Friday, January 25, 2008

Remembering J.D.



Today was probably one of the saddest days of my nineteen year teaching career. One of my favorite high school students collapsed in his shower this morning and died. When I heard, my whole being went numb for a bit. Then, my heart broke,more than a bit. J.D. was one of those kids you just liked, right away. He was intelligent and humorous. He was well-read, and liked to talk about what he was reading--well, to be fair, I'd have to say that he liked to talk...period. :-)

J.D. moved to the South Texas Children's Home at the start of this year, and on his first day in Pettus, he looked around the library and I could tell he didn't think too much of my tiny space or my collection. However, upon browsing the shelves more carefully, he deemed it "small and pathetic looking, but full of some great books." (Is it possible for a well-read student to give a librarian any higher compliment?) During his first week, he came in and asked me about a particular book, titled, "Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe." I didn't have it in my library, but I could tell how much he wanted it, so I ordered it from Amazon. I will never forget the look on his face when I called him out of class to the library to give it to him. From that moment on, we were friends, and I enjoyed having him in my library. (OK, if I'm honest, at times he could be a tad arrogant and exasperating...but I immensely enjoyed our back and forth banter, which was almost constant.)

Last week he was bugging me about the seventh book in a series, titled "Snakehead." He wanted me to get it...immediately. I wanted to order it so it would be cheaper. Again, though, I could tell how much he wanted it...so last weekend while in Barnes and Noble, I picked it up for him. I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when I handed it to him on Monday morning. I called the office first thing,
to see which class he was in, but he was out sick. Same thing on Tuesday...and Wednesday....and Thursday. Today I saw the book on the counter and realized he would never have the chance to read it. Then I thought of all the books I still wanted to recommend to him, but will never get the chance, and I felt the crack in my heart splinter into more fragments.

He was constantly changing the wallpaper on my circulation computer. His latest bit of handiwork is a picture of a penguin. I think it's from Batman, but I could be wrong. I kept jokingly telling him I was going to change it because it was silly, and not very in tune with my personality. Since the library should reflect the librarian, the circulation computer should at least represent at least a little of my personality. He shot back at me, "You better not change it, Mrs. Schauer--this picture rocks. Besides, your library should also reflect the interests of your students Not only that, if you change it, I will kick your arse." I know now that the penguin picture will remain on my circulation monitor forever, a constant memory of a wonderful soul.

My heart breaks for his parents, for his STCH family, and for the students of Pettus. I know there is a reason for everything, and I do trust that everything experienced on this Earth, be it good or bad, is a tiny snippet of a much greater, more significant master plan. Realizing that in my heart, though, doesn't make the loss any easier to reconcile in my mind. I also find myself in agreement with something Mr. Norvell said at the end of the day: "This is just one more question I can add to my list of things to ask my maker when I finally meet Him, face to face."


Physically, J.D. is gone, but I know, without a doubt, that his memory will live on in the hearts and minds of the students and staff of Pettus High School.
Thanks to Emily T. for the photos

38 comments:

  1. J.D. was well known and loved by many. He was always so happy-go-lucky. When I first met J.D. my only thot was this kid is too wierd, and he talks way too much, but thru the months i got to know him and he is such a great friend. He always knows how to make me laugh, or he is always there for you when he can be , even if he is grounded. ;) Well im gonna be quiet now but know that he is in a better place and one day we will get to rejoice with him again. We all need to just remember the good in him.

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  2. My brother Jarrett Daniel Gomez was a very special peron to me... i will always miss him and he will never be forgotten, He will alaways be in my heart! No matter what!
    I miss him tremendously adn cant wait till i go to heaven to meet him!

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  3. "You Need To Cherish The Moments That You Have With The One's You LOVE, Because You Never Know When You Might Lose Them." I hope that everyone has as good of memories about JD as i do.... The one thing that i ask is that we save a seat for him on graduation night. He might be gone, but he is never forgotten!! Cayla Marie

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  4. well ya jd might be gone phsically but not mentally because jd will never be gone from my heart..he is the kind of guy anybody could get along with right from the start.just like i did.. i remember when he first got here his hair remindeed me of ronald Mcdonald so i called him that for as long as i can remember.....there is one other thing i will never forget.one day me,JD,and ashley walked down to the cafateria together and when we got to the lunch line he was singing like a crazy person..i remeber the exact line he said from a song it goes like this "we belive in miracles." it was so funny because he even got one of the lunch ladies to sing with him...so ya i am going to miss JD so much, but i have no doubt in my mind that he is in a better place..and where he is at he is making everyboidy laugh just like he did for me he always managed to put a smile on my face..luv you JD.....

