"A man who lives an ethical life adds to the whole of the human family-- no matter how brief that life might be."
~~Richard Paul Evans


Hi all,

I was really having a hard time coming up with something to do here to commemorate John's 49th birthday.  Sometimes it's still so hard to believe that we won't be celebrating "Dye Day" with goofy jokes about John's characters and giggly wishes for future projects to come.  But I know John wouldn't want us to be sad or excessively wistful.  That's one of the biggest lessons I took from him: death is not the end.  There *is* life eternal.  I can't imagine what my life would be like without having learned that lesson and so many others.  As I've mentioned before, I think it was John's role as a teacher of these great lessons that means the most to me.  So... in keeping with that idea, I decided maybe the best way to spend his birthday was acting like a teacher.  So... please take out your pens and pencils.  Well, I suppose really just your keyboard.  The test will begin momentarily.  ;-)

God bless,
Jenni

PS- Thanks, Cindy, for the idea!  :-)

The following test will be administered in three parts: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and essay.  Answers for the first two parts are objective.  I will provide you with the correct answers upon receiving your turned in test.  (Basically just send me numbered lists with your answers.)  ;-)  Answers for the latter part are up to you!  If you would like to share your answers, I would love to include them here.  Please just email me and I will get them added.  Now, in honor of our teacher, let's begin!
Multiple Choice



1.  In Best of the Best, which country are Virgil and Co. facing off against?
a.  China
b.  Japan
c.  Korea
d.  Vietnam
e.  Cambodia

2.  Which of the following are Bill Morgan's children?
a.  Harley and Chris
b.  Jake and Marisa
c.  Brian and Megan
d.  Brittany and Kyle
e.  Cassie and David

3.  When he attempted to go on vacation, where was Andrew headed?
a.  Rome
b.  Paris
c.  Venice
d.  Dublin
e.  London

4.  Which is not an episode of Tour of Duty?
a.  "Green Christmas"
b.  "Dead Man Tales"
c.  "I Am What I Am"
d.  "Thanks for the Memories"
e.  "Made in the U.S.A."

5.  Who did Todd make an underhanded deal with in Campus Man?
a.  Cactus Jack
b.  Whiskey Pete
c.  Desert Tony
d.  Coyote Kevin
e.  Big Vinnie

6.  Which soap opera did John have a brief stint on?
a.  Guiding Light
b.  General Hospital
c.  The Young and the Restless
d.  Port Charles
e.  Roses and Thorns

7. On which exact date did Andrew and Adam pay Ben Mason a visit?
a.  October 9, 2000
b.  April 23, 2001
c.  June 17, 1999
d.  August 6, 2000
e.  April 27, 2001

8.  Of the following, which cartoon was young John especially fond of?
a.  Jonny Quest
b.  Mighty Mouse
c.  Casper
d.  Rocky and Bullwinkle
e.  George of the Jungle

9.  What was Eric Manion's job title?
a.  Councilman
b.  District Attorney
c.  Alderman
d.  Police Chief
e.  Deputy Sheriff

10.  This was Jeff Cutler's life partner.
a.  Jon Peters
b.  Curt Wesson
c.  Pete Swanson
d.  Tom Cousins
e.  Greg Sommers

11.  Which of the following John characters is a doctor.
a.  Greg Toback
b.  Colin Adams
c.  Adam Sanders
d.  Willem Boyd
e.  Bob Holmby

12.  Skip attended this school.
a.  St. Charles' University
b.  Arizona State
c.  Harper Institute for Higher Learning
d.  Greendale
e.  Hoover Academy



Fill in the Blank

1.  Andrew once served in the security detail for a campaigning politician named ___________________.

2.  The exact date of what Andrew considered to be his first failure was ______________________.

3.  __________________ is the hometown of Doc Hock.

4.  The full name of Doc Hock is Francis ________________ Hockenbury.

5.  Regrettably, Bob Holmby fell under the influence of a scheming sociopath named _________________.

6.  For a brief period of time, Andrew was the comedic side kick of __________________.

7.  Andrew paid a visiting to a fretful Dinah Greene in the Promised Land episode ________________________.

8.  _____________________ was where John enrolled with the intent of becoming a civil rights lawyer.

9.  ____________________ was John's first film.

10.  The Rolling Stones hit, _____________________, was used as the theme song for Tour of Duty.

11.  ________________________ was the name of the platoon of which Doc Hock was a part under Lt. Myron Goldman.

12.  In Campus Man, Todd had a antagonistic friendship with ______________ but wound up with a lot more pleasant feelings about her!

Essays
And now it's your turn to have your say.  Answer as many or as few of the following as you would like.  There are no right or wrong answers.  If you would like your answers included here, I would be happy to add them.

1.  Share a story about a time in your life when one of the lessons you learned from John and his work became really vital.

2.  If you were to meet someone who had never seen any of John's work and you were given time to show them one... and only one... of his TV episodes or movies, what would you pick to show them?  Why?

3.  John once said: "There are possibilities for goodness in a world that's very filled with turmoil."  Please share about a time you found an opportunity to do something good in a time of turmoil and/or when someone did something good for you during a troubling time in your own life.

4.  Please share anything else you would like to say in honor of John's birthday.

Finally, there is no easter egg.  Rather, I will be giving a "grade" in the form of a small birthday gift to any current JABB member who sends in their answers.  The "grade" will not be dependent upon the ratio of correct versus incorrect answers.  Basically, send in answers... get the "grade." 

