So I’m not really sure where to begin with this reflection of my memories of my brother in arms Jake. I guess it all started off one day in class at EKU. There I was a new student in an unfamiliar town. I was just like Jake a student who played too much learning along the way about what people, life, and academia were all about in our own unique way. I’m not sure if he found me or I found him, any who it does not matter, because we were instantly united forever.
We never wanted to be tied down by schedules and demands of what society expected us to do. So as older than normal students we went through the Aquatic Biology program at EKU side by side. I could not even begin to count the nights that Megan had to listen to me and Jake dork out on one random topic or the other, while I did my laundry at their place. I’d either bury Mosita or Megan in a hot ass pile of clean clothes fresh out the dryer. That would do the trick for a bit! I have never met anyone so gifted in the art of the dichotomous key. I’m serious he just got it. After meeting his mother, I know why. All the hikes we went on chasing down and ID’ing everything in sight or grasp he had the gift. The world was ours to figure out the complexities of it interactions. So many philosophical scientific debates were had late nights and early mornings. We helped each other learn so dang much. So on and on I go.
One night while cramming for our Aquatic Wetland Plants final with Ron Jones there we were. It was about 3ish in the AM in the Moore building. Hot as hell. We have the ipod plugged into the loudest desktop speakers we could find. Moving from specimen to specimen, trying to figure out our ways to differentiate them. I mean so hot shirts off rocking out hot! Just two total freaks getting it, dancing, shucking, and jiving to our own special grove! I mean seriously, would you expect anything less? Well that’s how we learned. Now low and behold here comes Dr. Cupp the Herpetology professor strolling into the building at 3ish AM to write his final. We have no clue he is there, at the same time he had no clue we would be there. What a freak! So all he does is stick his head into the room and state, “You all got this.” No comment about the music or why we are half naked. What an interesting night.
So this brings me to the night Megan discovered Florida monkeys. So there the three of us were heading down to Langarado Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are making it to South Florida in one run with three drivers, no stops, for the most part. Megan took the first leg of the journey; she made it to somewhere/nowhere Georiga. Then Jake took over. The whole time we are pounding Rock Star energy drinks like it has been banded. Then I take over somewhere in central Florida. We arrive at my parents’ house in Wellington, Florida about an hour from our final stop. I’m wired and the love birds are well rested. My parents have this full breakfast spread prepared for us, fresh fruit and all. Well-fed and all, on to Langardo we go once again! I show up exhausted and just want to sleep for a bit, after we check to the condo. Well, there is Jake so no chance of that, we got to go to the show now! So a 32oz Rockstar pounded in the parking lot of a 7/11 we are there. It turns out to be one of the best festivals I have ever been to! So we make it back to the condo in that sweet, sweet silver station wagon and sack out.
Next thing I know Megan is flipping out, “Hey guys wake up there are monkeys outside the window!” Me and Jake exchange the look of bullshit. She goes on, “no seriously, there are monkey outside the fucking window!” So I crawl over Jake and look and holy shit there are monkeys outside the window! I yell at Jake, “Seriously, there are monkeys outside the window!” Jake springs out so fast it is not even funny. Megan is instantly pissed because how fast he reacted to what I said, not her. Love her.
Turns out our condo was next to a nature preserve. During the 60’s a hurricane hit the local zoo and some monkeys survived and decided to reproduce in the preserve. So, the few lucky visitors who decided to stay at this condo have the unknowing opportunity to interact with this monkey population. Only Jake would randomly find us a place that we would be able to feed bananas to monkeys every morning of our stay! Seriously, that’s how Jake worked---he found magical places by accident. Love you forever brother.
