Where do I begin this post? The words that are in my head are jumbled around like alphabet soup. Do I start at the beginning or the end??
When Jason was in high school he was AWESOME! He's still awesome, but in high school....SUPER AWESOME! He was one of those guys who flirted with every girl around and never really knew it. He would say things to me while in computer class like...."your lips look pretty today." or "I like your teeth". SMOOTH, real smooth!:) Jason was also one of those guys who stood up for what he believed in and because of that, rather than be a super nerd like sometimes happens he was....cool. Smart, cool, handsome, total package. And I snagged him the second I enter the doors of Quanah High.
I almost forgot that this post is NOT actually about Jason, but yet, Markie, Jason's best friend. Mark was a great friend to Jason and the two have so many memories together! The least of which is Mark buying Jason huge portions of Allsup's burritos at lunch while driving around in Marks new Yukon. Did I meantion that Mark was a rather LARGE guy?? And Jason was "the tallest, skinniest, cowboy I had ever seen!" They were complete opposites. Funny. I have a picture of the two of them at Prom their senior year. Jason was in Marks wedding. The two were besties, but when Jason and I moved away for college and Mark moved to Canyon to play football for WT, we all lost touch. Sad. They spoke off and on over the years and every time they were together it was like they were in high school again! MINUS THE GIRL FLIRTING!!:)
In April of 2005, Mark was on duty as a police officer in Amarillo. He was in the passenger seat when the car was rear ended, and Marks life was basically over. He suffered from severe brain injuries that day. He lived for three and a half years with brain damage and an inability to move or talk or laugh. I believe Jason saw Mark once or twice after the accident.
Wednesday, Mark passed away.
Although most of his friends and family began grieving for Mark years ago, the sting of loosing someone so special, so young, will never go away.
His funeral is this morning. I wasn't able to go with Jas because Koop has stupid pneumonia. I hate to think of him doing something so hard, without me.
Please keep the Simmons family in your prayers. Christmas time is just going to be so hard! He also left behind two little girls. His mother has full custody of them at this time. Praise the Lord!!
Mark is the second member of Jason's class that has passed away since graduation. Both of them were very good friends of Jason's. Those statistics just suck!
Kooper is feeling much better today. I tried to take him out last night to watch the girls perform at halftime of the basketball games. Not a smart idea. After about 15 minutes he was begging me to go home. The fever is down today, and he has eaten an actul meal this morning. For the first time since Tuesday! I think we are over the hump.
Have a good weekend and I hope you accomplish alot!!:)
6 comments:
Sorry to hear about the loss of Jason's friend. That is hard to go through at ANY age.
Glad Koop is feeling better - maybe nobody else will get it before Christmas!
What a neat tribute to Markie, Amy! I wish you could have been at the funeral. Jason did a great job, and the service was amazing. The sight of so many officers in uniform lining the sides of the auditorium (and filling the balcony, fellowship hall, and even the choir seats) was awe-inspiring and made me so thankful for all the ones who lay their lives on the line for us every day. The sight of 20+ police vehicles and the motorcycle brigade all with their lights flashing and leading the funeral procession to the cemetery was a sight to behold. I can't adequately describe the emotions I felt at the graveside service after seeing the Honor Guard carry Markie's casket to the gravesite, carefully fold the flag draped over his casket and present it to his mother, and then watching the helicopter from the Amarillo Police Department do a flyover, hearing the bugle play "Taps", and of course the 21-gun salute. I have never been so moved. There was not a dry eye anywhere! It was freezing, but everyone was so touched. It was a wonderful tribute to Markie and his life. Jennifer is doing as well as can be expected, but with the holidays coming up and Markie's birthday being on January 8, it is going to be difficult for her and the family. Anyway, I hope Koop is feeling better. Sorry this got so long! I missed you today and was looking forward to seeing you :(
I actually read the article in the Amarillo Globe about him this morning. So sad!
I am so sorry for the loss of Jason's friend. Things like that are so sad but make me rethink the way I live each day and try to be thankful even through the temper tantrums. You will all be in our prayers.
Also I will be praying you are all well for Christmas:-)
How terrible.....and especially hard at Christmas....with kids left behind. We will pray for all of you....Glad Koop is feeling a little better.
Such a good tribute to Markie!!
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