In August, Wylie seniors gathered to paint parking spots in celebration of their final year in high school. Despite the ridiculous heat and cantankerous pavement, each space morphed into a symbol to honor such a momentous time. However, there is one parking space, marked by cones, that means something much more.
“That’s his spot. When we see the cones, there is so much pain and sorrow, but there is also so much joy and blessings,” says Jenny Rush. The senior parking spot to which she refers belongs to her late son Kyle. As I pen this story, it was exactly 13 months ago (July 18) Kyle lost his life from injuries he sustained after a car accident a few days earlier.
Kyle was known for his vivacious personality and love of life. His close friend, Hunter Hood, said when it came to the design for his friend’s senior parking space, it was simple. “We all knew what we wanted to paint,” he said.
Friends and family got to work painting images that represent him so well – a hibiscus for his love of Hawaiian shirts, the jeep lights and grill of black Jeep he loved to drive, the bible verse on his key chain that he believed word for word, a poker chip for the many nights he and his friends enjoyed playing their game of choice, and a peanut to represent the nickname most knew him by.
“The effort to design it…came together so perfectly,” said Chad, Kyle’s dad. “Even the saying on the poker chip.”
Cole Rodriguez, who became close friends with Kyle when attending Beltway Church’s youth camp during the summer of their sophomore year, felt Kyle would have liked the design but more than that the event itself.
“I think he would have enjoyed the people helping more than what was on it,” he said.
It was a task that came with mixed emotions for all involved. The Rushes described it as a culmination of emotions – laughing, crying and sense of gratitude – as they figure out how to have Kyle’s senior year without Kyle. And this is something they believe is only bearable because of his circle of friends.
“Amazing, amazing, amazing,” said Jenny. “Kyle found his niche and his people. We think of him every minute of the day, and to have teenage boys still think of him and love him and not forget him is a blessing to our hearts and to know they were his friends.”
Hunter Hood, who befriended Kyle as a new eighth grader to West Junior High, said he hoped the community would honor Kyle by leaving his parking space vacant. “I wish we could remove the cones and people would know,” said Hood. “Our senior class understands what it means, but others may not quite understand how it is for our grade – he should have done this with us.”
Hood said in a sense it is a memorial to Kyle, but also just a way to have him here. “We want everyone to enjoy it and to remember who Kyle was and the goodness he was to everybody.”
Jenny said the Wylie community has been such a blessing to them and described Kyle’s friends and their families as “the hands and feet of Jesus.” The boys still join the Rush family to celebrate Kyle and things he enjoyed like IBC Root Beer and pizza. Rodriquez said he felt their friendship was not by chance.
“We were in the same cabin at Beltway camp. Then we met-up weekly or so to do Bible studies and hang out. God put us together that way so we would be able to grieve.”
By Kristen Johnson
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