Kenny Robertson

Above is one of my favorite entries from my 1988 Harding Academy Wildcat Yearbook. We had just completed the seventh grade. His full name was Kenny Robertson.

I only knew Kenny for the two years I spent at the Academy, and I spent more time with a couple other friends than I did with Kenny, but I knew Kenny was a special human being. Everybody did. He was one of the nicest people you’d ever meet, and always had a huge smile on his face.

As happens in life, my family moved and I lost touch with most of the people I met at Harding. But thanks to Mark Zuckerberg, and his time machine called Facebook, twenty years later I started reconnecting and catching up on the lives of all my friends from Harding. Just last week (Selah) I was looking through all of Kenny’s photos on Facebook and thinking to myself that I really wish I had gotten to know him better.

Turns out that Kenny joined the Marines and became a helicopter pilot. After leaving the Marines he became helicopter pilot for Air Evac, a private air ambulance / EMT service. He flew all over Arkansas, especially the rural areas, to get seriously injured people to one of the area hospitals as soon as possible. Tragically, yesterday Kenny’s helicopter crashed and he lost his life, leaving behind a wife and 3 beautiful children.

I’m reading a book right now by Max Lucado called Outlive Your Life. The premise is that we should live our lives in such a way that world would be glad we did. I can tell you personally, and you can read the comments left on his Facebook page, that Kenny certainly did just that. The world is missing a great person today, but we’re all blessed because of the impressions he left.

Legacy – Nichole Nordeman

Filed under: Friends, Legacy

Friends

In the picture above (taken sometime in the late-80′s) you’ll find the two guys I grew up with during those critical teen years. I have so many memories that it is literally consuming my thoughts now that I’ve recently discovered them both on Facebook.

Shamefully, I haven’t spoken with my good friends David Johnson (left) and Jeremey Cross (right) in well over a decade.

I hope that’s all about to change soon.

Filed under: Friends

Till It’s Gone

I don’t mean to get too sappy on you here, but my daily routine just took a major hit.

Superman has left the building.

No longer will I come to work and have my coffee made for me by a superman. No longer will I spend lunch hours plowing through seasons of Heroes and Seinfeld, or making silly videos. I have lost someone in the office that truly gets me, and truly inspires me in all areas of life. (Not to mention I am now the only male in this office).

He got an offer he couldn’t refuse and is now doing design and marketing for Washtenaw Community College. I couldn’t be happier for my brother from another mother. I thought I was going to be just fine since we’ll still be able to IM all day everyday like we always did at work, but after browsing through the Mud and Steel archives to find the video above I got a little choked up.

It’s true though… you never really know what you’ve got till it’s gone.

Filed under: Friends, Work

Blogging, Beauty & Bathroom Issues

They’re at it again. The dynamic duo that created MTTV are now answering reader questions and they mentioned me by name!

You can leave your comments for them on mttv.wordpress.com

Or at their personal blogs: Mandy + Tammy

Filed under: Blogging, Friends, YouTube

Joy Apparel

I just ordered a shirt from my new friend Jeff from Joy Apparel.

Joy apparel is a socially conscious t-shirt company created to promote peace and equality on a global scale. Here’s how it works.

1. Visit JoyTshirt.com

2. Pick a face (and passion)

3. Pick a color and size

4. Wait for your shirt to arrive

5. Wear your shirt and think about the person on your heart

6. Submit a photo of yourself for rest of the world to wear

When I was picking mine out I wanted a good passion to go with the face. It was great fun looking through all of the different passions each person stated. After a tough decsion I landed on Tim Mann from Toronto. His passion was simple and pretty close to one I would state — Music. Jesus. Loving People.

What’s your passion?

Filed under: Community, Friends, Jesus, Joy Apparel, Life, Love, Music, Passion, Peace

Music Help

My friends over at Common Guild dropped this on me this morning.

If you haven’t checked them out yet you should. Their goal is to generate discussion on music written by normal folks. The average Joe with a guitar and an idea. They put up a song or so per week (give or take) and you, in turn, generate the true content of the blog in the comments. Give them feedback on the content of the song, the musical arrangement, or any other thing as you see fit. They’re also thinking about featuring songs from others as well so drop them a line if you’ve been tinkering yourself.

So what should I buy with my certificate?

Filed under: Friends, iTunes, Music, Recommendations

The Whipped Man

I used to love cracking the whip at buddies of mine that had to go to the opera while the rest of us were going to play basketball.

I like to think I’m the least whipped man in the world, but yesterday I was on the phone with my wife and came to a realization that Tonia basically controls all of the decision making process. Then I got in my car after work and the DJ’s were discussing what constitutes a whipped man. Even this morning on a different station the same subject came up. So naturally I ask you…

What are the signs that a man is whipped?

Filed under: Control, Friends, Love, Men, Pansies, Relationships, Whipped Men, Women

Super Friends

This villain fighting friend of mine to the right is Jason, aka The Man of Steel. Jason and I have been working together for a few years now, and it’s hard to find two guys that are as different than we are. I’m old, and he’s a young whippersnapper. He has ear rings and plays guitar in a band. I wear long johns and carry dogs in bags. He drives a 2005 Mustang GT. I drive a 1999 Ford Windstar.

But despite all our differences we have really learned a lot about, and from, each other. The last couple weeks Jason and I have had a bunch of nice conversations with topics ranging from the homeless to gangster mentality. I love how we bring our different world views to the table and learn from each other. I just hope he’s getting as much from me as I’m getting from him.

Do you have any Super Friends?

Related
» Mud & Steel
» Good ole Boys

Filed under: FORD, Friends, Gangsters, Life, Metrosexual, Rock Star, Tool Bags, World Views

$2 House Challenge

The price is too right not to jump on this challenge.

Evan and his wife are inches away from landing their first home. They need $5,000 to match the counter offer, and they are asking their online family for an assist.

Two bucks. That’s a Dr. Pepper you don’t buy today. That’s a couple mp3′s you don’t buy this week. That’s a late fee at Blockbuster. It’s the cost of Super-Sizing your meal at lunch.

I’m just saying.

They’re throwing a house party when they get it. I just may go.

Filed under: Blogging, Challenge, Community, Friends, Homes

Friend Surge

This is a shameless attempt at a friend surge. I realized this morning that when I twitter, basically my mom and 3 other people are getting it. So take a few seconds and hit me up through all of my social networks.

I could use a friend.

(Did that sound pathetic enough?)

» MySpace
» Facebook
» Virb
» Twitter

RSS Mud Puppy
RSS Mud Puppy Comments

» Email Me

And while you’re at it, throw me on your blogroll.

Filed under: Blogroll, Facebook, Friends, MySpace, RSS, Social Networking, Twitter, VIRB