09.26.06
Lucas Suprise Flowers
Fall means football in Alabama. Fall means Auburn Football to the Harris family. The years Lucas was at Auburn were special to Jerry and I because we could come to the football game and see Lucas at the same time. Lucas lived in the “castle” the first year at Auburn. It was a large house and four boys lived there together. Lucas, Travis Harris, Jake McMillian, and Scott Bowen. Jerry and I would park there and the boys would all be gone already because they were pledges and had to go to whatever frat house they had to take care of that day. It was always the highlight of the game for me to see Lucas climbing up the staris to visit with us dressed in his coat and tie and a date for the game. That fall passed quickly… and the next year or two later Lucas lived in the Dubose apartments close to Alan and then the “shack”. Some where in there he and Rachel met and started dating. Rachel then moved into the second “shack”. Lucas built “his deck” in front of Rachel’s little house and it was the place to hang out for Auburn Football for the Harris family. One day Jerry and I drove up and as we were unloading all the coolers, chairs, and food we brought to the game I spotted a bunch of red blooms behind the third empty shack. I had always wanted some of these little red flowers. They spring up in the fall all over the country roads of Alabama but no one could ever tell me the name of them or where to buy the bulbs…. well anyway I had a fit and just had to dig some of them up….. Lucas and Rachel found a shovel and they both helped dig up every last one of those little red flowers.
I brought them home an planted them in our rose garden…. they grew in amazing numbers and I started thinking of where to transplant them too and how to make them grow. I dug them up (the bulbs) and stored them in the garage. We had planted a hill with azaleas and I wanted a pathway made at the bottom of the hill…. so I went and bought a bunch of landscape timbers and got Lucas to put them out to create a pathway for me that kinda connects to the next door neighbors path….. I never could get anyone to replant the bulbs for me. Last Janurary …. wondering around the garage… I found the bulbs and made a day out of planting them along Lucas’ little pathway and then I took some to Rachel’s house in Montgomery…. I then decided that since I didn’t know their names that I would call them “Lucas Suprise” so I would always think about him when they popped up suddenly in the fall…. and here they are…thanks Lucas… i love you.
lane bailey said,
September 26, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Yeah, this football season and last years have definitly not been the same to me or probably anyone that knew Lucas and how much he loved football…..I remember him getting so excited before an AU football game, even if you did not love football you could not help but get pumped up for a game with Lucas anywhere near.I remember an Orange and Blue knit polo he wore,I think to about every game day I remember spending with him. I have such good memories of hanging out with Lucas on gamedays. A few weeks ago when we beat LSU and then were ranked #2 I remember thinking amisdt all the exitement how happy Lucas would have been,jumping up and down hooping and hollering. It is not the same without him, but I imagine that he was cheering Auburn on from above. War Eegle….I miss you so much Lucas
miwako said,
September 29, 2006 at 12:12 pm
Hi, JudiMom,
I was so suprised that there are “Higan-Bana” in Alabama.
These flowers are Chinese origin and we can enjoy them during the late September here in Japan.
The red folowers has so many names in Japan.
The most popular one is “Higan-Bana”, which I mentioned above.
“Bana” means “flowers” in Japanese. “Higan” is a name of the season.
We have “Higan” season twice in Japan; spring and “Higan”(pronaunced like Hee Gun) of fall season is usually from September 20-26.
These red flowers are in full broom in the fall “Higan” season only.
The other names is “Manjushage” , that has a meaning of “flowers of heaven”.
I really think that it is a nice idea to call the flower “Lucas Suprise”.
I have a feeling that Lucas is in heaven now and shining down on you all the time.
Especially in the fall…
Jacob Kirkland said,
October 5, 2006 at 7:53 pm
I remember watching the Auburn Syracuse game over at Lucas/Rachel and Alan’s Shack. Lucas set up the TV on his special deck he was so proud of. We had such a blast that day. Judi and Jerry came up and tailgated with us and I think brought some friends. I remember Judi yelling “War Eagle” to every person that walked passed that house. and I mean EVERY person. Such a good time. Unfortunately those places have been torn down. I drove by there when at the LSU game and had so many Lucas memories come to my head. I wish I could talk to Lucas about the team this year. I know he would have alot to say. We all miss you and will never forget about you Buddy! War Eagle