Now I would like to dedicate this JABB to our birthday boy, our crush, our hero, our teacher... to everything John was to each of us.  He lived a life of compassion, of concern for others, of bravery, and of love.  He reminded us that we are... all of us... loved by our God and our Father.  As John celebrates his birth with the One who brought him into being, may he know that he was loved immensely for the nearly 48 years he walked this earth and during this past year in which we have grieved and remembered him and that he will be loved during all the years left to us and on into the eternity we will all share.  Just as God's love surrounds John eternally now, may that same Love surround his family and all of us who love him.

Happy birthday, John.  We love you.  Always and forever.



Answers
Not terribly long after this newsletter was sent, John's mother, Lynn, passed away and I traveled to Amory for the funeral.  Because of that time away and the grief of losing a friend, I wasn't able to get these answers added as promptly as I wished.  Then my own family lost someone and so here it is March 31st and I'm finally getting around to this.  First I will list the objective answers and then I'm gonna answer my own essay questions.  Thank you for your understanding during what's been a pretty difficult start to the year.

God bless,
Jenni

Multiple Choice

1.  In Best of the Best, which country are Virgil and Co. facing off against?  c.  Korea

2.  Which of the following are Bill Morgan's children?  d.  Brittany and Kyle

3.  When he attempted to go on vacation, where was Andrew headed?  b.  Paris

4.  Which is not an episode of Tour of Duty?  e.  "Made in the U.S.A."

5.  Who did Todd make an underhanded deal with in Campus Man?  a.  Cactus Jack

6.  Which soap opera did John have a brief stint on?  c.  The Young and the Restless

7. On which exact date did Andrew and Adam pay Ben Mason a visit?  e.  April 27, 2001

8.  Of the following, which cartoon was young John especially fond of?  a.  Jonny Quest

9.  What was Eric Manion's job title?  b.  District Attorney

10.  This was Jeff Cutler's life partner.  d.  Tom Cousins

11.  Which of the following John characters is a doctor.  b.  Colin Adams

12.  Skip attended this school.  e.  Hoover Academy

Fill in the Blank

1.  Andrew once served in the security detail for a campaigning politician named Guy Hammond.

2.  The exact date of what Andrew considered to be his first failure was April 26, 1865.

3.  Memphis, TN is the hometown of Doc Hock.

4.  The full name of Doc Hock is Francis Thurman Hockenbury.

5.  Regrettably, Bob Holmby fell under the influence of a scheming sociopath named Joe Hunt.

6.  For a brief period of time, Andrew was the comedic side kick of Ed/Pepper.

7.  Andrew paid a visiting to a fretful Dinah Greene in the Promised Land episode "Civil Wars".

8.  Mississippi State University was where John enrolled with the intent of becoming a civil rights lawyer.

9.  Making the Grade was John's first film.

10.  The Rolling Stones hit, "Paint It Black", was used as the theme song for Tour of Duty.

11.  Bravo Company, 196th Infantry Brigade was the name of the platoon of which Doc Hock was a part under Lt. Myron Goldman.

12.  In Campus Man, Todd had a antagonistic friendship with Molly but wound up with a lot more pleasant feelings about her!
Essays

1.  Share a story about a time in your life when one of the lessons you learned from John and his work became really vital.

I know I've brought it up tons before but, really, I don't think I can state enough just how much that "I want you to know there's nothing... nothing to be afraid of. On one side, there's life. And on the other...there's life, too," has figured into my life.  It's not that I didn't believe in Heaven prior to seeing "Random Acts."  I don't remember ever NOT believing in Heaven.  However, hearing John say that strengthened my belief.  I've never forgotten it.  His words are always with me, always in my mind when I need them to be.  And knowing John very much believed in Heaven... that just made it more special.  Every time I say good bye to someone I'm sad but I know they're just on the other side and one day I'll be with them there. 

2.  If you were to meet someone who had never seen any of John's work and you were given time to show them one... and only one... of his TV episodes or movies, what would you pick to show them?  Why?

I think I would probably go with "Til Death Do Us Part" from TBAA because it's such a strong episode and I think most everyone would find something meaningful in it.  Plus, while it helps to have seen other TBAA episodes, a person wouldn't be totally lost without that history.  I'm afraid a Tour of Duty episode would just be confusing out of context.

3.  John once said: "There are possibilities for goodness in a world that's very filled with turmoil."  Please share about a time you found an opportunity to do something good in a time of turmoil and/or when someone did something good for you during a troubling time in your own life.

Shortly after John died, I just had this pressing need to keep myself busy and do *something* connected to him.  So I made Johnesque fleece pillowcases for friends.  I never had before but since then I've made similar pillows for people who have been injured or fallen ill.  As for when I've been in turmoil, I've been blessed with folks who take a moment to send a card with encouraging words, drop me a few lines via email, or call me up to check on me.  Just knowing they care enough to take a few minutes for me means so much.

4.  Please share anything else you would like to say in honor of John's birthday.

I'm just really grateful to John for being a part of my life.  Even though we never met, his influence has been massive and I wouldn't give that up for anything.
JABB TOC

JABB 348

(The first, third, eighth, and last photos are from Touched by an Angel and owned by: CBS Productions, Caroline Productions, and Moon Water Productions; the second is from "Once Upon a Christmas" and owned by: Ardent Productions, Legacy Filmworks, Lincoln Field Productions, Sterling/Winters Company Studios, and Viacom Productions Inc.; the fourth from Mother, Mother and owned by the film's producers; the fifth from "Making the Grade" and owned by: Cannon Film Distributors and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; the sixth and ninth from Tour of Duty and owned by: New World Television; and the seventh from "Campus Man" and owned by: RKO Pictures.  They are not being used to seek profit.)