Sitting in Mrs. Carpenter's sixth reading class, it hit me that I had never had a teacher so old and covered in moles (later, I ended up sitting in Mr. Dean's class, and he got the trophy for "Teacher who most looks like Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot"). This is where I discovered a common bond in a fellow classmate. Since both of us had middle part bowl cuts, we became friends immediately. This eventually lead to me trying to skateboard, horrible hardcore wrestling matches, a british queen hand puppet, and a good number of years laughing until neither of us could breathe. Introducing Mr. Austin Scott Jecko.
There are a few moments I hold dear when I think of this man. First, I will always remember sleepovers where we would spend the entire night beating the shit out of Patrick Gabriel with anything we could find. The famous "2 on 1" quote always sparked pillows covering the floor to model a wrestling ring, and Austin usually finishing the night with some high flying Luche Libre move, or some horrible submission that ended with Pat tapping out. It was always the same. Giant Manboy and Tan kid vs. The One Legged Wonder. We still hold the title.
Once all of my friends began skateboarding and getting into punk rock, I had no choice but to follow. I always remember thinking the girls on the hookups boards being cute, then Austin actually getting one for a bit. I remember sitting in technology class, and filming the skater kids in the class for 6 weeks, with no video to show for it (there is also the wreckage from what Austin and I built, the worlds fastes Balsa Wood C02 car).
High school was more of the same antics. Austin was sarcastic, assholish, and still one of my best friends. I always knew that a good time was had when we hung out. But after high school, we kind of went our seperate ways. Once Riley was born, I hadn't seen Austin in years. I ran into him randomly, and even spent his 21st birthday with him in a Tijuana Flats. But that was about it.
Then, I get a call from him one day, almost two years later. His girlfriend is pregnant, and he needs advice. It was like nothing had changed, we laughed about things that we would have before, and for some reason I am still the wise one in the group (although this may be up for debate by anyone, anywhere). And after I got off the phone with him, I lost contact again.
But finally, Asa was born, and I needed to meet this kid. He even had Austin's eyebrow. Since Jesse hadn't had a baby yet, I needed someone to start calling me Uncle Shane. So, I got persistent and finally got a chance to see Austin and his family. And nothing changed. Not a bit. His dad came from Tallahassee, and it was like high school, but with little kids. Even the incorrigible Mr. Tharp made an appearance, and that is when it hit me.
Nothing. Changed.
We were all different, and we had lost each other for a bit, but it was like waking up and realizing that your best friends, after all the shit, were still your best friends. And I hope it stays that way.
I know that this didn't really profile Austin so much as it gave an oral history of our friendship, but I felt it important to get this out. There is nothing like finding someone after losing them for so long. And to be right back where you left off.
A day with Mr. Jecko is like skipping chapters, only to start where you left off.
the only thing i could think of reading this was austin with a crown on his foot in tv productions class and how we almost failed because mr. brunning did not find the queen of england to be as amusing as we did.
ReplyDeleteThose type of relationships tend to be unconditional in our lives; making way when possible and picking back up as if it were never left behind. There are never any grudges to be held. The hard feelings never last. The judgment always fails to be passed and those common outlooks slide right through fingers the moment you see that smile.
ReplyDeleteIt's family. Always and forever.