Remember When? - Part 4

This picture was taken at Quay's Going Away Party. I love this picture because it captures such a fabulous moment in time. To some, a person heading off to college would not be such a huge ordeal. But this was different. Quay was headed to West Point where we only assumed he would be tortured and abused and never come back home to us. For our part, most of us would be going to college at the same place where we had attended high school. There was very little freshman excitement, Quay was the exception. He was our renegade, our boundary pusher, our super-achiever. And he needed a proper send-off. Ms. Barnett made a fabulous Americana theme cake and we all huddled in for a group shot, possibly the last time we might all be together for a while. Just after the picture was snapped, the coffee table legs gave out and the cakes slid toward the floor. Both cakes were saved and the coffee table was fixed. To this day, anyone pictured here, when in the Barnett's living room, knows to be gentle with the coffee table. Even my kids, who love to play at the Barnett's when we are in town, know not to lean on the coffee table.
Other things about this photo worth mentioning:
* Why is Mike Knight not wearing a shirt?
* Who is climbing through the window?
* Did Paul always strike that pose?
* Do Joel's shorts seem a tad short?
* Does Quay look a day over 15?


There are several reasons that I love this picture. It was taken at the airport while we waited for Quay to land after his first summer at West Point, sometime around midnight. The airport was deserted except for a security guard and the janitors. Although, it appears we are holding a long stretch of toilet paper, it is in fact a sign welcoming Quay home. Yes, Creed and Brian are in wheelchairs. No, they are not disabled - we were passing the time with wheelchair races. Yes, that is my younger sister, Elizabeth -AKA Bessie, and not to bring everyone's day crashing to a halt, but she turned 18 last month and graduates from high school in 2 weeks. Also worth noting, we had snacks and party supplies and celebrated Quay's return until Security told us it was time to pack it up.
The original download of this picture (below) cut off Naked Mike so I re-scanned it in above. Feel free to cherish whichever version you prefer.