as far as the major goes, what are you thinking about studying and what are you hoping to academically do there?

[02:09] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah, I want to study currently international business and take some Spanish along with business courses. But really, I just like to get a greater understanding of, like, politics and, like, business throughout the world and how that, like, is moving the world and things like that, less than, like, necessarily how to be an accountant or financial person. I just like to obtain that knowledge and then perhaps pursue something in that realm, but also take it and have an open mind, career wise after that, with whatever I can do with it.

[02:50] ERIC HOLSTINE: Nice. Good. And I'm just peppering you with questions, but I think it's good to get it out there. So you spent some time in Spain this summer and speaking Spanish. Did you feel as though you could converse and interact and engage with people speaking a different language than English?

[03:15] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah, I had a really difficult time as far as the speed of talking and such, but I thought it was very fun, and I enjoyed it a lot. I felt I definitely would have gotten better had I stayed longer, and I did already get better. But, yeah, it was a cool trip for sure. And definitely good learning experience.

[03:41] ERIC HOLSTINE: Nice. Well, you've been talking for a long time. Do you have any questions you want to ask me?

[03:50] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yes, I would say first question is, how would you like to be remembered?

[04:01] ERIC HOLSTINE: How would I like to be remembered? I would like to be remembered as a good boss, somebody who could lead people, a good parent, a good husband, and mixing both fun plus work together is something I think I do pretty well, and I think that's great. Yeah, that's how I'd like to be remembered.

[04:33] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Very good. What parts of yourself do you see in me?

[04:42] ERIC HOLSTINE: I think we're both inherently shy, but we don't want to be, so we sort of have to get outside of that bubble, and I, and I think both of us do a pretty good job of that. And I think I see your ability to communicate with people and interact, I think, is a lot like what I do and what I try to do as well. You formed some really great friendships in high school, and so did I. And it seems like you're really good at developing and cultivating those friendships. You're a really good friend.

[05:24] CHRIS HOLSTINE: With me leaving for college, how are you feeling?

[05:28] ERIC HOLSTINE: Overwhelmed. But I'm just so excited for you. I think it's going to be a blast. I really do. And it's just the different part of my life as well. So now you're leaving. So it changes the house dynamic with just, you know, Anna at home and mom, and I think it's gonna be. It's gonna be emotional, and it's gonna be all those things, but I think it's gonna be good.

[05:56] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Good.

[05:57] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah. So you remember listening to mom and dad's, my mom and dad's story core?

[06:07] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I do.

[06:08] ERIC HOLSTINE: Any thoughts on that or I.

[06:10] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Any, like, questions or stories you'd like?

[06:13] ERIC HOLSTINE: Not so much questions. But how did that storycorps listening to that impact you, listening to them speak?

[06:20] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I thought it was very interesting. I mean, a lot of it. It was cool. I think it's hard for me because a lot of it was stories about when they were younger, which I necessarily didn't hear a lot when I was younger. Like yourself, like, when you would hear that as a child, I can see that holding more significance to you, and it is cool to hear. It's just sort of difficult to fully relate to, so.

[06:47] ERIC HOLSTINE: And National Public radio, what's your first memory of realizing your parents were NPR.

[06:55] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Freaks, I would say car talk. Hearing that definitely was because it was so. At the time, I thought it was so stupid that it was like, you must really like it if you're listening to this. But it was interesting, for sure. I just didn't understand why we were hearing to people calling about their random issues. I don't know.

[07:23] ERIC HOLSTINE: It was funny. I think one of the moments I remembered we have, you know, the family meeting on Sundays where we have the talking ball and we have dinner and stuff. And I remember you were like, in fourth grade, and you said you were telling a story. You said, I heard this on NPR, and I was like, we got him. That's a good one. That's good. And what are your thoughts about? We visited the radio station in University of Montana. And you saw those guys at. Can you just tell us?

[07:58] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I didn't see them at Tree Fort, but I had seen them on social media, that they were a tree fort. And the thoughts on the radio station, I think it will be a cool opportunity. It's definitely something I want to engage in when I am there and I want to participate in, for sure.

[08:16] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah. Nice.

[08:18] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Really interested in that.

