Ian,
You know that I hate running - always have. However your advice given to me and your example has motivated me to run. "Dad, if you want to get rid of that gut, you just need to run - at least 3 times a week." "Dad, it does not matter how far you run, but that you run consistently - you will get in shape quickly." "Stop running on your heels - it is bad for your knees. That is probably why you hate running so much and complain about knee pain. Run on the balls of your feet; run leaning forward; run engaging your core; run forward not falling back." "Dad, running this way will build your calves. You have chicken legs - this can change them!" Okay, this morning I was running in our old neighborhood in Vacaville - running like you said to run. I threw in push ups in three different positions as you taught me as well. This will help get me ready for a Tough Mudder or other active run - according to you. I can tell that following your advice has yielded fruit - I feel that the hill on Vacavalley is nothing. I came off the hill and passed up a lady and two dogs like they were walking. Well, they were just walking - but I was eating pavement. Since I can now think and run, rather than just be in pain, the run gave me time to reflect on my path throughout the old neighborhood - all the things I am thankful for, all the things I miss.
I first left the Mundell's house. So many memories on Shannon Drive. We virtually lived at their house. You learned to play basketball there with Kurt, Danny and Mr. Mundell. We walked up and down Shannon every year on Halloween - it was the best Trick or Treating in the neighborhood. We BBQed occasionally there and we walked to the half mile to the Mundells, or biked, or skated, or... Passed the park on Tributary Ridge. We only played there when you were very small and Danny had baseball nearby. You and Tyler and other friends may have gone there - but I remembered how little you were when we moved to CA - how big you grew! Mom and I ran the pathway along Wrentham for a while. It was the only time I actually ran before. We did circuit training. I think it was a change up for mom as well - she usually walked. I miss sharing exercising and activities with her. You and I road bikes with Indy on Wrentham. You bought your own Haro - you decked it out with curb bars to grind on curbs and other structures. You were so proud of that bike. In TX, I argued while you were in Jr. High and early High School to sell it and get one that fit you - but you always said it fit you. You finally got tired of trying to ride it up and down hills and it was parked finally. Aunt Mandi's kids have your bike now - no doubt they are proud to have one of your prized possessions. Patrick and his sisters will love riding it and doing tricks.
I passed Tyler's house - you Tyler, Ryan, and other friends would ride skateboards, bikes, run around, spend the night at each other's houses. What great friends you have! Your Gone to Texas party at our house on Trillick - they all showed up. You and Danny always had a herd at our house. But this was a big group. I BBQed - probably fajita's, but I know asparagus. You and your friends came in and out of the house from the pool and hot tub grabbing a handful and eating it. That was so California! You and your friends loved swimming - no matter the temperature. Swimming in cold water only meant that running in and out of the hot tub. You guys would play pool or video games in the Play Room (garage). What a great time!
Our old house - so many memories. The pool, the hot tub, the yard - for baseball, frisbee, football, sledding down the hill, Caylea climbing the trees, all sorts of stuff. Loved the layout - We were all so close together - never like being so far from you guys on Tributary Ridge. "I love you, you love me, we're a happy family, with a Danny, Caylea and Little Ian too - Mommy and Daddy love each of you!" Sleeping with mom on the couch after we watch a movie as a family. Seeing the Horns win a National Championship, seeing the Titians almost win the Super Bowl, 911, etc. "Jesus, Keeper of this life. You are my Refuge, my Savior, my Guide, watch over Danny, Caylea, Ian and Taylor tonight, guide their every footstep as they travel this life - and in some quiet moment call them to Your side, so they will come to know You, as the Keeper of this life." How God has been faithful to this nightly prayer - calling you, Caylea, Taylor and Danny to Himself and keep calling you. I pray He keeps calling us back and back as we stray. We played basketball, you took refuge with shooting baskets with Indy as Louie learned to open doors and freaked you out. Becky filled our Suburban with paper and taught us how to prank and be crazy. Saran wrapping and other "reverse-pranks" were launched from this house! We also joined her in the fun - remember singing carols out of tune to her family - shocked with our skill and then surprised them with pictures of her aunt. We skated, played hockey, through footballs, learned to ride bikes, played games in the rain in our Trillick cul de sac. Much more, so much more in that house and neighborhood. Not enough time; not enough memory retained. Need to look at pictures!