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  5. I remember the first time I had J.D. in class. I remember his eyes, they were beautiful. He came right up to the desk, stuck out his hand, introduced himself and said "What is your name, I can tell that you are a nice lady, can I listen to my music or go to the Library?" I told him no and then asked him if he still thought I was a nice lady, he smiled and said, "of course I do!" I am really terrible at remembering names. I called him "new boy" a lot, he promised me that someday I would remember his name.
    The thing that stood out to me about J.D. was that he was so happy and a perfect gentleman.
    If your eyes are truly a window to your soul....J.D.'s beautiful eyes showed through to his beautiful soul.
    His tragic death needs to be a lesson for all of us. Be kind to people, you never know when it might be the last time that you see them.
    J.D. was nice to everyone.
    He had no idea of what an impact his leaving would have on people.
    As for me, I know that I will never forget him.
    Traci Tomlin

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  6. Yesterday was a new experience for me…not one that I hope to ever repeat. I am now well into my 5th year of teaching, and J. D. is the first student who passed away during my years as a teacher. I have lost people that I loved, cared for, liked a lot…even a few people who were just acquaintances…but I had never lost a student…not until yesterday.

    The realization that I won’t see J. D. at school…hear him singing some song as he walks down the hallways…or high-fiving me as he passes my classroom…truly takes my breath away.

    The first time I saw J. D. was in Mrs. Johnston’s 3rd period English III AP class. I went into her classroom to talk to her, and he came up to me, stuck out his hand, and asked me my name...because, according to him, I looked like someone he needed to know. I was sold right there. :o) I have nothing but respect for someone who shakes your hand and looks you square in the eye when they speak to you. I soon came to realize that J. D. was a really unique person…and I’m not just talking about his hair or fashion sense. He was a person who was kind to everyone (a rare find in high school)…even the students who seem to hang out along the fringe of the school’s society. He spread his rays of sunshine all around, and you couldn’t help but be warmed by his presence and his humor.

    J. D. was so disappointed to learn that he couldn’t take my speech class this year because of a scheduling conflict, and that he wouldn’t have me next year because I will be leaving. Every time I saw him, he made some belly-aching comment. I was the one who was really disappointed though…I mean, how much fun would it have been to have Matt Steele and J. D. debating in my speech class?!? I’m not sure I would have gotten a word in edgewise with J. D. around…but I would have loved to have had the opportunity.

    Though I didn’t teach J. D. in class, I spent much quality time with him in the concessions stand. He was so excited about the prom…and he couldn’t wait to “show Pettus how to party” and “pimp out the prom.” In his honor, I am going to make sure that those two things happen for this year’s prom.

    Yesterday, after the announcements were made, Joe Jefferson came to my room. He and I were talking about J. D. and how it just didn’t seem real. I don’t know that it has even begun to sink in…even for me. The one thing that I told Joe was that J. D. was never rude to anyone and he always left you with a smile. You always knew where you stood with J. D. and I respected him so much for that. I think we should all take a lesson from J. D. Tell people you love them…be nice to those around you…have a song in your step and a smile on your face. J. D. is in a much better place…that doesn’t mean that we won’t all miss him or that his presence won’t be missed around campus. He’ll just know the ropes and have it all figured out when we see him again…and you know he loves that fact.

    Remember the smiles, the songs, the funny jokes, and the good times. Remember J. D.

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  7. I never really got to be close with J.D. but I did talk to him on various occasions. He was always so nice and always seemed happy. He caught my eye from the start with his crazy curls and beautiful blue eyes! & he always had those big sunglasses on! He always said a friendly hello for no reason but to see others smile. To be honest I guarded myself from him in a way, because with all the negativity today it is shocking to have someone just come up to you and be so kind. JD would be amazed at the impact he is making on Pettus High School. This incident has truly changed my life. You never know when something like this could happen. Appreciate every blessed day of your life. I know this happened for a reason, everything does. Yet it confuses me to the point of tears, why? why so young? Like Coach Marbach said, "66 is is young, but 17 thats way too young." I know this is a wake up call to a lot of people. So lets take this incident and use it to make the best of the time we have left, I'm sure thats what J.D. would recommend.


    -Emily Tomlin

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  8. J.D. was one of my best friends I just hope that he was put out of his missery of being sick and hope he is in a better place he always made me laugh when I was sad he knew how to cheer me up. I hope that he doesnt forget that Im always going to be thinking about all the time its going to be hard looking at people and trying not to cry. J.D. was the kind of person that you want to get to know I know he looked like the wierdo at first but the first time I met him was at the homecoming dance, he was a funny dancer then after the homecoming dance we just kept talking and I got to know him and I thought he's not a wierdo he's alctually really funny so us as students will keep him and his family in our prayers,

    tori arrisola

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  9. -Heather-
    J.D was not my friend, he was a person that i didn't let get 2 know me or let myself get 2 know him. I know that if i would have let him get 2 know me, i feel that maybe (2 me) he would have stayed on this earth longer, but only GOD can know and tell that!! I cant say that i miss him more than everybody else but all i wanted 2 say is i am so very sorry for all the mean things that i have done 2 him and i hope that he is watching me from heaven and see that i am really sorry!!2 me it seems that this is not real, but it is. I cant stop and laugh about somthing because all the things that was told 2 me about his death comes back and i just stop and cry.I will always remember J.D. GOD BLESS!!!!!:)

