Trippin' with Ian

 

Ian, 

You always made me smile - from your texts, the creative pictures you would send to just hearing your giggle as you related a story. This picture taken during Terry and your Spring Break 2013 trip to New Orleans makes me laugh still. It came to mind as Mom cleaned out your old bathroom cabinet - well completely. At the back was an old cherry jelly jar full of herb. The lid was put on very tightly so that the distinctive sweetness would not escape. We asked Danny and Caylea - they were just as surprised. Must have been yours...no telling when it was put there - now a maybe decade old jar of grass. But as with the "Keep off the Grass" picture, the weed brought back memories of "trippin" with you. 

Before I launch into "Trips" that we took with you, I will comment on "trippin...." Yes, we know you sampled weed various times in your life - didn't know you had a stash at our house, but we knew you experienced the high. The most memorable event was when you first got your car and had your learners permit. We went to Aaron's house and met a bunch of your old BCS friends and Andrew there. We were hanging out doing the parent talk thing and you drove your car over to show your friends - the white Civic. Sometime during the day, we noticed that all the boys were gone, your car was also, gone. Hmmmm - what could be going on. Well, we waited and after a while you returned, the Civic full of boys and everyone smelled of fresh herb. So, not only were you driving friends without a license to drive anyone but a parent, but you were stoned and driving! It took a bit for the seriousness to sink in - such is the status of being high. But, you lost your car for a while for breaking the law and driving under the influence. More on that incident in the early blog entry about your cars. We know that there was definitely some more "trippin" - from the stash in the cabinet! 

Nevertheless, there was definitely some "trippin" as well as "trips" with you. 

Trips:

In and Around Our Nation's Capital

One of our first trips after moving to Maryland and your birth was to Williamsburg, VA. Mom, Danny and I enjoyed the interesting colonial food, playing with model guns (Danny loved this) and various period-specific experiences. You and Caylea were strolled around in the blue double stroller - the Cadillac as we called it due to its size. We came to one of the many vendors who looked to sell us stuff. Danny loved the hats and the model guns. You were riding on my shoulders and Mom grabbed a colonial hat and dropped it on your head. She then clicked this picture - one of our favorites of all time of you as a toddler! Your face - well, so cute and memorable. Yes, we got suckered into buying a timeshare while in Williamsburg - but it paid off with great places to stay through your early years in CA and even down to our trip to Disney World.

We also visited Amish country in PA and enjoyed watching the horse drawn carriages and unique cultural experiences. We also loved our Sundays - to drive along the mountain highways (especially the Skyline) to see the sites in Spring and especially Fall colors in Virginia and West Virginia. The colors of the leaves turning throughout the rolling hills were breathtaking. No doubt you, Caylea and Danny will not remember these experiences, but as parents sharing beauty with our children, we hold those memories with you - even in a car seat in the back seat - as very special.

Living near D.C. meant that we spent a lot of time seeing the museums and federal buildings around the Mall, Mount Vernon and other sites. You had a chance - before you would ever remember it - to see the Air and Space Museum, National Gallery, Museum of Natural History and various monuments. One memory I have is going to the Mall during cherry blossom season. Blossoms were falling on Danny, you and Caylea in a stroller as we walked around. We were amazed at the beauty of the season. We were blessed to hold memories of our precious children, even really young, in such amazing places.

California Dreaming

Moving to California, we decided we would experience everything - and not miss the White House and other places as we did in Maryland. Early on, we found Tahoe as our family favorite. We stayed there under so many different conditions - in a timeshare on the water, watching it snow and us making snow men on a beach!!! We camped several times. A clear memory was your response to our first tent camping there. You unpacked your clothes and hung them up - organized and ready for the trip. Your face, pride in a good job, never will forget that. Of course, you kinda forgot the organization thing later in life, but, that is another story. Mom and I even tried our hand a gambling once or twice. One trip, we got enough slot money back to even pay for a babysitter. Coming out ahead was rare! We often went to Truckee and other communities, seeing Skillet or trying to find a weekend get-away. One trip we drove almost to Tahoe on a whim and did not find a place to stay. You were thirsty and we got a Jamba Juice. Caylea was dealing with an ear infection and meds and threw up in line for food. You began throwing up later because the Jamba Juice was bad! We were cleaning up the whole trip! We finally found a hotel, exhausted and ready to sleep. This trip was going badly! The next morning, we awakened to find that we were across the street from an indoor video and playland!!! God provided. The trip went from the pits of vomit, the the joy of playing games all day. You and your sibs had a great time and we drove back with sleeping kids in the back seat. 