Brown's Valley Elementary School - I remember your first day in Kindergarden, You blossoming from the quiet young kid with Anna at Bethany Lutheran, to the kid that no teacher could keep quiet. Mr. Northrup's room arrangement to keep you Tyler, Ryan apart and they you socialized quiet kids, boys and girls alike. I remembered the block and a half walk to the school - you learning to make your lunch, the Halloween parades, coming to class events, us leaving you at 6th grade graduation, on and on. The park has a new play structure - that was the first place we played when we came to CA. You learned to be an active kid, trusting your strength and body there. We played football, learned to throw a frisbee and practiced pitching and hitting in that park.
I ran (walked quickly to be honest - I blame it on the deep cow prints not my lack of aerobic shape!) Old Rocky. This first was Danny and my place - you and Caylea were too young to climb for a while after coming to Vacaville. I remember your first time up Old Rocky - I carried you and helped Caylea to the top. That was my goal - not yours! Poppa Gene and Danny had to help us down. The cow prints cause tripping and falling. I remember coming up with a Mike Mundell, Indy and Shelby for the first time. Shelby saw a rabbit or something and was gone over the next two hills. Indy started out after her - I screamed his name, we all did - he returned and seemed to say with his eyes, "See what a good boy I am! Look at that crazy girl. You will have to go and get her. Let me help!" Indeed, Mike had to fetch his dog as we trailed. That was a good day. We came once or twice a year to the top if the light post or the top of the other hill. It was a family Fall classic event shared with friends often - Kelsi, Kurt, Aaron, others. Our last trip covered the full hill - from Vaca Valley to Woodcrest. Caylea, you and I walked it all. We paused to see our neighborhood from above, our home of your youth, your elementary school, Vacaville in panorama. We took some of my favorite pictures of my precious youngsters - who were to go to Jr. High and High School - how was that possible. Where had the time gone. It flew with Danny - would it fly with you as well? What would life be like in Texas? Old Rocky never changed in almost 11 years - but my babies and child were now nearly grown up. Father's feel this passage of time deeply with pride and a tinge of sadness.
I passed by Serek's street - what a interesting friend. That was your video game friend of your age. Chris Restel's house reminded me of how Danny's friends respected your Halo and other game skills. They often invited you to join their mutiplayer games (Halo, Madden, others) - yes a kid in elementary school competitive with high schoolers. Danny always involved you and Caylea. Indeed, Caylea and you were invited by Danny and Taylor to play lots of D&D as Laine painted an excited quest as Dungeon Master. That was fun - getting little statues, to be your characters, hearing the stories and listening to the laughter. It still echoes in my heart.
Ryan's house was down Woodcrest to the left. I think his house and Aaron Dicken's house were the last places you spent the night when you visited Vacaville in Jr. High by yourself. You told such stories of fun and reunion. The boys had changed for sure since you left - some for the better, some for the worst - but you were sure and steady following God's compass and calling.
The baseball fields on Brown's Valley were the place you and Danny played ball, Caylea learned to read, we spent hot days, cold nights, endured working in the snack shop, ate bad hot dogs and grew up as a family. Lots of joy, lots of thanksgiving. I did not run by them - not on the path, but clearly visible from on top Old Rocky. Memories clearly present, uncovered, dusted off by places and sounds all around me.
The path I ran reminded me of the walks, the rides with Indy and Charlie to a lesser extent. We loved those dogs - yes, Indy more! Indy was our first big family loss. What a hole he left moving on. But we watched him grow old, suffer and it was time. It is hard reconciling God's timing with mine. You had grown up for sure. You are a man - but too young, so much life seemed left here - but God wanted your life lived Home, not at our home. That is a hard surrender - to trust in His love and plan when you just don't agree! The rocks at my feet on old Rocky remind me of the rocks we had at our house to set up boundaries on our grass. A few of these boundary stones we carried down the mountain from one place to be at home and serve our purpose at our home. I guess that is somewhat what God chose - brought you to His Home for greater purposes. Lord, not my will but Your's be done.
We ran in Texas much more than in CA. We ran with track in Jr. High to get in shape. We ran playing basketball, after work, weekends, mornings - whenever. I hated Daylight savings time - it cut down our light and time to play!!! Nevertheless, we played for hours in the dark with bad spot lights on the goal. I went from being faster than you to slower, stronger to weaker, better shot to just a the proud father watching. We ran at Ultimate - you, Caylea and Danny all shared love for this sport. I may have introduced the disc to the family - but you guys transformed it to a joy loved in CA and TX. Thank you for inviting me to play with you at Zilker those times. Thank you for telling me the stories at Zilker as well. Not just frisbee, but you playing Bessie there with the band and lots of soccer, frisbee, dog walking people stopping to listen and crowd around to watch your skill. What joy near Rock Island had. How hard it was to lay you to rest there. It is a sacred place of memories and of you.
