I took my family to see Ken and his family a few nights ago. He was too out of it to see us, so we visited with his wonderful mom. Ken must be the kind of guy that inpires loyalty and friendship, because we met one of his friends who had flown in just for 24 hours to see him. There were apparently lots of visitors prior to our arrival. I would venture that The Belden Family can be credited with the outpouring of support in this difficult time. They must have lived lives that inspire such a response. Would that all families lived as such. Frankly, it's just the type of good people I was taught that Aggies were before I attended A&M. Good to see it still lives.
And now I'd like a word about being an Aggie, and what the Spirit we sing about really means.
We took the family a few things, snacks, magazines, diversions while they spend those long hours while people we love are under care. If youve been there, you know they are long hours while you wait for doctors, news, updates. Ken's mom was gracious and strong. She greeted us warmly even though she carried the obvious weight on her heart. Our family didnt know them prior to the update I read on Texags. I wore an Aggie shirt to let her know where our concern was coming from. She, who is not an Aggie, was blown away by the response and care and prayers coming their way. She told us of other strangers coming just as we had. The only thing they knew was that a fellow Aggie had a need. There were expressions of concern and love and prayers coming from everywhere.
So much so that one of the nurses asked her who her son was for so many people to be coming and asking.
I love that the answer is simple, but still a mystery to any who never joined the beautiful Aggie Family. I don't want it to be a mystery to them . . . Instead, I wished more of the world understood and operated in the way that Aggies expect of themselves . . . Respect for family, friendship, camaraderie, honor, integrity.
The answer is that he is an Aggie.
He's part of a brother and sisterhood that lives in beautiful separation from the understanding of others. We choose to do the things that make us stand out, not because we are better, not from arrogance, conceit, or disdain. It's what Aggie are. We choose family. We choose Spirit. We choose to love our own.
And we show it.
I want to see Ken out there leading yells next year. To his family and those closest to them . . . and to all Aggies . . . that will be a great and important day, a symbol of what he has had to overcome to stand on that field under thousands of Aggie voices, the soul of the 12th Man.
God bless the Belden Family.
God speed Ken's healing and recovery.
And God keep the burning Spirit alive in all who wear the Aggie Ring, or ever called themselves Aggies.
We are the Aggies.
The Aggies are we.
And now I'd like a word about being an Aggie, and what the Spirit we sing about really means.
We took the family a few things, snacks, magazines, diversions while they spend those long hours while people we love are under care. If youve been there, you know they are long hours while you wait for doctors, news, updates. Ken's mom was gracious and strong. She greeted us warmly even though she carried the obvious weight on her heart. Our family didnt know them prior to the update I read on Texags. I wore an Aggie shirt to let her know where our concern was coming from. She, who is not an Aggie, was blown away by the response and care and prayers coming their way. She told us of other strangers coming just as we had. The only thing they knew was that a fellow Aggie had a need. There were expressions of concern and love and prayers coming from everywhere.
So much so that one of the nurses asked her who her son was for so many people to be coming and asking.
I love that the answer is simple, but still a mystery to any who never joined the beautiful Aggie Family. I don't want it to be a mystery to them . . . Instead, I wished more of the world understood and operated in the way that Aggies expect of themselves . . . Respect for family, friendship, camaraderie, honor, integrity.
The answer is that he is an Aggie.
He's part of a brother and sisterhood that lives in beautiful separation from the understanding of others. We choose to do the things that make us stand out, not because we are better, not from arrogance, conceit, or disdain. It's what Aggie are. We choose family. We choose Spirit. We choose to love our own.
And we show it.
I want to see Ken out there leading yells next year. To his family and those closest to them . . . and to all Aggies . . . that will be a great and important day, a symbol of what he has had to overcome to stand on that field under thousands of Aggie voices, the soul of the 12th Man.
God bless the Belden Family.
God speed Ken's healing and recovery.
And God keep the burning Spirit alive in all who wear the Aggie Ring, or ever called themselves Aggies.
We are the Aggies.
The Aggies are we.
