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Don’t be afraid to say...
Editors note: A column
ran on this page Sept. 10
that was written by
Douglass White, Class of
’88, before his death this
summer. Kenneth Ratliff,
a long-time friend and
classmate of Doug’s,
wrote this column in
response to Doug’s death.
As I sat down to write
this, I was struck by an
age-old question: “Where
do I start?”
1 guess I should start
with the origination of
“The Group.” It began
my freshman year in high
school when I met Doug
and Tim. The three of us
were on the football team,
and even had some
classes together. For some
reason, and none of us
know why, we hit it off
right from the start.
Through the years we
added Wendy, Brian,
Tony, Laura, Frank,
John, Mike, Chris, Lizette
and Sandy. All of us but
Chris went to the same
high school and we all,
except for Wendy, chose
to attend Texas A&M. As
you know from your own
personal group of friends,
we grew, and remain,
extremely close. We even
call each others’ parents
“Mom” and “Dad.”
Now I know you’re
asking yourself: “What
has all of this to do with
the title?” Well, our group
is now two members
smaller than it was at the
beginning of the year. We
lost Wendy in January.
She was killed in a car
wreck on her way back to
Texas Tech after the
Mike Bryant, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, took this week’s attention!!
photo of the partially eclipsed moon on the night of Oct. 6.
Christmas holidays. As if
that wasn’t enough, Doug
was killed in a
construction accident in
August.
Looking back at all the
times we shared, good
and bad, drunk and
sober, one regret keeps
popping up in my mind.
Both of my friends were
taken from me before 1
had a chance to sit them
down and tell them how
much I loved them. The
reason I never told Doug
or Wendy how I felt about
them was the fact that I
was scared to open up
and let my feelings show. I
realize now how
ridiculous that was, and I
kick myself every night for
not having the courage to
let them know how I felt.
The fact that they knew,
without my having to tell
them, is of no consolation.
My fellow Aggies,
please don’t let yourselves
be found in my position.
Call that special person
and/or group of people
and let them know how
much you care for them.
Do it now, for tomorrow it
may be too late.
Remember: “Don’t be
afraid to say...” (I’ll let
you fill in the blank).
I would like to end this
note by practicing what I
preach. First, to Doug and
Wendy: I love you, and
miss you very much. And
second, to the surviving
members of “The
Group”: Hove you.
Please play Simon and
Garfunkel’s recording of
“Bridge Over Troubled
Water. ” Their words are
my promise to you.
Ken Ratcliff is a
senior accounting/
management major.
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