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  10. J.D. was a great fun loving person. He was the kind of person that made you happy to get up in the morning when your previous day was horrible...The day i found out that J.D. died my whole world came crashing down. J.D. meant a lot to me. Ever morning i would sit with J.D. on the bus & we would listen my iPod together & he would ALWAYS put on "Hey There Delilah" & just kind of yell sing it. It was SO ANNOYING!!! But now i find myself listening to that song a lot more now & just crying...It hurts to know that J.D. wont be behind me in Spanish class anymore poking my back or just trying to find some way to get my attention. He always made me so happy! J.D. lived next door to me & after i found out about his death i kept thinking that he would be outside skateboarding or playing football with Michael, but i finally realized he's gone. After i found out about his death it really made me look @ my life & realize that life is so fragile, you shouldn't take it for granted. Ive tried to be nicer to people & live the happy life like the one that J.D. had. He has been such a blessing to my life & i know that even though God took one of best friends away from me i know that J.D. is very happy in heaven & i cant wait to see him again! I love u J.D.!!!

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  11. Friday After noon the Home pulled all the kids that live at the home out of school, we didnt understand what was going on, because they had never done that before. When I got on the bus and saw shane and addie crying so we knew that something bad had happened. We thought that the home was shutting down or that one of the adults or houseparents had gotten hurt or had died. WE were very shocked when the home informed us that J.D Gomez a 17 year old boy had past away that morning. We dont understand how some one so happy and so young could be taken away, but we know that it was for a reason. Hopefully J.D.'s death will open the eyes of many people, show them how short life really is, how you never know when your last day is. As i think about J.D. i think about a fun loveing, outgoing boy, who had a hard life but still always had a smile on his face. You here about death, but when it happens to someone you know and care about and someone you care about thats when it really hits home. He will be remembered forever in many peoples hearts, he touched so many lives.
    Lindsay

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  12. WITHOUT YOU
    by Cassie Simon

    I came up out of the darkness
    Without You.
    Your face I did not see.
    Lost hopes and broken dreams
    And forbidden love all around me.
    Life was a mystery
    And so was the love that we shared.
    Young hearts and wild spirits
    Both abounding with care.
    This empty space between us,
    Filling me up with holes;
    Incomplete, lonely and lost,
    I've nowhere to go.
    Death is a burden
    Not meant to be carried alone,
    But with your death
    Comes courage to move on.
    I know that you're happy now
    And you want me to be happy too
    So as I look back on the memories,
    I'll think of me and you.
    I know that with death
    It feels like you're gone,
    But your memories are mine;
    They go on and on and on.
    So anytime I'm lonely,
    I'll think back on you.
    And I'll remember,
    I can't possibly live
    Without You.

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  13. The first thing I thought of JD was that he was a queer-all my housebrothers thought so, and so I did too. Then I went and sat on the picnic tables by the pool. JD was there listening to his MP3 player and just started talking to me. I'd never met somone so odd, but I finally opened the door and let him in. We talked for two hours about I don't know what. Then when my parents left town and I was bored out of my mind. No car+no boyfriend to drive you around=no fun. JD lived a few houses down, so I started hanging out with him, sitting on his porch and having a good time. He was dating my friend Amber at the time but I have this uncanny ability to make a guy interested. They were having a hard time and I tried my best to keep them together. Then it happened. "I think I'm gonna break up with Amber." I thought that since he'd gone to school he'd found someone new. "Who do you like now?" I never saw it coming-"You." That's when it all started. I felt so bad. I only wanted to be his friend. Most of the guys were annoyed by him and even some of the girls. When he asked me out I said yes. But it was too much pressure. All the students were riding down our backs and so we ended it. He dated a few girls here and there, and then at the start of the new year he made up his mind to take a break. At D-Now, I talked to him, letting him know how I felt. Somehow prom came up, and he promised he'd take me. I was sooo excited. The next week he didn't come to school. Friday morning all of STCH rode the same bus, and I thought I might get to sit with him. We stopped at Ethel but JD never came outside. My heart sank. At 1:00 Mrs. Yeoman called out all of STCH for an 'emergency meeting'. My first thought was that the Home had been robbed. Then I thought maybe one of the president-leader guys died. Addie and Shane were sitting behind me crying. I still had no clue. We went into the chapel and sat down. Immediately I looked around for the Martins, then for JD. Michael and Anthony, Mrs. Martin, but no JD. I knew he was sick, but they couldn't leave him at the house by himself. It was against the rules. My heart was pounding and the blood was rushing through my body. Why wouldn't they tell us? Then they came. As soon as Greg said JD I cut off his voice. I knew what he was going to say. JD Gomez died early this morning. My heart jumped into my throat, my stomach was in a wad, my mind was twirling, I couldn't breathe, think, feel; I just went numb. The tears finally came. It struck me down so hard. I couldn't believe what was happening. He couldn't! GOD wouldn't! My soul begged for some way out. I felt a rush of emotions. Anger towards GOD, grief for the young life, happy that he was with GOD. I looked at the ceiling searching for an answer. Was he in this room watching all of us cry over him? Was he happy?

