PLEASE NOTE – Links to Pictures at bottom of post.
It is said every tragedy has a happy ending. This is my daughter’s story. In November 2014, I received a phone call from James Vernon Luntzel, asking for my daughter, Autumn Rose Khan’s, hand in marriage. I had just found out that I had ruptured my Achilles completely, participating in a Tough Mudder. I remember feeling like the floor dropped. I was thinking, “What!? Jesus, my baby girl!!!! She has barely begun life and you, essentially a stranger (Jimmy) what to take her away from me?” But what comes out of my mouth is, “I will give you my blessing – as long as you promise to take your time.” I say this because I realize that my child is now an adult and in reality I have no choice. I mean I don’t know this kid from Adam and I have NO CHOICE. I can tell them hell no, but they can do what they want no matter what. I just hope this way I get to be a part of everything.
In November 2014, I received a phone call from James Vernon Luntzel, asking for my daughter, Autumn Rose Khan’s, hand in marriage.
Little did I know what a Godsend Jimmy would be. How a wonderful part of this family he would become. How wonderful of a man my daughter has chosen to share her life with. They came home to spend Christmas with us and Jimmy helped me with everything. Here I am with a cast and unable to drive and this young man is driving me around taking me shopping while wheeling me around in my wheelchair! We talked about Saadat and my desire to have Autumn graduate from college before they marry. He reluctantly respects what we have to say. We had a wonderful holiday.
Jimmy gets a job in L.A. He moves from Longview, TX to L.A. in January to take begin his career in Engineering and Autumn stays behind to finish her year at Le Tourneau. She plans to come home and finish college here at home with us. Wedding plans begin. Life is so sweet. My independent darling is working and paying rent and has her seizures under control. We are all happy with the situation.
February 19, 2015 – I get a text and I don’t bother to look at it. I am so sure it is some silly text that Autumn sends to me on a regular basis, but come on – everyone knows not to bother me until I drink my first cup of chai in the morning. Then Saadat calls me and asks if I read the text. I feel my stomach bottoming out and I open my texts and see the worst news I could ever imagine. It read, “I can’t talk on the phone, but my neighbor started shooting a gun at our wall early this morning. A SWAT team has surrounded my apt. He isn’t in custody yet. I’m told to stay here quietly. I love you both so much. Please pray.” I still cry when I read this text. I make arrangements for Annan (he is at school) to be taken care of and jump in my car to get to my baby girl as fast as I can. I don’t give a crap about my speed or anything. I have to take deeps breaths to stay calm so I can focus. I try to call Apu, but she isn’t answering Skype. I call Numan Bhai and tell him to get a hold of her. From what I remember, he was listening to the news for me. I was on the phone with Khokhon Bhai – he is keeping me updated while he is on the phone with the apartment complex. I get conflicting information. One says she is in the clear and the situation is over and the other says, that she is still stuck all by herself in that freaking apartment.
Finally, I get a call. “Mom, I am okay. I am out and I am okay. “ If I wasn’t behind the wheel of a car, my legs would have given out on me – my relief is so great. I made that 4-hour trip in about 3 hours. We meet up at her school and the first thing I do is wrap my arms around my girl. I can’t scream, yell or get angry. I have to be strong so my baby can be strong. I have to help her through this process so that she can begin healing. It was amazing how many people were there for my baby, lending their love and support. This is my daughter’s gift. People just love her because she is such a bright light. And I can see how some of that brightness she carries in her has dimmed into darkness that I can understand, but never wanted any of my children to ever experience. Every parenting choice I ever made in life was so to try to ensure that my kids never had to experience anything so devastating that they would have to trudge through any type of negativity to find the light again. And I felt like I failed. I listened all their lives to friends and family telling me that I was doing things the wrong way, but I stood my ground because I wanted my children to not only be protected my their parents, but to be able to stand up to anything and everything that comes their way, but still, I never imagined that they would have to face anything bad.
Let’s fast forward a little bit. Autumn is struggling with fear in Longview, so she comes home and finishes her classes online. The school is wonderful at adjusting to her needs – as she doesn’t feel safe over there. She makes the decision to move to L.A. and transfer to Biola University. I actually support her in this decision. I realize how short life is and I realize how much Jimmy loves her and supports her and I am happy that she is continuing to look forward. We continue plans with the wedding. She lost a semester of school, but I am okay with this. I realized that it doesn’t matter if she marries before or after her degree, what is important is that she finishes. She is in counseling to aid in her PTSD. Things are moving forward.
I realize how much Jimmy loves her and supports her and I am happy that she is continuing to look forward.
In April 2016, I get a phone call. Autumn had a seizure at Biola that was bad enough to send her to the hospital and she gets diagnosed with epilepsy. I fly out to be there for her so that Jimmy can work and she can be taken care of. We have a wonderful time. But of course, I am worried. I am worried about the stresses in her life. I am worried about what all this means. I am worried about all the negatives that keep hitting this beautiful creature that I love so much. But I take my cues off of her and do what I can to be strong and supportive.
I write all this to get to the best part. Jimmy and Autumn get married on June 3, 2016. Throughout all the bad stuff that happens in life, this is a day of great beauty. The pictures that you are about to see reflect moments of pure happiness; a happiness that no negativity can get in the way of. A happiness that is so huge and so amazing that there are no negative thoughts about anything of the circumstances that can break a human down to nothing. These pictures are about my new son, Jimmy, who loves my daughter, Autumn, with everything he has. You see, before they even started, they began on a rocky road filled with potholes that can tear two people apart in ways that most people cannot or will not even begin to understand. And Jimmy chose to fill those potholes with love, understanding, devotion and commitment. Their love for each other is paramount. He is strong when he needs to be, but unafraid to let Autumn in when he needs strength. He is funny and playful, but yet serious when he needs to be. The two of them together are a powerhouse for people to see what real love is about. Because they both not only understand each other, but are there for each other not only in the good, but also in the bad. Not only in health, but also in sickness. Not only in laughter, but also in the tears. Not only in the belief, but also in the doubt. I can go on and on, but these pictures say it all. I am not small enough to admit that I am actually quite jealous of these two individuals and how their love story has played out. Because see – the reason I went back to the beginning is so that everyone can see that no matter what life throws out at you, you can choose to hide or choose to live. Autumn and Jimmy have chosen to live and have come out even stronger than all the negatives thrown their way.
A happiness that is so huge and so amazing that there are no negative thoughts about anything of the circumstances that can break a human down to nothing.
Will there be other negatives? Sure what is life without them? But I know in 50 years, when they show their grandchildren their wedding pictures and share their story – they will be doing it together because the glue that holds people together in any type of relationship is the glue that puts all those pieces of asphalt back into place so that the next road isn’t as bumpy. To Jimmy and Autumn – may you have a long life together filled with more happy than sad. I love you and am so proud of you guys. Thank you for showing me what life should look like. Thank you for showing me what love should look like. But most of all, thank you for loving my strong, brash, uncouth, and opinionated self. Jimmy I am so grateful to have you as my son. And Autumn….forever and always – I love you. Cheers.
To Jimmy and Autumn – may you have a long life together filled with more happy than sad.
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