File #929: "Mosaic_Spring2009_11.jpg"
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There are many other examples of how he taught me about not being able to judge someone else by prior experience, but by far the one that stands out foremost in my mind is a time involving his expectant child. Right after finding out the sex of his child, Daniel had been informed by his wife that a potential serious complication had arisen with the pregnancy. As luck would have it, I had gotten my Mom to go buy something appropriate for a little girl to wear since I knew virtually nothing about little girls and even less about little girl clothes. Daniel had been beside himself with gratitude when I had given him this small, inexpensive gift, and his happiness was radiating from him like a flashing neon sign. In a few short hours, however, his joy was turned to panic and sadness at the thought that something horrible might be wrong with his wife or baby. After I had calmed him down from his sobbing, incoherent state to one in which he would be safe to drive and not upset his wife any further, he went home for the day.
I spent the following night worrying that my gift may have been ill-timed, considering what had transpired in the following hours, but I need not have worried at all. The next morning as soon as I arrived, I asked Daniel how his wife and baby were, and he told me with one of his characteristic smiles that they were both doing wonderfully. I then asked him if his wife Anna had liked the outfit that I had gotten for the baby, and he once again broke into tears while smiling from ear to ear and nodded in the affirmative. Daniel then said to me for the first time "I love you, my friend." When Daniel told me this, I was surprised and honored, but I didn't really know how big the honor actually was until later. In a subsequent conversation with Daniel I learned that it was unusual in the Mexican culture for a man to form extremely close and trusting relationships with any males outside of his immediate family, and lifelong friends are almost unheard of to form these relationships with a white American male. I recall this very fondly and with great pride, but with great sadness as well because, although I did not know it at the time, this was to be the last time that I would ever talk to Daniel again. He died in an automobile crash involving a drunk driver. Even though he is gone, his last words to me will always be with me. "I love you, my friend."
- 20 -
"Red Is Not My Color"
Colton Simmons
Would you ever imagine that father knows best? Lessons of understanding and responsibility were gained during the following adventure. I was the ripe old age of twelve when boys have no fear and know most everything. It was on a sunny Sunday afternoon in early winter, a day most kids love - no school and no homework. A day created for exploring outside, and I was soon looking for an adventure.
I explored the pond for a while with the not-so-friendly geese we had! They really were not happy to see me and gave me a long chase back to the barn. I thought about going fishing then realized I did not have any bait. Being a twelve year old, I did not want to dig for it either. Looking around, I realized my dad was in the barn working on something, so I stopped to visit him. Upon entering the barn, I saw my four-wheeler, but it was out of gas; therefore, riding it was out of the question. The next moment I saw a can of red spray paint on the ground. I thought the can was empty, and I started kicking it around. I picked it up and shook it thinking I could get a spray or two out of it. I tried to spray a board, and nothing came out. I threw it down and started kicking it again. Then, for some crazy reason, I picked up a shovel and started hitting the paint can with it. My father immediately looked around the side of the barn and yelled, "Don't do that! It will explode!"
Yeah, yeah, I thought and hit it again; nothing happened. I decided that if it were going to explode, it would have done so by now. My father returned and warned me that I would be sorry. Hitting the can was very dangerous, and I should stop immediately. I had to prove him wrong; I had to hit it one more time.
I hit the can one more time as hard as I could. Bam! It exploded with an unimaginable force and a deafening sound. I was so scared that all I could do was close my eyes and scream! With my father's words ringing in my ears, I opened my eyes; my vision was surely gone. No, not gone; everything was red.
Fear had me in a death grip. My father came running. I heard him yelling, "I told you! I told you! I told you! Are you all right?" To me, my dad's behavior seemed
I spent the following night worrying that my gift may have been ill-timed, considering what had transpired in the following hours, but I need not have worried at all. The next morning as soon as I arrived, I asked Daniel how his wife and baby were, and he told me with one of his characteristic smiles that they were both doing wonderfully. I then asked him if his wife Anna had liked the outfit that I had gotten for the baby, and he once again broke into tears while smiling from ear to ear and nodded in the affirmative. Daniel then said to me for the first time "I love you, my friend." When Daniel told me this, I was surprised and honored, but I didn't really know how big the honor actually was until later. In a subsequent conversation with Daniel I learned that it was unusual in the Mexican culture for a man to form extremely close and trusting relationships with any males outside of his immediate family, and lifelong friends are almost unheard of to form these relationships with a white American male. I recall this very fondly and with great pride, but with great sadness as well because, although I did not know it at the time, this was to be the last time that I would ever talk to Daniel again. He died in an automobile crash involving a drunk driver. Even though he is gone, his last words to me will always be with me. "I love you, my friend."
- 20 -
"Red Is Not My Color"
Colton Simmons
Would you ever imagine that father knows best? Lessons of understanding and responsibility were gained during the following adventure. I was the ripe old age of twelve when boys have no fear and know most everything. It was on a sunny Sunday afternoon in early winter, a day most kids love - no school and no homework. A day created for exploring outside, and I was soon looking for an adventure.
I explored the pond for a while with the not-so-friendly geese we had! They really were not happy to see me and gave me a long chase back to the barn. I thought about going fishing then realized I did not have any bait. Being a twelve year old, I did not want to dig for it either. Looking around, I realized my dad was in the barn working on something, so I stopped to visit him. Upon entering the barn, I saw my four-wheeler, but it was out of gas; therefore, riding it was out of the question. The next moment I saw a can of red spray paint on the ground. I thought the can was empty, and I started kicking it around. I picked it up and shook it thinking I could get a spray or two out of it. I tried to spray a board, and nothing came out. I threw it down and started kicking it again. Then, for some crazy reason, I picked up a shovel and started hitting the paint can with it. My father immediately looked around the side of the barn and yelled, "Don't do that! It will explode!"
Yeah, yeah, I thought and hit it again; nothing happened. I decided that if it were going to explode, it would have done so by now. My father returned and warned me that I would be sorry. Hitting the can was very dangerous, and I should stop immediately. I had to prove him wrong; I had to hit it one more time.
I hit the can one more time as hard as I could. Bam! It exploded with an unimaginable force and a deafening sound. I was so scared that all I could do was close my eyes and scream! With my father's words ringing in my ears, I opened my eyes; my vision was surely gone. No, not gone; everything was red.
Fear had me in a death grip. My father came running. I heard him yelling, "I told you! I told you! I told you! Are you all right?" To me, my dad's behavior seemed