    The next day I woke up at 9:35 am, the same time he died. I rolled over in my head, praying to GOD it was just a bad dream. It felt so unreal. Everyone was going on with their lives as though nothing had happened. Had they forgotten the curling-haired-blue-eyed-beauty's death already? But now I know that no one has forgotten JD Gomez. His big smiles, big vocabulary, and amazing charm cannot be forgotten. They leave an impression on our hearts, a tatoo on our souls of one young man's love for life. I love JD as a friend, a person, everything he was. He was an amazing person and I'll never forget him. Batman can't die. He's a hero! I love you JD!

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  14. When i met JD we were in the library because Mrs. Staples did not have her classroom yet. It was me and Alexis at tutorials we were sitting on the bean bag. And we was beside of us reading the last Harry Potter book. We talked about books and where he was from. He was very nice and funny. The time that i got to know him. He was just a very laid back guy who liked to joke around. He dated some of my friends and I got to know him a little more because of that. JD was one of the only guys in this school that I could actually have a conversation with. He was smart, funny, and very outgoing. When I got a call at home from everything else friday going on in my life. I got a call with my friend Juan telling me that he died that morning...and everything came crashing down. My grandpa just died a week before and I was still recovering from that. Then my newborn niece was sick in the NICU so it was like everything was going wrong. Yes im very upset and hurt that he is gone and that he was so young and he had to go. But I know he is with God. Also, he will always be in everybody's heart that knew him and fell in love with his personality. I miss you JD.

    Hannah H.

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  15. At first I didn't really like J.D.. He seemed really arrogant and obnoxious. As the days passed I did find out we had somethings in common. The one main thing was that we both were obbessed with BATMAN!!! Almost everytime we talked it was about Batman. In fact the last thing we talked about was Batman and the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. He was extremely excited about the movie and you could tell that he really wanted to see it.
    It is truly a sad thing for someone to die this young and it is especially sad for someone so caring and genuine to die. I will really miss J.D. and his unique personality. We just have to remember that he is in a better place and has found peace.

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  16. I think most everyone knows my son Kyle . . .and how difficult and annoying he can be at times! As a testament to the magnitude of J.D.'s "niceness" so often mentioned on this blog, J.D. not just simply tolerated Kyle, but he was actually genuinely nice to the little guy! Enough said . . .

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  17. "If tomorrow starts without me,
    and I'm not there to see,
    if the sun should rise and find your eyes
    all filled with tears for me;

    I wish so much you wouldn't cry
    the way you did today,
    while thinking of the many things,
    we didn't get to say.

    I know how much you love me,
    as much as I love you,
    and each time that you think of me,
    I know you'll miss me too.

    But when tomorrow starts without me,
    please try to understand,
    that an angel came and called my name,
    and took me by the
    hand,

    And said my place was ready,
    in heaven far above,
    and that I'd have to leave behind
    all those I dearly love.

    But as I turned to walk away,
    a tear fell from my eye,
    for all my life, I'd always thought,
    I didn't want to die

    I had so much to live for,
    so much left yet to do,
    it seemed almost impossible,
    that I was leaving you.

    I thought of
    all the yesterdays,
    the good ones and the bad;
    I thought of all that we shared,
    and all the fun we had.

    If I could relive yesterday,
    just even for a while,
    I'd say goodbye and kiss you
    and maybe see you smile.


    But then I fully realized,
    that this could never be,
    for emptiness and memories,
    would take the place of me.

    And when I thought of worldly things,
    I might miss come tomorrow,
    I thought of you, and when I did,
    my heart was filled with sorrow.

    But when I walked through heaven's gates,
    I felt so much at home,
    when God looked down and smiled at me,
    from His great golden throne,

    He said, "This is eternity,
    and all I've promised you."
    Today your life on earth is past,
    but here life starts anew.

    I promise no tomorrow,
    but today will always last,
    and since each day is the same way,
    there's no longing for the past.

    You have been so faithful,
    so trusting and so true,
    though there were times you did some things,
    you knew you shouldn't do.

    But you have been forgiven,
    and now at last you're free.
    So won't you come and take my hand,
    and share my life with me?

    So when tomorrow starts without me,
    don't think we're far apart,
    for every time you think of me,
    I'm right here, in your heart "

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  18. I was shocked when I heard J.D. passed away last Friday...stunned, really. To think that a 17 year old boy could die at that age sent a chill down my spine when I heard. Not only was it sad because of his age, but also because of his personality. I'll be the first to admit that his happiness and outgoing personality at times made him seem obnoxious to me to the point that I got irritated. But I will also admit that his ability to remain happy and outgoing was nothing less than admirable. One last thing...BATMAN ROX!!!

    In Memory of J.D. Gomez

    -Hannah L.

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  19. Stephanie and I had JD in first period biology we always talked to him and he constantly made us laugh until we cried. Stephanie was fortunate enough to have JD both semesters but I only had him one.we both shared a love for poetry and batman!!!! I was absolutly in love with his belt buckle!!! I will miss JD dearly all this does'nt really seem real to me maybe only because I don't want it to be but I know that I must accept it.He was so concieted but in a good way he was just super confident he was always taking self-portraits on my phone!!!! It seems so unfair that he had to leave us all so soon but I guess it was just his time. We love you JD!!!!!