[08:22] ERIC HOLSTINE: You can go ahead and ask a question and then I'll ask another.

[08:28] CHRIS HOLSTINE: How do you feel about as far as not completing your education post high school? If you would go back now, do you think there is something different you would study if you were to go to college right now as an 18 year old?

[08:48] ERIC HOLSTINE: Um, probably, yeah. I mean, I don't. College was just so difficult for me, you know? I don't know. I didn't really have the financial ability to just go to school, so I was working full time and doing it. So that was hard but not impossible. I mean, everybody did it. My sister did it a couple of times, my brother did it. But I just didn't really have the intellect or the wherewithal, you know, to do it. And once I gave that up and started doing other things, that's when I really found success for me, is when I just started focusing on what I did well and what I could do, not just trying to pass statistics so.

[09:37] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Along, going along sort of with that, like finally finding out that in yourself, leaving that. What would you say is a trait you admire most about yourself?

[09:55] ERIC HOLSTINE: Probably my ability to empathize and engage with people with empathy. And I seem to be good at one boards I'm on and different things I do puzzling through different puzzles, especially people puzzles. As far as, you know, I hear a lot. Oh, yeah, yeah. That's a good idea or, you know, stuff like that. So. And having been in leadership roles as vice president of a company and on boards and different things like that, I think that's being able to puzzle through some of those things is, would I like and remember, interesting.

[10:44] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Is there a particularly. We mentioned your story core with your parents and how. I said how it was a lot of stories from when they were younger. Is there a story in mind you would like to share? I can't think of one to ask right now, but is there one you would really like to hear in the future, or you'd like me to hear in the future on this?

[11:09] ERIC HOLSTINE: I think you've heard them, but, yeah, it would be good to capture it. I think just, you know, knowing you came from immigrant. You know, my grandparents immigrated from Russia. Yeah, German speaking Russians. And just kind of their story. As far as, you know, my dad growing up northern Montana, living in an attic, you know, I mean, the first one to go to college, you know, just what he was able to accomplish. I think it's probably that side of that story as well as your mom's parents story. I mean, you've got some good lineage in history. I feel.

[11:50] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I feel the same way.

[11:52] ERIC HOLSTINE: I'm gonna ask you a question so I don't have to talk for a second. So your high school, I know you liked where you went to school and stuff. What do you feel you got out of Boise High, and what are your feelings about it?

[12:10] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I feel I've grown a lot since I came to Boise High. And just in every way, as a student, I've become more motivated, and I've sort of looked for different things and friends and became like, just. It grew me to be the person I am now, which I'm really thankful for, because it grew me in a positive way that I see. And I would say the way I can sort of look at that is looking at. I mean, I'm still friends with a lot of these people, but in a way, I have a larger friend group, ten kids or so, but I can see the ones where I had a larger connection with at a time and how each person has individually grown and who I have a connection with now. Knowing the reasons why then, knowing the reasons why now. I can see in the way what I value now versus what I did then. And I think that's really important. And I think high school had a lot to do with that. Figuring that stuff out.

[13:11] ERIC HOLSTINE: Nice.

[13:12] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Figuring out what I want.

[13:13] ERIC HOLSTINE: Was there a teacher there that really stands out to you? And what kind of impact they had.

[13:19] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I would say my spanish teacher, Miss Wilmot, and 11th grade history teacher, Mister Looney, and senior year, his government teacher, Miss Church. They all sort of had a way of teaching which I was able to thrive in. And it wasn't necessarily I did have sort of a connection with all of them, but in a way it was more just a big confidence booster in a class I can be confident in and outgoing in and studying well, interacting in, that really was significant to me. That's why those classes were that way and those teachers were the reason I would say, nice. I'll ask you a question. How has your life been different than you'd imagined?

[14:26] ERIC HOLSTINE: You know, I was single for a long time and had sort of the cool 600 square foot house by Camelsback park with a big shop and Harley Davidson and, you know, just sort of was sort of living the single life. I didn't really know if I was going to have children or get married, to be honest. And because it just hadn't happened. I didn't get married till I was 33. So I think having the home that I have now and the, you know, the family and all that I think is super valuable. I mean, I love it, but I didn't really imagine that. I remember I flew up to Brad Mitchell's cabin with his dad and their little piper cub and his dad was telling me about this guy that worked for Boyce Cascade who was single and he lived this life of, he got to go to Super bowl every year and he just got to spend all of his own money on himself. And I remember thinking, oh, that sounds pretty cool. That sounds great. But looking back on it, I just thank God I didn't end up that way. You and Anna and mom. It's just been the best part of my life.