Our last runs were when you returned from A&M. We worked on cross training program to get ready for Tough Mudder or other runs like it. I complained and complained about running - around our neighborhood, at the Rec or wherever we found each other. I wanted to lift weights - that cardio not running. Why did I complain to spend one minute with you? Why wouldn't I run more when you would ask? I passed up so many opportunities - to do what? Watch TV? Play guitar? Put off till next time? Time was something we lacked and I did not treat it as precious. I am so sorry Ian.
I ran to meet you at the Rec that Saturday after the Maroon and White game. What a great time working out we enjoyed! I ran as you suggested - balls of my feet down, or at least tried to. I bought Vibrams, five finger things like you, recently and have tried to run as you taught me since you went Home. I was regular for a while - then I became too depressed to run for months. I am back running now. I feel you running with me. I know we share these times together. I know that I will run those Tough Mudder races in your honor, in your stead. I know we will run the streets of gold together at Home one day. I can't wait for that day, Ian.
I love you.
Dad
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
ColdPlay
Ian,
You followed in your brother Daniel's footsteps well - being our source of innovative music. Danny was that source for you and I often as he was in Jr. High and High school. Ska, cutting edge Christian music, rap, indie music first found its way into our family through Danny. However, when we moved to Austin, you picked up that mantle. Danny kept introducing us to what he listened to in CA, but you found metal, screamo, the new blues-rock scene, folk rock (like Mumford and Sons) and lots of indie and coffee house music. Obviously there are many stories to be written here!
One holdover from California was ColdPlay. Kurt Mundell introduced us - if I remember correctly. I never really latched on to them at the time - but you did. From Kurt, we found Parachutes, Yellow, Sparks, Clocks, The Scientist, Fix You, X&Y, Speed of Sound and other tunes. Once in TX, you talked about their music and their innovative sound. You also looked for new releases - and when Viva La Vida was released - you loved it and bought it for Mom for her birthday or Mother's Day - I forget. BTW, you loved sharing music with people - all of your life. Your selections of music that you gifted were always exquisite and spot on - for friends or family, you were THE music source. Probably another story there too. Again, I was slow to come around - but Mom loved listening to songs you introduced. She would listen with you always (no matter the form - music, video, you playing the bass or guitar - did not matter - she would stop what she was doing to give you full attention and listen!).
Life in Technicolor, Lovers in Japan, and the anthemic Viva La Vida among other songs you loved and shared with us. It is ironic that this was an album from you. The full title is "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends." It is a CD full of thoughts of life and death and their intertwined nature. Mylo Xyloto was released in 2011 and it was loved by you immediately. I wanted to join you in your likes - so I finally really listened and I joined the bandwagon seeing the cool music of ColdPlay, interesting message and almost worship-song like arrangements. My favorite is Major Minus. My music snobbery frustrates me now - I wish I joined your bandwagons faster and spent more time listening to YOUR music. I am sorry I cheated us out of that time.
When we looked at your computer for most played songs after you went Home, Paradise was number one by a wide margin. What a fitting song for you to love - you found the pathway from this broken world to the Paradise of our Lord, the courtyard of the King as Jesus told the thief on the cross. That day he met and walked with Jesus there. On April 19th, you joined our Savior and maybe the thief in that very same courtyard. It was the first song I chose for your Tribute soundtrack for your Celebration Service. I want to walk there with Jesus and with you. Can you tell me about Paradise more? I want to know where you live, what you are doing and the music you are making and sharing.
How I wish you would not have "run away" dreaming of Paradise! I listen to ColdPlay a lot now - it Hurts Like Heaven. I love the music and feel close to your as I listen - but it pains me deeply knowing that this music was so close to you and it came directly from you to me. I often cry listening to Paradise, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall down my face as I miss you, really miss you. Knowing the truth of Jesus, Coldplay is correct - "those who are not dead" as sung in "42." You are living with Jesus - you are not dead. But as ColdPlay sings, you are also "living in my head." I see you in the fields that we played frisbie, the basketball goal at home, schools you attended, places you played sports games, our street where we played - Mt. Bonnell, Zilker, Austin Stone, countless concert places - the list is endless. The Hardest Part is that Austin is a minefield of memories that sneak up and grab you. Yes, I feel Lost in memories sometimes, especially on a Rainy Day where I look for you running in the rain and dancing there. But especially when I listen to ColdPlay - every bass lick, each cool hook, layer atmospheric section - it screams your name. I want to Talk with you, share music, thoughts, time, hugs, a smile. Poppa Gene and others have said that you would say "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" - but your going Home does, everyday. We miss you so much Ian. Your Mom is really grieving - she misses her baby so much. I hear her crying and my heart breaks for her, for all of us; the space you left is huge and we feel the emptiness everyday. Caylea and Danny grieve too. I sense it is different for them - but they miss you tremendously. The rest of our family, your friends grieve as well. Just want you to know you are sorely missed. I can't change or lessen the pain - that is hard for someone who is bent on the "Fix You" thing. All I can do is give them to Jesus as I have you - He can make all things new. Death and All His Friends will not have the last word - redemption and eternal life is awaiting us.