We also camped on various black bottom lakes in the Sierras. One trip was a baptism of Lavonne, one of our friends in a Sierra river. We bought a large tent, multi-room for the trip, but used our Power Ranger, Snow White and other "home" sleeping bags. Well, the temperature dipped below freezing, and with the vacuous nature our tent, we were freezing. Mom and I almost did not sleep a wink. We looked at you guys and we found you, Caylea and Danny literally stacked on top of each other in your sleeping bags with Indy sleeping on top of the pile of kids to keep warm! Mom told me to get a fire going and not come back until it was raging. The pressure was on! Well the fire was started. You kids joined me to cook our traditional camping breakfast for our friends and our family - bacon first, eggs second in bacon grease, and pancakes third in residual oil. Not healthy, but yummy and a breakfast all of you kids could help prepare. Soon we were blessed to celebrate the baptism of our friend in the coldest water ever!

Mom reminded me of our first trip to Carmel and Monterey Bay. We reserved a spot in what seemed like a quaint hotel in Carmel by the Sea. Pictures of a library, pool and other amenities suggested we found a real gem. We arrived and found that the room had what seemed like 20 year old 3 inch shag carpet and Mom was afraid for our health! The "library" had books in it, but was basically a closet sized room. This was all "excellent" compared to the pool. You, Danny, Caylea and I dressed up and headed down to swim - hey, this is California - the pool should be fine. Well it was a dirty mess with leaves and debris in it. Suffice it to say we left that alone. We quickly relocated to Monterey and enjoyed the aquarium and the sea side experiences. Another trip that saw victory snatched from the jaws of defeat!

Our final Tahoe trip was with Becky and Chris before we moved to Texas. It was like a farewell to one of favorite places on earth. You did return there. Your ashes being placed in Emerald Bay and other places. A memorial to ensure Tahoe knew how important this place was to you, to us, as a family.

We went to Yosemite at least three times. Crazy thinking back that we had such young kids hiking everywhere with us!! Two quick stories. The first was a climb up a moss-covered set of cut-rock steps to the base of half dome - with a waterfall on our left side. You and Caylea were by FAR the youngest people on that trip. Danny was still small as adults huffed and puffed up the stairs. Mom and I bribed you guys with the option for ice cream when we got back to the bottom. We did and we delivered the goods. A shuttle driver could NOT believe all three of you made it to Half Dome's base. You were true mountain goats. The second story was a trip with just Caylea, you and I staying at the Boy Scout camping site at Yosemite. In all our trips to Yosemite, we never saw a bear - we saw the tell-tell signs of bears with disrupted camp sites and broken car windows, but no living bear. Well, one morning, the whole camp was abuzz. A black bear was about 25 yards from the camp, lumbering toward our site. Everyone grabbed pots, pans and silverware, went to the edge of the camp at the more dense area of the forest, and banged away to make the camp less attractive to the bear. I wish we took pictures! But we were all caught up in the moment - get rid of the bear! Soon, the bear turned and walked away. Whew! we succeeded. The rest of the trip had us doing advanced hiking - up half way on Half Dome and other places - as you and Caylea were now much older and ready for significant and strenuous outdoor activities. 

Final hiking was really focused locally to Vacaville. These included going up and down Lombard St., touring Alcatraz and getting lost in the City, swimming and singing at the cold Stenson Beach, roaming around Muir Woods, crossing Bay Area bridges as well as engaging in the Marin area experience. Further, we experienced finding red glass on Glass Beach in the Fort Bragg area; throwing darts and playing pub games at Streets of London Pub in Sacramento; visiting wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Our favorite hiking place was actually right near the house - Old Rocky. We went there often, with the dogs, with friends and of course, with the cattle that fed on the grass there. Those cattle once actually surrounded us during one hike. I remember thinking - Mom will kill me if you kids get trampled by the cows! Maybe I should have been thinking more about you than Mom! Good news - we escaped. Hiking from one end to the other was the big goal. We did that about a week before moving to Texas - we got to see our home and city of Vacaville from the top of multiple hills. This is a special place to our family.