[15:39] CHRIS HOLSTINE: That's good. Yeah. Do you think your opinion on children and families changed pretty soon after meeting mom, or were you skeptical at all entering the relationship as far as children and marriage?

[15:58] ERIC HOLSTINE: No, not at all. I was the super uncle. Like, you know, I really liked all my nieces and nephews and really liked children, especially babies. It was always sort of a natural for me. So I wasn't skeptical at all. I was excited to get started with it.

[16:17] CHRIS HOLSTINE: That's very cool.

[16:18] ERIC HOLSTINE: So I get a question. Sasha, when did you start playing the guitar?

[16:26] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I would say I really started playing in summer going into, not summer going into. I would say I really started to play sometime in my junior year, around first semester or so, maybe before that, but I really was on and off for a while, and then I sort of saw my friends playing in a band and saw that it was something I was interested in and wanted to be a part of. And then that's sort of what drove me to become better at playing guitar is the thought that they needed someone else to play, and I wanted to be that person. So I worked harder on it and started playing more and then gunvolved.

[17:14] ERIC HOLSTINE: Do you now you write your own music, you record your own music. You guys were in a studio. Do you feel like you've gone as far as you want with music, or do you want to do some other things, too?

[17:25] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I would say I will be. Currently, I don't think this will change. I would like to be just a lifelong musician, somebody who will continue playing in college by myself, with a band, et cetera. And even after that, and not even necessarily something where I'd want to, like, have that as a career, I think it would be cool, and I definitely wouldn't turn down the opportunity to do so. But it's just something I want to keep doing my entire life and keep writing songs, keep playing, you know? And I think it's possible to maintain a professional career outside of that and continue to do that as a hobby, but not even hobby, just as something I just am so interested in almost as a second to it, you know?

[18:17] ERIC HOLSTINE: When did you. Do you remember when you went into the basement and pulled the guitar out? Like, was that.

[18:23] CHRIS HOLSTINE: No, I don't think it was really one of those situations. It was. The guitar has been in my room since sophomore year of high school, drilled in the rack and then put it up. And I remember I learned a couple things, and then I'd wait a month, and then I'd learn a couple more things. It just. It never really. It didn't take off, really, until junior year, but it has been a great experience for me.

[18:55] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yes. Watching you perform is one of the funner things that's ever happened to me.

[19:09] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Um, are there things that you haven't asked me, like, as the whole time I've been alive and knowing you that you've always sort of felt you've wanted to know or wanted to talk about with me?

[19:32] ERIC HOLSTINE: You and I are pretty open with each other as far as that goes. I don't think. I think I've asked you, you know, you know me. I tend to ask a lot of questions.

[19:51] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah.

[19:52] ERIC HOLSTINE: How do you feel about that? As far as my parenting style, do you think? I mean, you really kind of had open range as far as experimenting with things and doing different things. And was it, was it at times overwhelming and you wish we would have had tighter boundaries or did you think it worked out well or what do you think?

[20:14] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I thought it worked out great. And I think I had a fantastic upbringing and adolescent period and I think a large part because of that. And it's one of those things. I think sometimes you just get lucky with the type of kid you have and the parenting style you have.

[20:33] ERIC HOLSTINE: Right.

[20:33] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Because the way you raised me may not have worked for everybody, but I loved it and I thrived in it and I am very thankful for that.

[20:47] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah, it's interesting. I almost look at your childhood as that break of tennis. Tennis and before and then after tennis. Where was it tough to quit tennis?