I am selfish, I want you In My Place not in Paradise - accepting God's will is very hard. I do hear A Whisper from God telling me that all is okay, that we will share the hug, the smile, the memories in the Kingdom Come - that is A Hopeful Transmission. But as Tom Petty sang, "the waiting is the hardest part." Few things connect me to you as anytime Paradise, Viva La Vida or any other ColdPlay song hits the airways or on my playlist. These songs are close to you - and thus very close to me.
I am writing this after being in airports and airplanes all day listening to endless ColdPlay. I can barely hold it together. It is so bittersweet - I feel close to you, but I really feel your absence so acutely. Everything's Not Lost. Don't Panic, the future is just delayed.
I really miss you. Love you "e."
Dad
You followed in your brother Daniel's footsteps well - being our source of innovative music. Danny was that source for you and I often as he was in Jr. High and High school. Ska, cutting edge Christian music, rap, indie music first found its way into our family through Danny. However, when we moved to Austin, you picked up that mantle. Danny kept introducing us to what he listened to in CA, but you found metal, screamo, the new blues-rock scene, folk rock (like Mumford and Sons) and lots of indie and coffee house music. Obviously there are many stories to be written here!
One holdover from California was ColdPlay. Kurt Mundell introduced us - if I remember correctly. I never really latched on to them at the time - but you did. From Kurt, we found Parachutes, Yellow, Sparks, Clocks, The Scientist, Fix You, X&Y, Speed of Sound and other tunes. Once in TX, you talked about their music and their innovative sound. You also looked for new releases - and when Viva La Vida was released - you loved it and bought it for Mom for her birthday or Mother's Day - I forget. BTW, you loved sharing music with people - all of your life. Your selections of music that you gifted were always exquisite and spot on - for friends or family, you were THE music source. Probably another story there too. Again, I was slow to come around - but Mom loved listening to songs you introduced. She would listen with you always (no matter the form - music, video, you playing the bass or guitar - did not matter - she would stop what she was doing to give you full attention and listen!).
Life in Technicolor, Lovers in Japan, and the anthemic Viva La Vida among other songs you loved and shared with us. It is ironic that this was an album from you. The full title is "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends." It is a CD full of thoughts of life and death and their intertwined nature. Mylo Xyloto was released in 2011 and it was loved by you immediately. I wanted to join you in your likes - so I finally really listened and I joined the bandwagon seeing the cool music of ColdPlay, interesting message and almost worship-song like arrangements. My favorite is Major Minus. My music snobbery frustrates me now - I wish I joined your bandwagons faster and spent more time listening to YOUR music. I am sorry I cheated us out of that time.
When we looked at your computer for most played songs after you went Home, Paradise was number one by a wide margin. What a fitting song for you to love - you found the pathway from this broken world to the Paradise of our Lord, the courtyard of the King as Jesus told the thief on the cross. That day he met and walked with Jesus there. On April 19th, you joined our Savior and maybe the thief in that very same courtyard. It was the first song I chose for your Tribute soundtrack for your Celebration Service. I want to walk there with Jesus and with you. Can you tell me about Paradise more? I want to know where you live, what you are doing and the music you are making and sharing.
