Journal of the Senate of Texas: 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, Tuesday, May 7, 2013 Page: 1,509
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President: Chair recognizes Sehator Patrick.
Senator Patrick: I was sitting here thinking yesterday, our spirited debate and our
embrace at the end, we do come together. I was thinking what Senator Watson said
about times like this, we need to pause for her family. And I think this is maybe a
message for all of us to pause to, you know, we're all one phone call away from being
on our knees. And we get so wrapped up in life, of what we think is important, until
something really important happens. And so, as we all are very busy and we spend
time away from our families, this is a good time to know how blessed we are every
day when tragedy does not strike us, when our hearts are not broken. And before we
leave to embrace our life or embrace our children or my grandson, who, and I think all
of us who have children and grandchildren, you know, it's not supposed to be that
they leave before we do from this world. But it's a time for us to really reflect as
individuals what's really important in life. And the work we do here is important, I
understand that, and we'll go on with the work, and I know she would want us to. But
her heart is broken today, and it will probably never heal, but God's grace and His
promise and His peace and His comfort. And so many, we've had a number of
funerals here just since I've been here in 2007 for Members' parents or Members'
children. And so, as I pray for Leticia today, it hit me like a brick, like it hit Eddie
when we were in the Committee this morning, and others. I just think we also have to
pause for our own family and our own blessings, Governor, and pray for each other on
a daily basis and really, really mean it, Senator Lucio, really care about each other, not
just as Senators but everyone we come across, our staff and our neighbors and our
friends. Because people hurt every day, and this is going to be a visible hurt, and
we're going to know, but we have to pray for others who are hurting that we don't see
that pain that's so obvious. And so, I just think it's a time for us to pause and reflect
on what's really important and, today, what's really important is our friend and our
colleague and that we should pray for her.
President: I agree. Chair recognizes Senator Whitmire.
Senator Whitmire: Thank you, Mr. President, Members, and I really don't think I
can add to the sincere comments that have been made. Senator Watson, your remarks
were very revealing. About all I can add, maybe, is a historical perspective, which I'll
do before I sit down. But from a personal standpoint, to amplify what has been said, I
was sitting in conference working with the House and Sylvester Turner, and we got a
text from Dr. Deuell, and things just came to a complete halt so we could see what
was transpiring. It's amazing, this is kind of the grandchildren's corner over here with
the Nelsons and Senator Deuell. And, of course, I'm not supposed to tell anybody,
but Whitney's three months pregnant. So, I think it does make us all pause, and what
I would like to say on behalf of Senator Van de Putte, she would probably, because
she's so caring, is we need to recognize that there are Texans who are experiencing
heartache this morning and loss that do not have the support system that Senator
Van de Putte will have. There's probably an undocumented mother somewhere alone
in this state that's not going to have the kind of support system that the Van de Putte
family appreciates this morning. I think it's also appropriate to point out again how we
care for one another. It was Senator Campbell that took Senator Garcia to the hospital
last week, and, once again, she's administering and caring for Senator Van de Putte asTuesday, May 7, 2013
SENATE JOURNAL
1509
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Texas. Legislature. Senate. Journal of the Senate of Texas: 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, Tuesday, May 7, 2013, legislative document, May 7, 2013; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth640927/m1/5/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.