Spirit West Coast

We attended and camped at Spirt West Coast several times, with the Scott's, Megan and just as a family. We found this a great opportunity to camp - a family priority activity. We camped in a field amid a forest of tents, and shuttled to the concerts. We saw so many great Christian bands there - can't list them all. I remember one cold morning huddling under blankets in the bleachers to the left of the stage as we watched DC Talk. It was also in the standing area in front of the main stage where you put your faith in Jesus - at a Skillet concert. I told that story in another blog. Danny and Aaron Scott created a contest to get the most artist signatures on their hats. You and Caylea loved looking at the "trinkets." It was there you got your "David" beany bear that you loved. 

Amusement Parks

You can't live in California and not go to Disneyland and other theme parks in Southern CA. We would fool you guys about our plans. One time we told you that we were going to check out pools in Sacramento as we drove off one evening hoping you would drift off to sleep. Caylea often stayed up - eyes open. Early trips saw you love roller coasters - Space Mountain was your favorite. Much like Yosemite, we dragged our young kids to do "crazy" experiences - often not fitting your age. Fearlessness...that was your approach. As you got older, and began to understand mortality, you did not like the roller coaster experience as much. Then you got older still and loved them once again - at Disneyland and Marine World in Vallejo. We loved experiencing Knott's Berry Farms and Magic Mountain. Often we enjoyed tiers of rides with Danny, Mom and I on more radical rides and you and Caylea with more normal rides and "cultural" experiences. Medieval Times was also a fun experience. You loved the knights, the joisting and horses. You also loved the ample food provided and eating completely with your hands!

We experienced Disneyworld with the Darlands and Momma Jean and Poppa Gene. That was a great trip. We used our timeshare to get two great condo's near the park - impressing Stephanie who was a bit distrusting on the quality of place to stay! We dove in to the parks each day meeting JD Harris's family who generously provided us with tickets. Danny played Dance, Dance Revolution, you and Caylea drove the cars, enjoyed the animals in parks and everyone loved the Aerosmith Rock'n Roller Coaster in the adjacent parks. Seeing all the characters was actually a fun "egg hunt" for you and Caylea. But Goofy was always your favorite - with your Goofy character stuffty being a favorite. Having Goofy serve you breakfast with Micky and Minnie was outstanding!! Stephanie had us on a really tight schedule to experience EVERYTHING!!! I was so proud of all my kids, being always so helpful and inclusive of Will and Kenedy in all the activities. Once the Darlands headed home, we took a deep breath and slowed down. We had a great time with MJ&PG at Epcot. The humidity and heat got to the grandparents a bit as well; we all wilted a bit. So slow and more measured experiences with the cultural groups at Epcot was a highlight.

On the Slopes

"Hey kids, its snowing in the Sierras! Want to skip school today and go skiing?" Well, no one ever said - "No Dad, I would rather stay and study..." We would be off early in a morning and often at Donner slopes by 10:30 for a full day of skiing. You first started on the bunny slope, the first "jump off" on the way to the summit. But, you quickly became strong and we would go on the blues before heading to the top. I remember us skiing the backside in a blinding snow storm - could barely find the trees and lift and faces were freezing, but I could not tear you off the slopes. The most memorable time in CA was when you, Caylea and I got a fourth member - a very young girl - on the four-seat lift. Her family was on the slopes, but older brother was in front of her on the lift. When we came to the bunny slope - the first "jump off" point, and she didn't - jump. Her brother screamed for her to step off but she was frozen still with fear. Her family was screaming - she doesn't know how to ski!!! Oh no! Now we had to calm her down for the 10-15 min trip to the top of a mountain. How were we to get her down? We arrived and we all hopped off, but had to drag her off the chair. What to do now? You and C were so kind - showing her how to snowplow and get "some" hang of skiing. Indeed, the first 100 or so yards, she did pretty good. Of course it was a large open area. When it became close in and steep, well it was one fall after another. After probably 30 min, I suggested you two ski down, update mom and try to find her family. I then carried her down in more than knee deep slow. I was tired!

