12.10.05

Only Lucas

Posted in Memories at 10:25 pm by Laura P

This classic Lucas tale took place when we were about 21 0r 22. I got a call from my dad one saturday afternoon in the spring. I knew he was at the lake, so I figured he was trying to get me to come up there and help do yardwork or some other form of manual labor. Needless to say, I did not answer the phone the first time. When he called right back, I answered the phone and waited for the invite.
Instead of asking me to come work, he had one of the best Lucas stories ever. He arrived at the lake around 10:30 that morning and found a truck in the driveway. When he got out of his car, the only thing he heard was really loud music that sounded like it was coming from the house. He walked around to the side door, which was suspiciously unlocked, and looked around. After walking inside and not finding anyone, he walked to the lake side of the house and noticed that someone was sitting down on the pier with his shirt off. As he began to walk down the hillside, he noticed that it was none other than “The Dude”. He called out to Lucas, who responded with that laugh, followed by a “Oh, Hey Mr. Hassell, I didnt know you were coming up here.”
My dad made his way down to the pier and shared a Bud with Lucas. Apparently, Lucas was on his way back to Auburn and decided it was just nice enough outside to warrant a trip to the lake. He went to my parent’s lake place (which he had an open invitation to)
and turned the inside stereo on so loud (with one of my dasd’s Grateful Dead cds) that he could hear it down on the pier (about 100 feet away) and helped himself to some beer that my dad had left up there the weekend before.
My dad called me to make sure I had given Lucas the ok to go over there, but I had no idea what he was talking about. All my dad could do was laugh and talk about the balls it took to pull a stunt like that. Only Lucas!

Miss ya, buddy.

Permalink 3 Comments

12.07.05

40 Bucks

Posted in Memories at 11:43 pm by Jacob Kirkland

Anyone that knew Lucas knew he loved old Pops very much (Judi’s father). Lucas would go visit old Pops alot. One thing that was so funny was he would give Lucas $40 everytime he came to visit him. In Auburn, Lucas would tell us that he was going to Millbrook and after awhile we would kid him about going to get his 40 bucks. If Lucas had not seen Pops in 2 months he would give him $40, and if he saw him Monday and then again the next Monday it would still be $40 for each visit. No matter what, it was $40.

I had the pleasure of getting to know Pops very well the past couple years. I will always remember one time before I knew him at all, Lucas and I went to go see him. Well I obviously was awaiting for this $40 to happen after we had visited with him for awhile. It was so funny because as we were leaving Pops politely asked me to go to the car. This was when he gave Lucas the $40. Lucas came out to the car with a big grin and told me not to have my feelings hurt. It was so funny because Pops was being so sly about it. Of course it was great incentive to get $40 each time you visit your Grand dad but Lucas and Pops had a very special friendship.

Permalink 7 Comments

One more Pic

Posted in Memories at 7:34 pm by Laura P

Laura, Lucas, Leslie and Bartley dancing in the disco club on the ship during our senior cruise

Permalink 3 Comments

More Pics

Posted in Memories at 7:27 pm by Laura P

Lee, Rebecca, Lauren, Lucas, Alan and Laura at AJ’s in Destin 1997

Lucas and Laura dancing at AJ’s in Destin 1997

Permalink 3 Comments

Pictures I found last night

Posted in Memories at 7:25 pm by Laura P

Here’s one of Lucas, Jeff and Leslie

Permalink Comments

12.06.05

My favorite memories

Posted in Memories at 6:59 pm by Laura P

I have been thinking long and hard about what I wanted to share with you all about my memories of Lucas. It is so hard because I have so many of them!

Lucas was one of my closest guy friends. I met him in 7th grade at Saint James and remember thinking he was so cute! We used to give Lucas rides home then and my little brother Will would bother us both so much that we would sit in the very back of my Mom’s minivan. I have this image in my mind of Lucas in middle school sitting on the deck where we used to eat lunch and chuging his milk, almost a gallon at one sitting!

By the time high school rolled around we were very close friends. I called him my “bro” because he reminded me so much of my older brother Hunter. Lucas was always such a great friend to have. He always made me laugh. I have some great pictures of our double dates to dances when Lucas, Lauren, Alan and I would all ride together.

In college I would see him over breaks at home and when he would come to Tuscaloosa to visit. I started to see him more when I would visit Lee at Auburn. I remember after I broke my back in a car accident he came to visit me at my parents house. It made my day to see him. It also made my grandmothers day to see him! Nani, my mother’s mom, thought he was “the best looking thing she had ever laid her eyes on” and would also say “he looks like Fabio” or “he looks like a latin lover”. I think this was because he was so tan and his hair was so long and slicked back. He was always smiling a big smile and I loved that goofy laugh. I can still hear that laugh in my mind. That is something I will always love and remember him by.

The last time I saw Lucas was when he came by my office one day to bring me his new business card. He looked wonderful! He had a big smile, as always, and gave me a big hug. I keep his business card in my card file on my desk and it reminds me of him everday. I love him and miss him.

Permalink 9 Comments

12.05.05

Kayaking with Lucas

Posted in Memories at 6:17 pm by lhamrick

One of my fondest memories of Lucas is a day that he came over to the Coosa River and went kayaking with us. I had met him a few years before, when I was in design school with Rachel. We all immediately became friends; anyone who knew him was immediately enamored by his smile, and sweet, sweet spirit.

We got to the river, and Lucas, Rachel, Van and myself put on the water to begin our extended adventure. Lucas had never been in a decked kayak before, but was bound and determined to rise to the challenge. The Coosa is a class 2-3 river in Alabama, and has 5 rapids on the section below Jordan Dam(the section we were paddling). I am pretty sure that Lucas flipped over and swam at every single rapid. It was so funny. Watching Lucas do just about anything was enertaining, but this took the cake. His long arms and tall body in that huge boat, and the look of panic each time just before flipping over. Despite the setbacks, which entailed him having to swim with his boat(completely full of water) to the bank each time, dump out the water, and then climb back in, he never stopped smiling. He had the best attitude all day and never got discouraged. When we got off the river, he made the comment that he thought he could see his improvement throughout the day, and couldn’t wait to go again.

I will never forget his great attitude, his fervor for life, and his amazing smile. I can’ t wait to see that smile again someday…I love you and miss you, Lucas.

Permalink 3 Comments

12.02.05

Song of the South!

Posted in Memories at 12:29 pm by Dayna Mullins

In the past year I’ve become obsessed with Alabama’s Song of the South. When I moved to New York Tarlie introduced me to the song (how I spent the first 20+ years of my life without it is beyond me), and I always request it at this “karaoke” bar that we go to. In any case, I just read one of Tarlie’s posts and she says it’s one of Lucas’ favorites!! No wonder I love it! I’m going to think of him every time I hear it, and I’m going to make it my “motivate before I go out” tune from here on out. Here’s to you Lucas…we love you!