How I wish you would not have "run away" dreaming of Paradise! I listen to ColdPlay a lot now - it Hurts Like Heaven. I love the music and feel close to your as I listen - but it pains me deeply knowing that this music was so close to you and it came directly from you to me. I often cry listening to Paradise, Every Teardrop is a Waterfall down my face as I miss you, really miss you. Knowing the truth of Jesus, Coldplay is correct - "those who are not dead" as sung in "42." You are living with Jesus - you are not dead. But as ColdPlay sings, you are also "living in my head." I see you in the fields that we played frisbie, the basketball goal at home, schools you attended, places you played sports games, our street where we played - Mt. Bonnell, Zilker, Austin Stone, countless concert places - the list is endless. The Hardest Part is that Austin is a minefield of memories that sneak up and grab you. Yes, I feel Lost in memories sometimes, especially on a Rainy Day where I look for you running in the rain and dancing there. But especially when I listen to ColdPlay - every bass lick, each cool hook, layer atmospheric section - it screams your name. I want to Talk with you, share music, thoughts, time, hugs, a smile. Poppa Gene and others have said that you would say "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" - but your going Home does, everyday. We miss you so much Ian. Your Mom is really grieving - she misses her baby so much. I hear her crying and my heart breaks for her, for all of us; the space you left is huge and we feel the emptiness everyday. Caylea and Danny grieve too. I sense it is different for them - but they miss you tremendously. The rest of our family, your friends grieve as well. Just want you to know you are sorely missed. I can't change or lessen the pain - that is hard for someone who is bent on the "Fix You" thing. All I can do is give them to Jesus as I have you - He can make all things new. Death and All His Friends will not have the last word - redemption and eternal life is awaiting us.
I am selfish, I want you In My Place not in Paradise - accepting God's will is very hard. I do hear A Whisper from God telling me that all is okay, that we will share the hug, the smile, the memories in the Kingdom Come - that is A Hopeful Transmission. But as Tom Petty sang, "the waiting is the hardest part." Few things connect me to you as anytime Paradise, Viva La Vida or any other ColdPlay song hits the airways or on my playlist. These songs are close to you - and thus very close to me.
I am writing this after being in airports and airplanes all day listening to endless ColdPlay. I can barely hold it together. It is so bittersweet - I feel close to you, but I really feel your absence so acutely. Everything's Not Lost. Don't Panic, the future is just delayed.
I really miss you. Love you "e."
Dad
The Jazz Wall
Ian,
You are always full of surprises. When I think I understand or can figure you out - you make me expand my thinking and understanding. The origin of the Jazz Wall is one of those "emergent" situations where my expectations were met with your creativity.
We moved into our house in Austin and "assigned rooms." The small room doubled as Danny's room and the office, while you took the first room and Caylea the second - connected by the Jack and Jill bathroom. Personalization -that is what you guys wanted. For you, it was sports. At that time, entering into Jr. High, you were a basketball freak and interested in football, and really all sports. The plan was to paint the wall and have footballs, basketballs and other sports equipment to be cartooned on the wall. We needed paint. We got a brown for a football, orange for basketball and white and black for outlining. Aunt Shelley offered her overhead projector so that we could put an image on a wall that we could outline. Before we could paint, we went to either Michaels or Garden Ridge, probably the later, and looked for pictures, artwork, etc. for yours and Caylea's new rooms. You lit upon a set of paintings of musicians playing instruments. There were 2-3 5x7 and one large 11x13. We only have one remaining - your sister Caylea treasures it and has loaned it for our dining room right now. It is of an African American musician in a red coat playing a purple sax. The prints were lively, colorful and interesting. What surprised me is that you were into sports, into rock, into non-jazz music, but these prints of jazz musicians captured your attention. They would stay on your wall until several fell and broke and you moved rooms.
Mom and Caylea went out of town - probably to visit Aunt Shelley and left you and I to do your room. We had agreed to an accent wall on the far side. We used the grey primer to cover the wall. I like to paint, you loved to help and we banged through that quickly. I worked mainly on the edges using the ladder Mom had got me and you worked on the inside. Now came the color. We agreed that we were going to make the basketball color orange the base and paint the shapes on it and not have to fill in the basketball. So we got going. It took two coats to get it smooth - so we worked hard and our 12 foot ceilings are HIGH. It was a struggle to make it look good and not get on other walls - but we did okay. The color ended up being UT orange - you were thrilled. Now to do the football - the brown we picked up looked awful - kaka brown to be exact. That was NOT going to work. However, we could not stop - you wanted to finish. My question was finish what? You then presented your idea - put instruments on the wall - using the prints as the template. Okay, that sounded interesting - so we got to work.