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  20. when i was little, i saw a beautiful butterfly land on a daisy. i wanted to capture the butterfly forever, but it flew away before i could. in the same way, JD came into my life. unique and beautiful just like the little butterfly from my childhood. before anything else, his soul flew from us. he was always free in his humor and style. now his soul is free. i had to learn that letting go of my precious butterfly was what was best. now i have to learn that letting go of my friend is best. i'll never know why, but i hope that maybe one day i will understand. here's to JD. a butterfly that landed on our part of the flower and left too soon for any of our satisfaction.

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  21. I am sitting here in my dinning room reading all of your post about Jarrett. I am moved to tears, I can barley see the words. I knew Jarrett when he was first adopted by his parents. I knew his parents. Jarrett has ALWAYS been out spoken and with a smile. I never really knew him and I never really gave him a chance. It is tremendously comforting to read your blogs. To know that he has touched so many lives. The students and teacher's of Pettus ISD are to be commended! You saw this kid that was strange and didn't act a certain way but you let him in and accepted him and I think that his whole life that is what he was looking for. I was so moved by what the librarian said in her blog. Most teachers would push him aside and tell him to "sit down and be quiet". The lunch lady singing along with him instead of yelling "be quite". To all of the students and faculty I am VERY thankful that this "butterfly" landed at Pettus ISD.
    Jennifer

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  22. all these blogs brought tears to
    my eyes...i will dearly miss J.D. he had the most beautiful eyes..and most puffiest hair..it was soo cute!
    lol i jus wish i could have told him goodbye!! Hopefully he is happy and i know he is in a better place. i hope one day we kan meet in heaven ! i will never 4get u J.D...go on with ur badself and rock out heaven!! I Love u very much Mr. sUpeRheRo....

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  23. tho j.d. wasnt in pettus for very long i still remember his first day at church (which was usually the only place us kendedy ppl saw him)he was so fun and outgoing im glad thats how most ppl saw him. when attending his funneral today i relized how much j.d. was truely loved by the croud of ppl filling the church. his family seemed to picture this day as more of a celebration than a loss. j.d. was always a genleman,funny and kind he seemed to walk in christ footsteps i cant believe hes really gone. i remember j.d. at the stockdale game when the music came on right in the middle of our conversation he jumped to his feet and started dancing..it had to be one of the funniest things ive seen lol he was a great guy and im sad to say i wont be seeing him around anymore. im confident that j.d. is unpatiantly waiting on all his loved ones to join him in heaven..my condolences to all of those who had the honor of meeting and loving j.d.
    <3

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  24. I had to take a benchmark test in Mrs. Johnston's class this week...I wrote about J.D....How could I not write about J.D. when I and everyone else miss him s0o0o much?? I remember one line of it so distinctly though..."Life comes at you fast, but death comes at you HARD." I remember Having Coach Fudge tell us during athletics on Friday what had happened...I didn't even let her finish talking, she got started && I was already crying...I just walked out and went to the restroom to cry by myself...Cayla came in after me && we cried together...We miss J.D. so much...We don't think it's fair at all that he got taken away from us the way he did...One year and four months from now his name would be called just a few before me && we'd be graduating together...His life may have started 17 years ago, but it was only just beginning...He dated my BEST FRIEND Amber && for some odd reason, it just didn't work out but I KNOW that he still loved her s0o0o0o much...We all really cared about J.D. and it's really hard not to have him with us anymore...I came home early the day that I found out about his death and I cried until late that night, I cried myself to sleep...J.D. was ALWAYS trying to make everyone smile, that was like his main goal in life, to make other people happy...I never really understood him...I went to lunch with him one day && He started hopping around all crazy singing "Jump on it! Jump on it!" ((lol)) I'm typing this and crying, I was reading all of the other comments about him and crying...It hurts to lose a friend, but it hurts MORE to lose a friend like J.D. because he truly was "one of a kind"...It's true that he wasn't the most liked person by a few students on our campus...But he didn't even care, if someone made fun of him he'd be like okay && just laugh at them and go on to talk to someone else...I didn't get that, if someone down talked to me, it hurt...But J.D. was just that kind of guy, always smiling and very bright...Wow, this seems really long already...I could go on all day talking about him though...I remember crying into Cayla's shoulder && saying "The last time we ever talked to each other we were insulting each other!!!" I was bawling...It hurts so much that, that was the last conversation we had, will ever have...&& it was horrible...We both knew that the other was joking, but now that can't be verified or taken back...What I wouldn't give to walk by him in the hallway again && be able to say "Hey loser, what's up!?!"...He was a bit cocky, but very witty && SO polite and always there when I needed him to be...I never truly opened up && let him in, there were still some things that I just WOULDN'T, COULDN'T discuss with him...We had gotten close, but not close enough...I was washing dishes at home the other day && listening to my iPod shuffle && this song "I'll Be" came on && it made me cry even more because it reminded me SO MUCH of J.D. and the type of person he was...One line in the song says "I'll be your crying shoulder..." That was So hard to hear, especially when I was crying so much and his shoulder wasn't there...Jarrett Daniel Gomez was one of those rare treasures in life that you have to cherish...Another thing I wrote about him was "I knew that he was too good for this earth that we all live on, but I never thought I'd get proven right and have him taken away from me like this."...God gave him to us for a reason && I think that it was to show us that there IS still good in the world, you just have to let it in && accept it when it's in front of you...God let us experience that for a while and took his angel back to be with him...Pettus is a campus that is very closed and involved with itself...Everyone here has gone to school together since kindergarten and when new people come, we think they're weird...But J.D. came and made himself at home in our little world...That's what I really loved about him, he could walk in to a room full of strangers and make friends with every single person there, labels didn't matter to him...I remember asking Mr. Norvell to call all of the juniors to meet so that we could all sign a poster for J.D. && it was amazing to see the tiny junior class that we have forget all of our drama and band together to do something like that for him...We all traced our hands and wrote him messages and put pictures on it for him and had it sent to the funeral so his family would know that his graduating class truly did love him a lot...J.D. brought everyone closer together...He made a huge impact in our lives and I just know that he's looking down on us smiling and making all the other angels in heaven laugh like crazy!
    *TrIsH*
    ((Seniors '09 will always have J.D. && A chair will be saved for you in my row next May))