We also went to New Mexico for a ski weekend once we moved to Texas. We skied everywhere! Amazing how you improved with age. We played in the town in the trinket stores posing with Bruce Lee, using Wolverine hand blades and of course, going to a music shop. There you picked up and tuned a guitar and just started to play. I was jealous.  Seeing both your and C's smiles in the pictures makes me very happy! Wish we could go skiing again!

Washington DC and Gettysburg

We went back to our nation's capital in your 8th grade year at Brentwood. Caylea had gone two years before with Mom. Now my turn! It was great to see you, Jimmy, Adam, and all your friends see the once in a lifetime (sometimes) places. We went back to the same Mall, same museums you saw as a baby - but now, maybe you would remember them! We toured the White House - never did that when in MD before. We saw the Holocaust Museum that was new at the time. Most of your friends were very affected by the visit - as were you and I  - but they headed out. You saw an older gentleman at a table and you struck up a conversation. He was a Holocaust survivor and you and he talked of his experience. Did that put the interest of the Book Thief in you? 

We also visited Germantown and saw the old apartment complex, lake, hospital and community you were born and had your first years. You ask so many questions about the place - walking in a stroller around the lake, eating with MJ&PG at the pizza place up the road, the movie theater where we would frequent, everything. We then drove to Gettysburg to see the field. I had become quite interested in Civil War history. You were less excited, but tolerated my stories and enthusiasm. We looked over the field that Picket's Charge happened, saw the places where the Union made their stand, and walked Little Roundtop where the men of Maine won the second day. Great memories shared there. I had a job interview in Delaware - went okay, but we did pick out t-shirts for the girls there.

Mission Trips

The Gospel was important to you. Worship was a time that you loved and you would talk to a fence post about anything. Often that anything turned to Jesus. You and C went on a mission trip to Mexico while you were in Jr. High with a church across Jollyville. I don't remember a huge amount about it, but I know you were affected by the poverty, the need for people to help. 

When older, in high school, we went with Riverbend on the first big trip they made to El Salvador. It was there where you found your voice and calling. We worked with ~800 kids that week. You probably met each one of them. You exchanged lessons on guitar and bass with the band. Taught soccer players to play basketball and they taught you soccer. Was this the spark to play soccer your senior year? You met your older brother Cesar and made many younger brothers there. I remember going through the colonia with rice bags, beans and other groceries to share with the people. You would carry each person's bags if they became too heavy. Nothing would stop you from sharing with the people. Your shoes, your shirts, your clothes largely were left there. You came back with a t-shirt covered in signatures from the kids there and sick - you gave everything and told the pastor you would be back.

Trips around Texas

Too many things to mention here, in Texas we visited Enchanted Rock, drove through West Texas in a snow storm after skiing, visited MJ&PG in Wichita Falls and wrapped Christmas ornaments around bushes at a Sonic there - like done on the cedars on Hwy 360 in Austin, College Station to see A&M and where your parents met and were married, and San Antonio to enjoy the River Walk, Mexican food, and mall shopping. Remember seeing the Michael Jordan's signed photo in the souvenir shop there? You LOVED looking at cool basketball cards and memorabilia.  

We often found ourselves in and around Houston, Mama and Popee's, Granny and Pawpaw's, and all Mom's sisters. Paw Paw bragged how hard a worker you when you helped build the barn and work with the longhorn cattle. You loved Uncle Kurt's tickets to see the Texans! You were so helpful with little Nate - helping him get food, go to see the field and get up close the players. You never were a huge football fan, but always a great joiner-in'er! Uncle Kurt loved going with you and I to our local card shops - he focused on baseball cards, you on basketball and I on football. Nate tended to the trinkets, jerseys, etc. Loved those trips. We also loved our long weekend with the Coopers at Aransas Pass. Loved taking turns driving dune buggies on the beach, swimming in the ocean, building sand castles and burying each other in the sand. 

Little Emily Warfield played at a festival near Houston one weekend. Erin's family and ours headed to Houston. We watched lots of "older guys" play Texas country, etc. to entertain a small crowd and the schedule dragged on and on. Instead of going on around dinner time, you guys were starving - we harvested food and got you ready play. Again, I was the roadie to help load up your Trace Elliot cab and Bugera head, along with Erin's gear and drums.They you guys kicked things off with "You Gotta Know" and the crowd went wild - well, the Austin-based crowd went wild! Great concert as you guys, in our minds, stole the show!