We traced the guitar, trumpets, sax, and drums on paper. You then described how you wanted to arrange them - all surrounding a central space. I followed your lead and we projected, traced together with black paint from bottom left to bottom center - a sax, a snare drum, a trumpet, another sax, a kettle drum and a guitar. The guitar was especially cool looking but it and the kettle drum were right near the floor. Mom later pointed out that we could put nothing against the wall to block these the way we painted it. She was right. you wanted everything visible. Your bed would go under the first sax and only short things under the guitar and a chair could be farther in front of the drum - it was tall. Interesting, Caylea organized the room similarly - even with the Jazz wall gone after you moved to A&M. Now we had a orange wall with black outlines of instruments. Not much color. You then added the part I was not expecting. I thought you would put "Rock", or some other thing in the space. But true to the iconic pictures the wall was based on - you chose "JAZZ" to be on the wall. Indeed, you designed it with Kiss "S" looking like backward z's. You took the lead to project and trace. My contribution was white shadowing. In the end, it really looked cool. We were so excited about our accomplishment.
I think everyone like the wall - it was a organizational pain due to the low "major" pictures frustrating decorating strategies, but it was unique, cool and creative - all who you are! Your friends loved it and were amazed that you could "design your own room." The Jazz wall lasted a long time - until you moved out of the room to go into Caylea's room. When Caylea moved back, we took pictures of you and the wall - a handsome, muscular senior - a big change from the skinny cute 7th grader who conceived and painted the wall. What a marker of your growing up those pictures were - how you matured, grown and became - but how you maintained your individuality, cool-ness and creativity!!!
I wish we did more projects like that! We did several - but the Jazz wall holds a very special place in this Dad's heart.
Love you "e"
Dad
You are always full of surprises. When I think I understand or can figure you out - you make me expand my thinking and understanding. The origin of the Jazz Wall is one of those "emergent" situations where my expectations were met with your creativity.
We moved into our house in Austin and "assigned rooms." The small room doubled as Danny's room and the office, while you took the first room and Caylea the second - connected by the Jack and Jill bathroom. Personalization -that is what you guys wanted. For you, it was sports. At that time, entering into Jr. High, you were a basketball freak and interested in football, and really all sports. The plan was to paint the wall and have footballs, basketballs and other sports equipment to be cartooned on the wall. We needed paint. We got a brown for a football, orange for basketball and white and black for outlining. Aunt Shelley offered her overhead projector so that we could put an image on a wall that we could outline. Before we could paint, we went to either Michaels or Garden Ridge, probably the later, and looked for pictures, artwork, etc. for yours and Caylea's new rooms. You lit upon a set of paintings of musicians playing instruments. There were 2-3 5x7 and one large 11x13. We only have one remaining - your sister Caylea treasures it and has loaned it for our dining room right now. It is of an African American musician in a red coat playing a purple sax. The prints were lively, colorful and interesting. What surprised me is that you were into sports, into rock, into non-jazz music, but these prints of jazz musicians captured your attention. They would stay on your wall until several fell and broke and you moved rooms.
Mom and Caylea went out of town - probably to visit Aunt Shelley and left you and I to do your room. We had agreed to an accent wall on the far side. We used the grey primer to cover the wall. I like to paint, you loved to help and we banged through that quickly. I worked mainly on the edges using the ladder Mom had got me and you worked on the inside. Now came the color. We agreed that we were going to make the basketball color orange the base and paint the shapes on it and not have to fill in the basketball. So we got going. It took two coats to get it smooth - so we worked hard and our 12 foot ceilings are HIGH. It was a struggle to make it look good and not get on other walls - but we did okay. The color ended up being UT orange - you were thrilled. Now to do the football - the brown we picked up looked awful - kaka brown to be exact. That was NOT going to work. However, we could not stop - you wanted to finish. My question was finish what? You then presented your idea - put instruments on the wall - using the prints as the template. Okay, that sounded interesting - so we got to work.
We traced the guitar, trumpets, sax, and drums on paper. You then described how you wanted to arrange them - all surrounding a central space. I followed your lead and we projected, traced together with black paint from bottom left to bottom center - a sax, a snare drum, a trumpet, another sax, a kettle drum and a guitar. The guitar was especially cool looking but it and the kettle drum were right near the floor. Mom later pointed out that we could put nothing against the wall to block these the way we painted it. She was right. you wanted everything visible. Your bed would go under the first sax and only short things under the guitar and a chair could be farther in front of the drum - it was tall. Interesting, Caylea organized the room similarly - even with the Jazz wall gone after you moved to A&M. Now we had a orange wall with black outlines of instruments. Not much color. You then added the part I was not expecting. I thought you would put "Rock", or some other thing in the space. But true to the iconic pictures the wall was based on - you chose "JAZZ" to be on the wall. Indeed, you designed it with Kiss "S" looking like backward z's. You took the lead to project and trace. My contribution was white shadowing. In the end, it really looked cool. We were so excited about our accomplishment.