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  25. What is there to say about JD? He was the greatest guy, a genuine gentleman in every aspect of the word. When i first met JD, he was helping Mr. Simon bus kids to and from the chapel for vacation bible school. He had the craziest hair and the most beautiful eyes. I remember what he was wearing that day, he had on a green t-shirt with the sleeves cut off that said "surf" and jeans ripped up the side all the way to his knee. I couldn't help thinking that this guy was wacked....until I saw him smile. When he smiled his entire face lit up and you felt like you and him were the only people in the world, like he would never let you out of sight of his beautiful eyes....I dated him a few times and each time it didn't really work out. The day all of the student's left from the South Texas Children's Home for Christmas break I was working. JD came to my work to tell me bye. When he left he asked me, "Do you mind if I kiss you goodbye?" Before I could answer he leaned across the table and kissed me goodbye. When he came home from the Christmas Break, he told me that he was ready to settle down and date one girl. He told me he thought it should be me. Sadly I was already dating someone else so I told him that I could not date him...the very last time I saw him he told me something I will never forget, he said, "I am heartbroken." of course I asked why and he said he had just realized that he would never be able to be with me the way he wanted because I had moved on and it was causing his heart to break. I reminded him that he had a girlfriend and "shouldn't you be wanting to settle down with her?" He said that he didn't want to be with her anymore, but that he didn't want to hurt her again. To be honest I kind of felt special, but I told him that he wold have to come out and be a man sometime. I don't really know what JD wanted, but I do know that his last words to me made an impact on my life that I will never forget. He said, "I love you and I never stopped, but I let my pride take over and lost you for good." After that he gave me a hug and we went our sepperate way. I miss JD more and more each day, but I know that just having him in my heart keeps his spirit alive.

    I Will Always Love You To JD.

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  26. BATMAN is our hero
    BATMAN is our friend
    BATMAN is always there for us when we call out his name
    BATMAN takes away the pain
    BATMAN turns our tears into smiles
    BATMAN is our JD

    you will always be my hero JD i miss and love you so much.....

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  27. "Hey there Delilah
    What's it like in New York City?
    I'm a thousand miles away
    But girl, tonight you look so pretty
    Yes you do
    Times Square can't shine as bright as you
    I swear it's true

    Hey there Delilah
    Don't you worry about the distance
    I'm right there if you get lonely
    Give this song another listen
    Close your eyes
    Listen to my voice, it's my disguise
    I'm by your side

    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    What you do to me

    Hey there Delilah
    I know times are getting hard
    But just believe me, girl
    Someday I'll pay the bills with this guitar
    We'll have it good
    We'll have the life we knew we would
    My word is good

    Hey there Delilah
    I've got so much left to say
    If every simple song I wrote to you
    Would take your breath away
    I'd write it all
    Even more in love with me you'd fall
    We'd have it all

    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me

    A thousand miles seems pretty far
    But they've got planes and trains and cars
    I'd walk to you if I had no other way
    Our friends would all make fun of us
    and we'll just laugh along because we know
    That none of them have felt this way
    Delilah I can promise you
    That by the time we get through
    The world will never ever be the same
    And you're to blame

    Hey there Delilah
    You be good and don't you miss me
    Two more years and you'll be done with school
    And I'll be making history like I do
    You'll know it's all because of you
    We can do whatever we want to
    Hey there Delilah here's to you
    This one's for you

    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    Oh it's what you do to me
    What you do to me."

    --Plain White Tees

    FOR JD!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

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  28. God Bless You J.D. You were a wonderful friend and I will never forget you.

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  29. I'm gonna miss you J.D. You were a good friend. You always new how to make me laugh. It's a hard thng to recover frombut, i know that you will be watching over us from heaven. I love you j.D.!!! God Bless You

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  30. This is one of my favorite christian songs, everytime I hear the song it literally gives me chills. It reminds me of JD so I thought I would share it with you guys.

