I Remember: Houston Goode

I remember when we first met in home economics; you were a
piece of shit freshman… I was a piece of shit sophomore.

I remember all the time we drained playing Diablo II
together, pwn’in n00bs and killing cows. (and your obsession with pole-barbs.)

I remember when Warcraft III came out (there went the rest
of our free time.)

I remember skeletor shift knob.

I remember trampoline bike… and the awesome injuries that
ensued.

I remember tearing our trucks apart for no reason other than
to just put them back together.

I remember you teaching me how to build computers “it’s like
legos, man.” … and it was, haha.

I remember bad ass sound systems blarring Soundgarden and
System of a Down.

I remember a new gadget you just put in or on your truck
every time I got in.

I remember how you didn’t give a rat’s ass about what people
thought of you, and how much I envied that quality.

I remember you gunning it through a blinded 4-way stop in
the middle of the day, and wanting to fucking kill you after the adrenaline
rush wore off.

I remember working at Chapp’s and visiting you at Braum’s
when I got off, talking about how much we hated our lousy ass jobs, and pissing
your manager off because you were hanging with me instead of working. Fucking
waffle cones, haha.

I remember the super gulps, and getting a slurpee was the
first thing we did every day (52 oz. For $1.04, fuck yes.)… how the hell
neither of us god diabetes I will never know. (hope you liked the spoon straw I
brought you.)

I remember bondo and fiber glass nights in the garage.

I remember lining your doors with green carpet, that was a
good night, lol.

I remember E-brake slides into the driveway.

I remember when reverse became the new forward.

I remember you fucked up, me sober, and just talking about
random shit, but we were both on the same level.

I remember you talking to my dad’s peacocks.

I remember your dad’s weight room at your house, and seeing
him at Gold’s pumping some iron.

I remember never once having an argument with you, unless of
course it was “who is driving?”

I remember letting you drive my truck on empty streets at
night… I also remember almost shitting my pants a couple times.

I remember you just showing up randomly at my house, out of
your fucking mind, knowing you had a place to chill and of course the first
thing out of your mouth was “hey man, can I go swimming?”

I remember 2-person LAN parties, haha.

I remember you always talking about Mason, and envious about
the truck he was getting, haha.

I remember you trying to get my grandma high, and how my dad
thought it was an awesome idea.

I remember the day you, Carly, and Garin came over rollin.
Carly tried making love to the couch, you tried making love to the carpet, and
Garin tried making love to the… diving board. Hahaha.

I remember how happy you were when you told me about your
proposal to Carly.

I remember the first time I went to your house and your
brother answered the door. I thought yall were twins or something, mind blower.

I remember your goofy ass dog.

I remember your room, and how there was always some cool
shit lying around to tinker with.

I remember you pulling the “rubber band on the sink hose”
trick on Nicole LaValley  in Home-ec,
and the hilarious reaction.

I remember hiding the fabric people talked about in the
washing machine, and then them shitting bricks when they couldn’t find it.

I remember cat in the hat, hat.

I remember grinding various body parts into your bike pedals
while trying to imitate you.

I remember you telling me how I was one of your true
friends, and how much that means to me.

I remember our final conversation the Wednesday before you
left us, and the talk we had about the changes in our lives since we first met.
Bit of a coincidence in lieu of unforeseen future events huh?

I remember the day you passed. I had just spent the weekend
driving a group of guys all around TX, during the trip I came down with the
flu, I finally got home at 2a.m. on Sunday morning and crawled in to bed around
3. I was lying awake thinking about the time I had come home from soccer
practice and my family was sitting around in tears because my uncle had just
died. Then I started thinking about how long it had been since I was back in
Arlington, and thinking about how much I hated the drive to and from Austin. I
decided I needed to check my email, and I got a message from Craig’s brother,
it read, “Hey, So there's some pretty bad news. Call my brother whenever you
get the chance. His number is ***-***-****.” All of this was extremely eerie.

I knew exactly what the “news” was as soon as I read that,
and it broke my fucking heart having to call Craig and confirm it.

I remember saying my final farewell to a great friend/person
on Saturday, and how much it pained me. You, more so than anybody else I know
were always full of so much vigor and life.

These are a few of the things I remember about you, Houston,
and while all of these memories are great…

I will never forget our friendship.

P.S. you’re an asshole.