I think everyone like the wall - it was a organizational pain due to the low "major" pictures frustrating decorating strategies, but it was unique, cool and creative - all who you are! Your friends loved it and were amazed that you could "design your own room." The Jazz wall lasted a long time - until you moved out of the room to go into Caylea's room. When Caylea moved back, we took pictures of you and the wall - a handsome, muscular senior - a big change from the skinny cute 7th grader who conceived and painted the wall. What a marker of your growing up those pictures were - how you matured, grown and became - but how you maintained your individuality, cool-ness and creativity!!!
I wish we did more projects like that! We did several - but the Jazz wall holds a very special place in this Dad's heart.
Love you "e"
Dad
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Skillet - Hey Ian, I Love Your Soul!
Ian,
We are a family that loves music. It seems like we have taken turns introducing the family to "favorites." Another email will detail the favorites you introduced us to - indeed - your brother Danny and I listened to some of the music you introduced us to as we returned from the Texan-Patriot game this weekend. Texan's games - that is indeed another subject! Your Aunt Shelley sent great pictures from the two games you attended with Nate.
Although we don't listen to them much now, there was a time when Skillet was THE band for our family. I received a sampler CD with "Best Kept Secret" on it when Danny was in 7th grade. It was an immediate hit in the Jr High group at Crossroads Christian Church where we attended. The dynamic changes, the driving beat and the truth of the lyrics caught everyone's attention - including yours! You were probably 5 when Skillet hit our home airways and you were an immediate fan. We found the CD's in the Christian bookstore and quickly became experts - if I remember right, Caylea and I stuck with "Invincible" while you and Danny liked "Hey You, I Love Your Soul" best. The first CD had a few good songs - Danny mostly listened to it. Mom - she liked you kids showing her songs - it did not matter what. It was the interaction, the sharing and the joy on your faces that has always driven her.
I remember the first day we had the Suburban, we packed you kids up and the Mundells and headed up to Truckee to see Skillet play live. We jammed to our favorites, danced and maybe headbanged a little. Then they surprised us, they broke into an amazing worship set - and all of us joined in praising our King. Jon Cooper, the lead singer and bassist - wonder if he played some role inspiring you to play bass? - preached the Gospel. We were amazed that a band could rock so hard, worship in such an inspired manner and be so clear with the Gospel. Great way to break in a new car and enjoy music.
I think that there was another time we saw Skillet play live - but I forget where. The big concert was at Spirit West Coast. It was one we attended with the Scotts - if I remember right - camping out, we always loved camping as a family, and excited to see DC Talk, Jars of Clay and, of course Skillet!!! We also saw Switchfoot for the first time at that Spirit West Coast - I think. They were the NEXT favorite band as a family. More on that later... Anyway, Skillet went on mid afternoon on the main stage and I suggested we go down from the stands (where we were sitting, napping on, etc) and go down in front of the stage. Well that was not the best idea. You were pretty short, I am not that tall, and the crowd was thick!!! I don't know where Danny was - maybe in the crowd elsewhere or with Aaron Scott getting his hat signed by artists! Anyway, we jammed to our favorites and I held you up to see. I remember that Jon "spun" his bass around in a circle - we heard about that before, but never saw it before.
Just as the concert was really going, Jon Cooper stopped it and said that he felt the Spirit compel him to present the Gospel - so he preached, and preached. Don't remember the content - but it was about salvation being found in Jesus to be sure. When he was finished - he asked for anyone to accept Christ as Savior to raise their hands. You tugged at my shirt and said "Dad, I want to be a Christian." There are few things a kid can say to make a parent more excited. I asked you why? You said because you were a sinner and needed to be forgiven by Jesus. You then raised your hand. I picked you up and you followed Jon's lead praying to accept Jesus as your Savior. Wow! I was so excited. After the prayer - we were ready to really rock! But time was up and Jon and Skillet apologetically left the main stage. How thankful I am that Jon listened to the Spirit's leading and preached the Gospel instead of playing more music - God got your soul and your are His forever. The legacy of Skillet came through you all the rest of your life as you sought after a true, growing relationship with Jesus.