    Homesick Lyrics
    by MercyMe

    You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
    And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
    But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
    Is how long must I wait to be with you

    I close my eyes and I see your face
    If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
    Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
    I've never been more homesick than now

    Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
    The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
    But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
    Cause I'm still here so far away from home

    I close my eyes and I see your face
    If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
    Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
    I've never been more homesick than now

    In Christ, there are no goodbyes
    And in Christ, there is no end
    So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
    To see you again
    To see you again

    And I close my eyes and I see your face
    If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
    Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
    Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
    Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

    I've never been more homesick than now

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  31. Me and J.D Were not friends! We barely spoke to each other and if we did we were makin fun of eachother! J.D used to call me "PAWS" and i'd get mad and cuss him out and seriously i never thought that this traggic accident would happen and It did and it really affects me alot even though me and him were not friends it kills me inside that my last words to him were bad im really sorry i truly am that i cry hoping that one day whe i hit heaven that i may ask him to forgive ME and i know that J.D passed away some time ago and u know i never wrote any thing until now! Why? cause i would read everyones comments and it seemed that he was a very nice person and everybody had a chance to meet him and actually get along with him and see da bright and wonderful side of J.D. and as for me i couldnt cause we never got along we always had are lil arguments back and forth and i would say da meanest things to him. & all he ever did was try to be nice and "IM REALLY SORRY" ...... And now i cry alot because i regret everything i ever told him i really wish i couldve got to know him more! i remember the day we had that little ceremony in the gym for J.D and i remeber i started to cry so i put my head down so people wouldnt see and its crazy that i wore a muscle shirt that day that when i looked down i saw my PAWS and it made me cry more cause thats what J.D knew me As. And know eveytime i look in the mirror these paws reminds me everyday of J.D and wat he used to call me! But i know that your looking down on all of us here at Pettus High School and i know u know we miss you all but i do want you to know and everyone at school that i am deeply SORRY for everything i said to YOU! And i know its kinda too late for that! but......... The Rest is Unsaid Until the DAY i see YOU again!!!!!! LOVE AND MISS U Jarret Daniel Gomez!!! MAY U REST IN PEACE.....

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  32. Some people have told me that it gets easier over time. When does the easy part start? I've had dreams almost every night about those beautiful eyes, and I've prayed that GOD will take the pain away. I feel like Leann Rimes in her video Probably Wouldn't Be This Way. My days are full of empty laughs and broken smiles. I pretend to be okay, and go to sleep with tears on my cheeks. Sometimes I think I'm fooling people, but I know I'm not fooling myself. I see him in every room. I imagine him walking down the halls of school with a smile on his face. Sometimes I manage to forget that he's gone, and then comes a rush of confusion and a sea of emotion. Every moment is filled with the regret that I treated him horribly and never let him in. I can't get that face out of my head; that image of that sad look he gave me when I told him no. That was always the answer. I didn't want to seem needy or obsessive, so I pretended to not like him at all. If only he knew how much I cared. I wanted to show him that, but I could never get my mind out of the pit. Every song reminds me of something he said or did or a mistake I made or the way he made me feel. I never imagined he'd leave so soon. There's so much I want to change. It's impossible. How can I? You can't change the past. JD's life ended earlier than we would have liked. The pages were ripped out before he could finish writing. His story is now on the shelf, a finished book some may read over and over; others may never pick it up. But that's their loss. His book is finished, but he is a chapter in mine.

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  33. J.D. was a great friend and will be missed by many. He loved everyone and always looked at the glass half full, even in the worst situations. I love you J.D. can't wait to see you somday.

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  34. They say losing a friend is the same as losing family. But as time goes we know in our hearts that it’s a different thing. Losing family you can gain with a baby born. But a friend that goes to your school is different because to this school everybody here is family. When we lose somebody here it seems that we lose apart of us. What is it like when you lose people close to your heart? What is it like to lose a friend only 17 years of age? What feelings would you have losing a friend that age or younger in your life. As life goes on we see that anything can happen at any time.

    J.D. Gomez was very sweet to everybody. Sometimes we would go at it then we’re cool. I remember how he would make me laugh when I was in a bad mood. He would was brag on me and call me names to try to cheer me up. If not he would be telling hilarious jokes or acting up. Great athlete in his first year of being at Pettus High.

    People say that they never got to know who J.D. really was. They wanted to become a friend of his but never got the chance to.

    Life goes so quickly that we don’t think we have time to do everything. But as the days go by, the wind blows faster, harder, but we get by.
    The time we are born, the candle is lit. These candles aren’t like most candles. They are so unique in there own way. When the wind blows it is still lit. The flame never goes out till its time for the Lord to take you. The day it burns out is the day we have to go. As we see that it was J.D’s time to go, his candle had been let out. The Lord himself knows it was time for J.D to come into his hands fully. It was time that God sat him in a royal chair we all have one. He’s in Heaven and with no pain nor suffering and knowing that he’s in a better place. We still believe that he walks the school hall ways and class rooms today.

    We miss J.D. Gomez so much that maybe someone or we all would do anything to have him back on earth just one more day. To give his last breathe with friends and family here at Pettus High School. As time moves on we see that it was his time to go and it will be ours as well. He left so young and mighty we all loved him.

