FarmFresh

We Remember: November 18, 1999

I was pregnant with Baby J and feeling like he would drop on the floor at any given moment. Jon was leaving for Phoenix later that day. An early, early phone call from Jon’s sister, asking if we heard.

And then the names. 11 names at first, finally, the 12^th. 12 children. 12 mothers had their worlds shattered. Would 12 be significant at any other college? Does 12 hold the same meaning if you are a Bulldog or a Wildcat or a Volunteer? If you are anything but a Texas Aggie?

• Miranda Denise Adams ‘02
• Christopher D. Breen ‘96
• Michael Stephen Ebanks ‘03
• Jeremy Richard Frampton ‘99
• Jamie Lynn Hand ‘03
• Christopher Lee Heard ‘03
• Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr ‘03
• Lucas John Kimmel ‘03
• Bryan A. McClain ‘02
• Chad A. Powell ‘03
• Jerry Don Self ‘01
• Nathan Scott West ‘02

27 others injured. What scars remain for them?

• Braus, Dominic
• Calaway, Jennifer
• Comstock, John
• Davis, William " Bill"
• Frady, Clayton
• Graham, Leslie
• Hayes, Lanny Joe
• Harlan, Will
• Henley, Britt
• Hill, Caleb
• Hutchinson, Chad
• Jacobs, Jody
• Jones, Paul "Alex"
• Jozwiak, Brandon Allen
• Kramer, John
• Lyckman, William
• McLeod, Amy
• Nakai, Mandy
• Robbins, Matthew
• Roberts, Brandy
• Rotenberry, Holly
• Scanlan, Lauren
• Thiel, Milton "Chip"
• Unger, Bruce
• Washam, J.J.
• Worley, Jeremy
• Woodley, Derek

The bits I remember in the aftermath: football players helping remove the logs, the glow of candles spreading across Kyle Field the night bonfire should have burned, a somber halftime performance by the Texas band, the quiet of the crowd - silenced between each play, a player falling to his knees – a physical representation of how the crowd in maroon felt, scanning the internet for updates on the injured.

A memorial now stands on the site of bonfire. It is compelling and and it is powerful. It is a celebration of 12 lives. It represents the unique legacy that belongs to A&M, the tradition and spirit that binds each and every student, past and present and future.

To learn more:

Bonfire
Bonfire History
Campus Remembrance Service
Bill Davis - survivor
Ring of Fire - Texas Monthly article excerpt

 
Photo:  http://www.bonfire-coalition.com/Outreach.htm

One Reason I Don't Go to the Deer Lease Very Often

Is there any need for words when you see a picture like that? Eeeeek! It makes me throw up a little.

Shady Esperanto and the Young Hearts

It is Friday, the end of a six weeks, and a play-off game for our high school tonight. The kind of Friday that needs a little tunage.

If this song doesn't get you in a good mood, then you are just a curmudgeon, and probably hate puppies and kittens, too.

The Way We Get By

This documentary is on PBS tonight. It's about 3 senior citizens from Maine who greet the American troops as they come through Bangor.

Veterans Day

I am reminded of the scene from "A Few Good Men" when Jack Nicholson's character is on the stand. Colonel Jessup says something along the lines of "...You want me on that wall. You need me on that wall."

His flawed character is completely correct in that statement. There are men and women, standing on on that wall, preparing to defend that wall, giving their lives to protect that wall. That wall stands, and for that I am grateful.

 

Photo credit: cstein96

Birthday, Take II

I added a candle yesterday. Today is Jon's turn.

He is at the deer lease with the boys, so we shall celebrate tomorrow.

Happy Birthday. I love, love, love you. On a completely unrelated note, I think those football pants you wore in junior high are the same exact ones Payne wore this year.

Just One More Candle and A Trip Around the Sun

My old (I do not mean he is old in years. I mean from a while back when I was but an all-knowing and smart-mouthed youth. The "olden days," so to speak.) youth pastor posted this on my Facebook wall this morning. Thanks Rick!

5 years

 

An anniversary of sorts. A collection - snippets from the life of Jon+Kelly+Payne+Jackson. Five years of photos and anecdotes and brief commentary.

Thanks for reading. Hope you keep coming back for more of the bits and pieces.

Travel back to the first post to see where it all started. The boys were 8 and 4. 4!!!! I now have a teenager. A teenager!

There has been nothing outstanding. No earth-shattering posts, no life-changing words. Just a record of us. For us.

Baseball and hunting and family and homemaking and traveling and football and braces and the life of boys. Lots about the life of boys. And we can't forget the farm, either.

Amazing set of days strung together to create our life.

Welcome, November!

And so November falls in line, sneaking in after the way-too-hot when the rest of America cools off October and the blur of activities, parties, shopping, traveling, and cooking that is December. It's the month of birthdays: Kay-Kay, me, Jon, Scott, Aunt Susan, Amanda.....just to name a few.

Today is Kay-Kay's. I am lucky to have such a wonderful mother-in-law.

My parents were here the past few days to watch Payne play and go to the A&M football game. I always love having them here.

Thursday Afternoon in the Fall

Another afternoon/evening at the football field. We stared straight into the sun. Made for some interesting light while taking shots of the 7th grade game.