We saw Skillet one more time - at Crossroads for our Jr High Summer Camp. We, Danny, Caylea, Mom and I got to help them set up, and we watched excited as our friends got to see the concert blast out our favorites and new songs from "Alien Youth." I am sure that we all shook Jon and the bands hands as they came to the church. We were excited that they were at our home. We got "Alien Youth" bumper stickers from the concert. One of those stickers found its way to bedroom door in Texas - as you proudly continued to Skillet fan even as we left CA. I think we saw them one more time with their new guitarist in CA - but the legacy of Skillet had already took root. They were the tool God ordained for you to hear His call, experience His love and be His child. How thankful I am for Skillet and their legacy in all of us.
Love you "e" - miss you every day!
Dad
We are a family that loves music. It seems like we have taken turns introducing the family to "favorites." Another email will detail the favorites you introduced us to - indeed - your brother Danny and I listened to some of the music you introduced us to as we returned from the Texan-Patriot game this weekend. Texan's games - that is indeed another subject! Your Aunt Shelley sent great pictures from the two games you attended with Nate.
Although we don't listen to them much now, there was a time when Skillet was THE band for our family. I received a sampler CD with "Best Kept Secret" on it when Danny was in 7th grade. It was an immediate hit in the Jr High group at Crossroads Christian Church where we attended. The dynamic changes, the driving beat and the truth of the lyrics caught everyone's attention - including yours! You were probably 5 when Skillet hit our home airways and you were an immediate fan. We found the CD's in the Christian bookstore and quickly became experts - if I remember right, Caylea and I stuck with "Invincible" while you and Danny liked "Hey You, I Love Your Soul" best. The first CD had a few good songs - Danny mostly listened to it. Mom - she liked you kids showing her songs - it did not matter what. It was the interaction, the sharing and the joy on your faces that has always driven her.
I remember the first day we had the Suburban, we packed you kids up and the Mundells and headed up to Truckee to see Skillet play live. We jammed to our favorites, danced and maybe headbanged a little. Then they surprised us, they broke into an amazing worship set - and all of us joined in praising our King. Jon Cooper, the lead singer and bassist - wonder if he played some role inspiring you to play bass? - preached the Gospel. We were amazed that a band could rock so hard, worship in such an inspired manner and be so clear with the Gospel. Great way to break in a new car and enjoy music.
I think that there was another time we saw Skillet play live - but I forget where. The big concert was at Spirit West Coast. It was one we attended with the Scotts - if I remember right - camping out, we always loved camping as a family, and excited to see DC Talk, Jars of Clay and, of course Skillet!!! We also saw Switchfoot for the first time at that Spirit West Coast - I think. They were the NEXT favorite band as a family. More on that later... Anyway, Skillet went on mid afternoon on the main stage and I suggested we go down from the stands (where we were sitting, napping on, etc) and go down in front of the stage. Well that was not the best idea. You were pretty short, I am not that tall, and the crowd was thick!!! I don't know where Danny was - maybe in the crowd elsewhere or with Aaron Scott getting his hat signed by artists! Anyway, we jammed to our favorites and I held you up to see. I remember that Jon "spun" his bass around in a circle - we heard about that before, but never saw it before.
Just as the concert was really going, Jon Cooper stopped it and said that he felt the Spirit compel him to present the Gospel - so he preached, and preached. Don't remember the content - but it was about salvation being found in Jesus to be sure. When he was finished - he asked for anyone to accept Christ as Savior to raise their hands. You tugged at my shirt and said "Dad, I want to be a Christian." There are few things a kid can say to make a parent more excited. I asked you why? You said because you were a sinner and needed to be forgiven by Jesus. You then raised your hand. I picked you up and you followed Jon's lead praying to accept Jesus as your Savior. Wow! I was so excited. After the prayer - we were ready to really rock! But time was up and Jon and Skillet apologetically left the main stage. How thankful I am that Jon listened to the Spirit's leading and preached the Gospel instead of playing more music - God got your soul and your are His forever. The legacy of Skillet came through you all the rest of your life as you sought after a true, growing relationship with Jesus.
We saw Skillet one more time - at Crossroads for our Jr High Summer Camp. We, Danny, Caylea, Mom and I got to help them set up, and we watched excited as our friends got to see the concert blast out our favorites and new songs from "Alien Youth." I am sure that we all shook Jon and the bands hands as they came to the church. We were excited that they were at our home. We got "Alien Youth" bumper stickers from the concert. One of those stickers found its way to bedroom door in Texas - as you proudly continued to Skillet fan even as we left CA. I think we saw them one more time with their new guitarist in CA - but the legacy of Skillet had already took root. They were the tool God ordained for you to hear His call, experience His love and be His child. How thankful I am for Skillet and their legacy in all of us.
Love you "e" - miss you every day!
Dad
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