Jim Austin:  

August 4, 2008 IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY MOTHER, CAROL A. AUSTIN, September, 1939-July, 2008. 68 years old. My mother died peacefully in July, 2008, in Mesa, Az. She went into the hospital on May 31st, was diagnosed in the mid to late June. She was very brave throughout the entire ordeal. She kept the nurses laughing as well as all of the wonderful people that came to visit her. My older brother, Bobby Austin, and I, along with others that were close to her, were with her at the end. She was my North Star-always there when I needed a hug or just some encouragement, and I got to thank her for being my mother! We had a wonderful service for her at her church in Mesa, The Highway Baptist Church. A celebration of her life! She had only been going to that church for a year or so, but, like me, made a lasting impression upon others very quickly! Many people came up and told fun stories about her. There were some tears but mostly laughter at the anecdotes told. Before she went into the hospital I would call her every Sunday, put my cell phone on "speaker", making sure that it had a FULL CHARGE, and just let her chat away about any and every thing under the sun ( she would talk the battery dead! )! When she went into the hospital I would call her every day, and I would call her in the middle of MY night ( about 9am, as I worked 4pm-12am ) just to tell her that I loved her and good night! I wasn't scheduled to see her until the Saturday after she would have passed, but she called me on the Tuesday before, and told me that I'd better come to see her as she sensed that her time left here with us was short. I wasn't in any condition to drive due to the immense grief I was feeling. A friend drove me to Mesa just in time, and I am forever grateful as I was able to tell her what I always tell her each and every time we finish our phone call, "I love you, Mom!". Jim Austin -------------------------------------------------------------- Life GREETINGS, CURIOSITY SEEKERS/FANS, since my last update on ME on the classmates WORKPLACE part of the scheme, a new development has happened... Today is Friday, May 11th, 2007. A day off from work like any other day off from work-I'm covering for someone ( as I am the Supervisor and I do Love my job! ), but as you already know, I was hired to direct an independent film from Airborne Productions. The story-a TRUE story-about a boy ( early 20's ) getting captured by the Insurgents in Iraq. That incident happened THREE YEARS AND THREE WEEKS AGO TODAY ( April 09, 2004 )!!! You may have [ recently ] read about his plight in any number of publications or seen his or his parents on any of the News segments on television ( i.e., CBS's 60 Minutes ). Either way, my fellow classmates, the project is no more. About 3 or 4 weeks ago the parents of the subject of the movie called my Executive Producer, Jim Bretney, to inform us at Airborne Productions that they would SUE us if we continued with the film. Well, classmate...Expand for more