08.30.05
One of the Girls!
I met Lucas when I was a sophomore at Vanderbilt when he came to visit Tarlie for the weekend. From the moment he arrived, Lucas made himself right at home among all of Tarlie’s girlfriends. He was so charming even as an adolescent…I think he was still in high school, yet was very comfortable being the center of attention of college girls! Between his good looks, soulful eyes, and quirky sense of humor Lucas made an indelible impression on me…actually on all of us. I’m pretty sure I developed an immediate crush!
Lucas joined us for a sorority ranch party in the middle of no where Tennessee. We had a wild time at the party, and thinking back, the venue was more like a run down shack than a ranch! Nonetheless, we had a great time and Lucas was always ready to get involved, dancing, singing, telling funny stories around the bonfire, and partaking in the general merriment. In addition to telling his own tales, I remember watching Lucas listen to our stories — he clung to each and every word, but it was watching Lucas that was really the entertainment, his expressions were a show in and of themselves. His laugh, and as Tarlie said, his crooked smile so endearing…he was the perfect audience and had a way about him that made you feel like you were the only person in the room.
Lucas always seemed more like an old friend to me than Tarlie’s younger brother. I will always remember his immitations of me from that party, he was such a joker. In fact, years passed since I had seen him, yet when I saw him at Tarlie’s wedding the first thing he did was make fun of something I did at the ranch party, never allowing me to live it down. I think Lucas’ love of people, desire to connect, eagerness to share, and readiness to have fun make him one of the most lovable, adorable, and memorable people I’ve ever met. I will forever cherish the memories we made and experiences we shared.
JudiMom said,
August 30, 2005 at 6:02 pm
Lucas was always “just one of the girls” with the cheerleading squad at our house for four years in a row. Someone should write about the trip to Mobile in the van that we took the “short” way to drop Lucas off at the Stimpson’s hunting camp… 13 cheerleaders, Lucas and me.
Tarlie Harris said,
August 31, 2005 at 11:39 pm
Lucas came to that party to save my broken heart since my boyfriend at the time had broken up with me and moved across country – so lucas was my date. We ended up going with a conglomerate of people that weren’t really on “dates” and pre-partied at my apartment. Of course, lucas being lucas, he didn’t hesitate to see who he could charm. So after we leave the apartment and we are at the party, one of my girlfriends (also just visiting) says “oh damn! i forgot my lipstick at tarlie’s apartment!”. Well, well…what does lucas have in his pocket? He pulls it out with that sheepish grin and says, “uh, here i brought it, i saw it on the bathroom counter and thought you might have forgotten it and would want it later.” He had definitely charmed her, she pretty much thought that was the cutest thing she had ever seen.
Megan said,
September 2, 2005 at 10:57 am
Lucas absolutely was “one of the girls”! From the time that Tarlie and I became friends, Lucas was a permanent fixture in all of our activities. Sleepovers, watching movies, going out—Lucas was always along for the ride! Poor Luke–between all of Tarlie’s girlfriends, he probably had about a 100 “little Mothers” always trying to look out for him and tell him what to do!
I never had a younger sibling, and since the Harris’ were pretty much my extended family, Lucas was as close to a little brother as I ever probably got. We would play and fight and gossip and bicker. It was all so fun. Much like Tarlie and the rest of her girlfriends, I always felt a certain responsibility for Lucas. My senior year at Alabama, Lucas came up to Tuscaloosa w/ friends several times to go to parties and such. I remember dragging Wes around campus from fraternity house to fraternity house so we could “watch over” Lucas! Sweet Lucas, knew exactly what I was up to, and didn’t seem to mind a bit.
JudiMom said,
February 5, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Lucas got a good dose of being “one of the girls” on a ride home from Calera baksetball game one night. He always tried to come with me as i took the girls to the games. Any way, Beth Stringfellow and Kelley Crawford were one the cheer squad and we had gone to Calera.
The game was over and these two were not best of friends but that night something had gotten under their skins and we all piled into “big bertha” to drive home and all of a sudden the two of them starting yellign at the top of lungs a real cat fight….. and i looked in the rear view mirro to see what’s going on andd i can see Lucas’ head pop up over the rear seat and his eyes as big as saucers and his mouth dropped open…. I calmed the girls down and we rode on home in silence…. I always wondered what Lucas was thinking back there so quiet so no one would remember he was there.