Final trip to Houston was celebrating Mom's bday in 2013. We went to get Danny and celebrate together. We planned to just do dinner, but Danny was very busy at work and decided to stay the night. Well, we brought nothing - clothes, tooth brushes, etc. You and I went to Walmart to get products to support the stay. The only shirts for sleeping were "HUGE" blue shirts! Well, we wore them that night - and had waffles in the morning still in our shirts, just as Donkey suggested in Shrek. Here we were, last time as a family, last time as "5", and we were dressed in silly oversized blue shirts and eating waffles at a hotel. Never would have predicted our last time together would be that trip. Of course, you spend a weekend with Danny to video game and hang out as brothers. Caylea and I would visit you in College Station, take care of her "hangry" and throw discs (including my Orc into the lake on the industrial park campus of TAMU). All of us were together, except Danny, at Easter in 2013 - as we worshiped at the Stone, ate at Taco More and hung out. Mom and I would spend the days with you at Parent's Weekend at TAMU. All precious times together. But in Houston in January, we last were together as five. 

Aggieland

Your first time in College Station were trips with Mom, Caylea and I - and Danny - if I remember correctly - to see your roots - the campus, the buses Mom drove, our first apartments where Mom and I met on Southwest Parkway, First Baptist Church where we were married, first duplexes and apartments. We ate at the Chicken, Duddley's Draw and other places around the area. You and Caylea were grossed out that Mom and I conceived Caylea in a particular duplex!

You and I got you visited College Station as you were deciding which university to attend and I helped you move in during the Summer of 2012 and Fall of 2012. What great times those were - other blogs detail these. We watch Game of Thrones together, through frisbees, roamed around the campus, worked out at the Rec, ate at North Gate and Double Daves, Chick-fil-a, met with Dr. Hall and generally acted as Aggies together. Having my grown son want me to stay in his room, hang out with him around his college campus - what a privilege!

Caylea joined Mom and I to visit Aggieland in the Fall of '12, a Longhorn in a foreign land! We loved playing in the Union - active if we were sleeping there as Mom and I used to when we attended. We also found a great study nook for Mom, Caylea and you to study on the second floor - never found that before! The slobber couches were still there - cowskin couches for sleeping. Great visit. 

Our final time with you in College Station was during Parent's Week. I have written on this extensively. You had come back for Easter service - what a great time worshiping with the Austin Stone in the Drum! We met you and you hung out with us in our B&B, visited Northgate eating at Pot Belly's and the Chicken, met all your friends, attended the maroon and white game, worked out at the Rec, attended church and then ate chicken fingers before kissing you goodbye. You had a study session to attend at A+. Never thought that this would be our last embrace, last kiss, last time to see your smiling, giggling face. But it was. 

Trippin'

Trippin' with you Ian - lots of great times, all over the U.S. and even Latin America - memories for a lifetime crammed in 19 years. We never got to trip together on some weed, share a beer, or drink, but we shared laughs, joy and life changing experiences as we went on trips together. These stories are but a scratching of the surface of the memories, written to spur more thoughts and memories when I read them in the future. 

You continued your trips, even after death, with your ashes being shared by your friends and family across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. Indeed, you "tripped" with me to Portugal, Spain, Poland, Colombia and Mexico. I would rather paid for your seat and have you join me that way...

Going Home

We do have one more trip to make together - to meet at Home, caught in the air with our Savior, have body unite with spirit, and be ever with our King. You made the spiritual trip first, being Home now. I will meet you soon by God's grace. Until then, I must hold on to the promises Christ's resurrection provides - a living hope, indestructible inheritance and being kept for eternity.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded [kept] by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5.

Trials to test this face surely come - Peter promises this - your passing confirms this. Without God's keeping, I would surely fall away. Life is a set of accumulated joy and pain, each a refining us. I hope that my faith "will may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." He gets to wear the crown!

Ian, I miss you. In a year with no "trips" but to Wichita Falls to see MJ&PG and bury my beloved sister Stephanie, I think much of our trips together and our trip that will come - to be Home again, together again. 

Love you "E,"

Dad