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  35. Its almost been a year since you left us and i still hurt as much as I did on January 25 i find myself alone and hurting at times and my mind goes back to you and your happiness.. i still wonder to this day why you had to leave...i look @ different blogs and pictures and even your old myspace profile dreaming wishing even hoping that you aren't really gone. but sadly you are... i just want to let you know that you are not forgotten and everday of my life i think of you and of the impact you had on my life. you are the best thing that has ever happened to me...thanks for showing me the light...i luv you and miss you

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  36. It was my best friend's birthday, but I never called her to tell her because I hate her birthday. I still remember that morning when I got on the bus and got so excited to hear we would all be riding the same one. I remember looking out to his house and waiting for him to walk out. I remember telling Addie on the bus, I'm going to tell him I love him. But I never got that chance. I hate thinking that he would be in college, probably with a football scholarship, hopefully to his favorite school, Texas A&M. I still can't forget the day of his funeral. I remember getting on the bus and halfway there, I remember suddenly crying and remembering that the last time he and I rode the bus together, we were in that very seat. And my mind flooded with memories of sitting on the bus on the way to school so many times and listening to music together. I remember how we'd pick songs that would tell the other something without saying a word. I remember it all. And I just cried. I remember going to the funeral and sitting in the pew trying to stop myself from causing a scene. I remember standing up as they carried his casket in and I tried so hard not to but I just started bawling. And every time I looked at his casket I would just start crying all over again. And it hurt so much. And then we went to the burial, and it still didn't seem real to me. He couldn't possibly be dead. Maybe he was just faking, maybe he was someplace else? It all just felt like somebody else's dream. I remember sitting back in that seat on the bus, and turning on my radio. I'd heard this song before, but it didn't mean anything to me. It was just a song. But after going to his funeral, and watching his casket being lowered into the ground, and trying to hold myself together, I felt so different. And the song came on. And all of a sudden, it had new meaning to me.
    LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
    SIXX:AM
    You can’t quit until you try
    You can’t live until you die
    You can’t learn to tell the truth
    Until you learn to lie
    You can’t breathe until you choke
    You gotta laugh when you’re the joke
    There’s nothing like a funeral to make you feel alive
    Just open your eyes
    Just open your eyes
    And see that life is beautiful.
    Will you swear on your life,
    That no one will cry at my funeral?
    I know some things that you don’t
    I’ve done things that you won’t
    There’s nothing like a trail of blood
    to find your way back home
    I was waiting for my hearse
    What came next was so much worse
    It took a funeral to make me feel alive
    Just open your eyes
    Just open your eyes
    And see that life is beautiful.
    Will you swear on your life,
    That no one will cry at my funeral?
    Just open your eyes
    Just open your eyes
    And see that life is beautiful.
    Will you swear on your life,
    That no one will cry at my funeral?
    Just open your eyes
    Just open your eyes
    And see that life is beautiful.
    Will you swear on your life,
    That no one will cry at my funeral?
    Just open your eyes
    Just open your eyes
    And see that life is beautiful.
    Will you swear on your life,
    That no one will cry at my funeral?
    I love you JD, and I'm sorry I never told you. I'm so sorry for everything. I miss your beautiful eyes everyday and there hasn't been a day since that you haven't crossed my mind. I miss all those fun times. You made me smile in a way no one else ever has. You really were pure good. Sometimes I wonder if you were an angel, and you knew you were going to be leaving. And that that's why you were always so much fun and carefree. I may never know. I can only hope that I see you first when I walk into those gates. I can only hope that heaven is not too big to find you. I am so sorry. I love you and if I had it all to do over, I would.

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  37. Our dear friend's birthday passed recently, I know many of us still miss his goofy face and happy heart and I know he is probably in heaven driving even the saints crazy because that's the kind of guy he was. I was looking back over the comments of everyone over the years and it brought back all those old memories. His heart was pure but I'm most certainly sure he was a player based on all the girls he professed his love too. Haha! But I don't think any of us can hold it against him because how could you help but fall in love with JD? I mean he had an infectious smile and a charismatic personality! We miss him dearly but we can all look back and remember, and we all know that we will see him again. I wouldn't be surprised if he has rigged heaven's surround sound to play " Hey There Delilah" on repeat for all eternity. I trust that he will be waiting at the pearly gates, talking football and surfing with Saint Peter, when all of us that lost our hearts to him arrive in heaven.

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  38. i have been meaning to come on here these last couple of days to say happpy birthday my sweet angel JD i know im late but i sure hope u can forgive just know i didnt forget ur birthday...i hope your having fun up there but of course u are i mean u are JD afterall you always made everything so fun and im sure ur still the same goofball i grew to love what can i say u grew on me and i still miss you everyday more then u can imagine i look at my wall everyday and see ur picture hanging there reminding me how much u meant to me and what a great friend u were and you always use to put a smile on my face heck you still do now every time i think of you watching me a protecting me like your my own person gaurdian angel and i know your always in my heart and will stay there forever until the day i get to see your face again...well i got to go now JD u will probably be hearing from me soon though cause u know how much i like to tell you about my life and problems..i know ur reading this and thinking wow she is crazy :) lol...but once again happy birthday my sweet angel<3

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