[21:07] CHRIS HOLSTINE: No, I think it was more tough to stay involved in tennis. And I agree. I think that's a huge break in me as a person because I think being that involved in it, I mean, I hear friends talk about their elementary school times and their middle school times. I had one friend until like late 8th grade and I wasn't even that close with him then, really. I mean, all I cared about was the sport. And it was just so good to get out of it and actually develop a personality and become someone who wasn't just that. Because even playing tennis and in the sport, I didn't have a lot of people who I was super close with. It was just sort of like being in the space of like two different worlds. I mean, I could have gone down the tennis path and had a bunch of been involved and things like that, but I wasn't. And I could have stopped and become involved in school, friends and things like that, but I wasn't doing that either. So I'm just glad I picked a side and I'm really thankful I didn't continue until later on.

[22:15] ERIC HOLSTINE: So am I seeing you pick it up later, you know, more casually and not as crazily, I think was good. It's funny, though, your personality type is that when you're a kid, we could just feed you as much as you, you could take as much as we could give you as far as, you know, tennis or, you know, you put a goal out in front of you and you just went after it every single time. So it was, as I look at it, as sort of a parenting failure, too, where not a failure, but just where we kind of overstimulated and overfed that piece of it, where we, we should have pulled back, you know, the camp in Texas and the soaking of the feet every night in ice baths and you know, six days a week of 5 hours a day. I mean, for a young child, that's just insane. Crazy. Well, who else should we talk about? Or what else should we talk about? Let me see. Teacher, you talked about that. So anything you want to talk about as far as relationships and Gabby and any of that, just to get out there?

[23:41] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I mean, I can talk about that. Is there anything in particular you want to know or just general?

[23:46] ERIC HOLSTINE: Well, I'm just. You guys were friends forever and then started dating, and now you're still talking and still sort of dating, just like. How's that? Was that a real positive thing in your life?

[24:00] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I mean, yeah, I would say it was one of the most positive things of my life, just having that, and it was just. It was great throughout. There wasn't really any weak points in a relationship, and it was just. That's why it was so great. I mean, strong throughout. We were both great together. Both really involved. I mean, nothing able to take time away from each other, but also made time. Spent a lot of time with each other.

[24:28] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah.

[24:28] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah.

[24:29] ERIC HOLSTINE: Seems like you guys really supported each other.

[24:31] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Definitely. Yes.

[24:32] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah, that's good. Good.

[24:34] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Certainly.

[24:39] ERIC HOLSTINE: Other questions. How do you feel about going to Montana? I mean, just having a. So many stories come out of there from when I was a kid and your grandparents on both my side. What are your thoughts, and did that play into going to that school at all?

[25:00] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I would say it didn't really play into going to that school at all. I would say with hearing the stories and things like that, that's sort of. What is the one thing I'm sort of unsure about as far as the school goes, I just don't know how completely I fit the. The prototype and type of person that would go to school there. And I worry about that with finding friends and things like that. But I just. That is the one thing is, I just don't know if that's my type of people completely.

[25:31] ERIC HOLSTINE: Right.

[25:31] CHRIS HOLSTINE: And neither of us know that, really. I mean, it's just something I'll find out. And that's. I mean, that's the real decider.

[25:40] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah. When you say your type of people, do you mean as far as politics or as far as activities?

[25:46] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Just people that I would mesh with?

[25:49] ERIC HOLSTINE: Right, right.

[25:50] CHRIS HOLSTINE: And, I mean, that involves everything. I'm not worried about any specific, like, center of something. I'm just saying in general, I'm not sure.

[26:02] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah, that was interesting when we went to University of Delaware and that we were there and you looked at me and said, these are not my people, this is not where I want to go. Could have been the department we were in as well. We were on that trading floor kind of thing.

[26:16] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I think that where I would mix mesh well is sort of a mix between the people who were there and the people in Montana. It will just depend on what people are at that school. And, you know, it's really, it's hard to say because really think the balanced person and the diverse person is ideal. I wouldn't pick either extreme if I really needed to, you know, so it will just really depend on the group I'm able to find and people I'm able to meet, things like that.

[26:59] ERIC HOLSTINE: How's. How's it going with Anna? Is she with her leaving your younger sister? Is she. Have you spoken about leaving and what it's going to be like for her and for you?

