Bold as a Bear

From the moment the shutter of my camera clicked for the first time during this session, I knew I loved these images.  As the click-click-clicks continued, my love for them grew.  Not just because I loved the way the yellow and green of their shirts popped in the photos.....it was also because of the story behind the t-shirts, and not just because of the beautiful smiling family....it was because of the reason they were all gathered together this past Saturday morning.  I loved these photos and could not wait to share them.

On the hour and a half drive to shoot a wedding later that day, my mind was still on the session from that morning.  I mentally went through the images and remembered some of my favorites.  I had warm-fuzzy feelings just thinking about them.  Then all of a sudden, a little bit of panic set in.  You see, to share these photos, I realized I would have to explain the meaning behind the beautiful family wearing the yellow and green shirts.  I was nervous...am nervous about it.  How am I, the chick who blogs in endless run-on sentences, uses too many dot-dot-dots, and makes up my own words every now and again, going to describe Burnie Battles? 

The Battles family were all together this past weekend to attend Baylor University Homecoming.  During the game Burnie was being honored as Outstanding Professor for his years at Baylor.  Burnie's family gathered on the field receiving this honor on his behalf wearing the yellow and green shirts.  Burnie had passed away in June.  At his funeral, a friend told the meaning of the name Burnie in german.  The translation- Bold as a Bear.  This is where my fear comes in.  How do I portray a man that has meant so much to so many and touched so many lives?  How do I describe a man who was bold as a bear?

I had only known Burnie for the past nine years or so, but that was long enough to realize how great of a man he was and for him to make an everlasting impression on me and my family.  At his funeral, as people spoke and told stories about Burnie, I realized there was so much more I could have learned from him.   We've all met people that you instantly felt like you have known forever...well that was Burnie to me.  There are so many things I could say about Burnie.  He always had a smile on his face and had the greatest laugh.  He laughed with his whole body.  He loved the Baylor Bears..he was a Baylor Bear... He went to college and was a yell leader at Baylor,  he even met his wife, Mary Helen there, as they both stopped to pet the Baylor Bear...he went on to teach at Baylor for 43 years.  He was an athlete.  He was a competitor.  He was a mentor.  He volunteered countless hours at Camp John Marc.  He had an undeniable love for his family.  He had a deep faith in God.  And the one thing I admired him most for, is that he had to be the best granddad I had ever witnessed.  When we recently built our new house, it just so happen to be smack dab across the street from Burnie and Mary Helen.  Since we moved in, I watched Burnie play with his grandkids on numerous occasions.  He was the BEST...kind of like a big kid out there playing with the little ones.  He had a nickname for every one of his grandchildren.  He knew the funniest songs, knew the coolest games...some that I had never even heard of. He would play for hours with them....swinging from ropes in their backyard, having play sword fights with Caden, roasting marshmallows, making an Austin or Allie sandwich (which consisted of Burnie and Mary Helen hugging a grandkid from both sides. The grandkids were the "meat" of the sandwich) ...seriously, he was the coolest granddad ever! 

To say that my son, Carson adored Burnie would be an understatement.  Every time Carson saw Burnie, he insisted on going to see him.  I can't tell you how many times my eardrums have rattled from Carson shrieking "Burnieeeee!" when he saw Burnie outside.  One day that I will forever remember, our house was quiet because I thought Carson was taking a nap in his room.  The silence was broken when I heard Carson's excited cry of "Burnie!"  I walked into his room to find him standing in his bed watching Burnie work in his yard through the window.  He immediately said he needed to go say hi to Burnie.  Trying to salvage his nap, I explained that Burnie was busy working and we didn't need to bother him.  Carson replied "It's ok Mommy.  It makes him happy", as he rushed past me heading for the front door.  I laughed and asked, "It makes him happy?"  And, as Carson trotted barefooted out the door in Burnie's direction, he turned and said "Ya it makes him happy...Burnie loves me"  So, I stood and watched as Carson ran to Burnie and they exchanged their usual handshakes and high-fives.  Burnie stopped everything he was doing and carried on an excited conversation with my 3 year old for a couple of minutes.  I called to Carson to come back home, and waved to Burnie as Carson ran back across the street.  As Carson approached, he gave me a know-it-all grin and said "See...I told you Burnie loves me".  To me,  that memory is an example of one of Burnie's greatest qualities.  He made everyone he met feel important, and he had the amazing ability to make someone feel loved.  His overflowing love was so evident, even my 3 year old son could feel it.

These are the T-shirts worn by the family in Burnie's honor.

 

Comments

[Chrissy Hopper]

Okay, Liz! I can barely type this through my tears! Thanks you so much for taking the time to take these pictures and for you special note about my Dad! he loved Carson like one of his grandkids and especially liked it when Carson called him "Grandma!" I can still hear him giggling about it. thank you for everything!!

[goannatree.blogspot.com]

I type through tears also, and I didn't meet Prof. Battles. I might have seen him around campus - i'm a Baylor Bear (MA '09) - but your photos and the joy evident in the faces filled with pride celebrating the life of their father and grandfather is so special. Your photographs are beautiful. What a wonderful testament to a life well-lived. Vale Prof. Battles.

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