Memories of Kade Nelson
By Erin Bueler
- I remember going to the Cove (an indoor pool in Sierra Vista) with the Nelson family. Kade, Madison and I were walking towards one part of the facility and a woman in a bikini walked past us. Kade loudly exclaimed, “That’s disgusting!” I laughed so hard.
- During the 2019 Grand Get Together, Grandma and Grandpa Payne took us to Fat Cats. Kade, Cannon and Dallin were playing a game called Down the Clown where you throw red, rubber balls at some clown figurines. They were pelting these balls so hard that I was afraid they would break the game. It was very fun to watch, though.
- We played a marble game at the Grand Get Together. Grandpa told us “no table talk” but Kade kept making signals and hand signs to communicate.
- Kade also decorated his pillow case with the Confederate flag. Not because he supported slavery, but because he supported states’ rights. We all got some good laughs out of that.
- The Sunday of the Grand Get Together, all the cousins came to Solomon Ward. I wasn’t there for this, but during the Young Mens’ lesson, Kade started playing a high-pitched beeping noise. All the cousins were in on it, but it was very confusing to the other young men. One guy, maybe Dryden, asked if anyone else heard it and all the Payne boys pretended not to hear it or know what he was talking about.
- During the Jazz/Madrigal festival in Flagstaff, I met the Thatcher choir. They were all so excited when I mentioned Kade, and they got even more excited when I told them I was Kade’s cousin. Kade was really loved by everyone.
- Later, I texted Kade that I met some of his friends. I forgot that his phone was broken so that he couldn’t see texts. He called me asking what I had texted. I told him, then we had a short conversation. He said something that made me laugh pretty hard.
- Kade’s flip phone screen was broken off the phone. He said his phone was “military grade.”
- One of the earlier Grand Get Togethers, we had a testimony meeting. When it was Kade’s turn, he told us about a girl that had asked to date him. He said no because it was the right thing to do, “but she was really spicy!”
- One time when we went to Thatcher, Jason took us all to some dirt dunes to go go-karting and four-wheeling. I drove the go-kart with Madison in shotgun. I took some wrong turns, but Kade came and saved us and helped us push the kart back. He also was laughing about how I hit a rock and definitely got some air. I am not a very good driver.
- When Jason was starting the go-kart, he accidentally elbowed Kade in the eye. Kade got a black eye which swelled up pretty bad. He made a joke about the Mr. Bean movie where Bean props his eyes open with toothpicks, then proceeded to prop his swollen eyelids up with a broken plastic fork.
- Knowing full well that Madison was in the middle of watching a BYU football game, Kade called her on the phone. It was funny.
- Kade made a joke about how deaf Grandpa was with Grandpa in the room. Grandpa didn’t hear.
- Cannon and I played cornhole together with Kade and another cousin on the opposing team.
- Whenever Kade came into town, he always wanted to go to Goodwill. I volunteered (or was asked) to drive but I always had something pop up.
- While bowling, Kade was throwing the bowling ball as fast as he could. I can’t remember what speed he got, since high speed was his goal, but it was insanely high.
- Kade somehow connected his phone to the bluetooth in the grandparents’ van while Grandma was driving us back from Fat Cats. He played country songs, some rap music, and some song about how much he loved his Grandma. I still don’t know if Grandma knew what was going on. We were stifling laughter in the backseat.
- In Thatcher, Kade and I made up a game with the go-kart and a bouncy ball. Someone would drive while the other threw the ball. Then, the driver would steer towards the ball and the passenger would try to scoop it up. We alternated between driver and passenger.
- During Kaitlyn and Nate’s wedding day, Callie and I decided to trick Madison that I was adopted. She wasn’t totally convinced and so we gave up on convincing her. But, she joined us in trying to trick Kade. We brought Kade into Callie’s room, where all three of us told him my “adoption” story. Kade listened and then told us, “I trust you guys.” We later told him at Kaitlyn’s wedding reception. I got a punch in the arm for tricking him, but it was worth it.
- Kade made some really good burgers at the Grand Get Together.
- At random moments in the Grand Get Together, Kade would sing “Ameeericaaa… yeaahhh.” A true patriot.