[27:11] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I'm. I plan to hang out with her, actually, later today. She's going to help me pack a little bit more. I haven't been spending as much time with Anna. She's obviously, like, just got done with COVID But really, I mean, I would consider myself close to Anna and I'm grateful for her. I just. I don't know. It's difficult for me to always spend a lot of time around her and I've been trying more and I definitely, I do love her and I love spending time with her. I think when it comes to leaving with Anna, it will be extremely sad to leave her and just sad to have her not around. I think she just adds so much to our house and who we are. But I also, I mean, in the same way, I mean, I'm concerned about her with me leaving and I'm concerned about how she will do coming school years and things like that. I think that's natural, but yeah.

[28:17] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah, well, you've had such a positive influence on her, and I think as parents, we're going to figure out just how much of it positive and impact you've had on her, just interacting with her and encouraging her and, you know, getting her going and stuff like that.

[28:32] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah, I think, I'm really hoping that she can really get going this year and continue to keep thriving. I think the end of this summer has been very positive steps for her.

[28:44] ERIC HOLSTINE: I agree.

[28:45] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I am really going to miss her.

[28:50] ERIC HOLSTINE: Are you going to ski? Are you going to, are you looking forward to the outdoor activities stuff? Do you think you'll pick up nordic skiing again or what are your thoughts.

[28:59] CHRIS HOLSTINE: As far as outdoor activities goes? Moving to Montana, obviously, that's a huge part I would say it's difficult because I feel myself sort of drifting away from that interest as much now. And I definitely will still ski probably multiple days a week, things like that. I will be very involved in that. I just want to make sure that's not my only, you know, path and my only deal. I really would like to continue being diverse in that way and trying to balance my life out. So I'm not keeping everything in one basket. But I am extremely excited to get involved in some of the outdoor activities. And really, more than the outdoor activities, I think one of the most exciting parts of moving to Montana for me is being in a place where there will just be snow on the ground constantly. I think I never really have had that. And being someone who does love to ski and do things like that, it will just be so cool to always have that around, just a different environment.

[30:09] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah. Like living in Ketchum or mountain town.

[30:12] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah, exactly. Really cool.

[30:14] ERIC HOLSTINE: That is cool. That's awesome. Well, you want some questions?

[30:22] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I would love some.

[30:23] ERIC HOLSTINE: So we got ten minutes. We're being told, which is awesome. So I just wanted to tell you what you mean to me. You've been fantastic, son, you know, love you to death, so appreciate you, and it's gonna be sad to see you go, but it's gonna be fantastic to see what happens and what you do.

[30:51] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah, yeah. I'd love to say what you mean to me as well. I think you have just been so great as far as the way I've been able to keep moving through life, even in different situations at different paces. You're just somebody who has always been able to take what I'm going through and take what I want and make it. Just be able to push forward as far as supporting me and doing everything I need to do. And I love that about you, the way you've been able to just propel me in any way I wanted to go. I mean, I remember you said once to me, it was after we just started really doing the surf wave thing, and he said, you never really know what people are going to, like, keep going on. And I thought that was so cool that, you know, even knowing that and knowing that I was a kid with many interests and thoughts and things like that, you still loved me and were able to say, you know what? It doesn't matter. I'll support him if he does this for two weeks or the rest of his life. And that was always been really cool, the way you've been able to just uplift everybody, me, mom, Anna, and just provide support and do all that for us.

[32:17] ERIC HOLSTINE: Thank you. Yeah. Surfing, that is. How many years did it take for you to stand up?

[32:24] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Too long. I think two. I'm not sure.

[32:27] ERIC HOLSTINE: But you just kept at it. I remember just watching you get smashed in the wave, like, oh, but you just kept at it. It was great.

[32:36] CHRIS HOLSTINE: Yeah. I think the coolest part about it is just that being in the water and it's pushing you away, and you just got to make it back. You know, it's sort of like a survival rescue sort of experience, but you were obviously more comfortable than that. But it's just cool to be in that mode of uncomfortableness and making it out in 5 seconds.

[33:01] ERIC HOLSTINE: Yeah. You definitely persevered, and that's, I think the theme of your life is perseverance.

[33:09] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I'd say it's the same with yours as always.

[33:11] ERIC HOLSTINE: Fortitude. All right, well, I love you, Chris.

[33:14] CHRIS HOLSTINE: I love you, too, daddy.