The Next James Dean

So, as the sun comes up today, I find myself at the dawn of my 30th year... This has either been the longest 6 years, or the quickest decade... At any rate, I got you on my mind today... For the last nearly six years, I've been thinking about today... Before you left, I never used to think about it. This time we get to share with the ones we love is the greatest gift, and I'm making sure to get the most of each precious moment... Life is shaping up to be something more than either of us could have ever imagined with our 23 year old brains, and I know you're up there laughing at and applauding all of these little twists and turns... Little Jason's gonna be 18 this year... Do you remember 18? Man... Life goes on, and as much as it hurts to turn these pages sometimes, I'm always driven by you to keep on reading... because I know it keeps getting better... I miss you and love you, brother... I'll rock 30 for the both of us... Keep on pushing me... We ain't done yet... Much Love, ~Lopez

Happy Birthday, Nicky--

30 Years Old--

When I see you in my mind, you're still the 24 year-old you.  That's the you I'll always remember.  I even think of the 14 year-old you, sometimes.  We became friends this week, 15 years ago...  Right before you turned 15...  Drama Club, M*A*S*H rehearsal, all those nights in the Auditorium...  Man, was it all really that long ago?  I can't believe it--



Are we really there?  Are getting to that point where we look back and ask "where'd the time go?"  We were just kids...

That's life though, right?  Making memories every day, until we ourselves become memories...

Hey, It's almost been a year--  Yeah, I know, right?  It's an amazing thing...  I love being a husband.  You were right.  It is awesome.  I wish you were here to talk to about all of it-- I know you'd probably be asking me all sorts of questions...  You were always so about it-- Love, Marriage--  I'm living the dream for both of us, buddy.  Every day I wake up, and I thank God for 2 things: The beautiful love of my life, and the promise of a new day.

I'm thankful for you, Nick.  I'm so grateful for the time we had together, and the lessons we learned from eachother, and the promises we made (which we tried our damnedest to keep, even though time wasn't on our side)...

I'll always remember it all, and keep it close to my heart.

I love you and miss you as always, Buddy--  

~Lopez

i'm still listening too.  love you.

- Spent all night working, and thinking...  I'm going to be 29 this week...  I've been married for 6 Months...  It's all crazy...  This is going to be the 4th Birthday we haven't spent together...  Every year for the last 4 years I've been thinking like I am right now...   How I still have the hoodie we bought at target the morning before my 21st Birthday...  I still have the photos we took on my 22nd and 23rd...  The things we talked about before I turned 24...  25-29 are such a blur at times...  But I try to do what you said, to just take it all in as much as I  can...

I'm still listening, buddy--  Thanks again for everything...

~Lopez

Miss you buddy.

Hey, buddy-- Happy 29! I love you and miss you, brother, as I always do...  Thinking of you alot lately...  And I have to say, I wouldn't be where I am today without you...  Keep working your magic, Nicky... And I'll do my best to follow through...

Have a Happy Birthday--

Love your brother from another Mother,

~Lopez

(3+ weeks to go!)

MyHotComments

game got rained out on saturday its rescheduled for today. 2 hours and 30 minutes till game time..so ill see you in a little.. but its so weird i just woke up from a nap that was all about you and now im going to play in your game and the saddest thing about it is..im the last one left.. only one who has been w you start to finish ..this is my last year..noone after me will have ever played for you..i love you man and miss you so much..just watch what i do for you tonight<3

its saturday August 29 and its the day of the alumni game..its the last one i have and its all for you bud.. 13 hours and 45 mins till game time..i mean this game is for you man the whole day is dedicated to you ..even though you deserve everyday..i only need one day to show everyone how much you meant to the program and most importantly myself..i kno youll be watching .. i talked to tim the other day and as he said im the last of the mowheakans..im the only one left in the lakeland program who you coached.. after this year noone will understand how important this game is as i do...i love you man 7 at lakeland..i kno youll be there
miss you everyday