This week’s column edited by Kari Knowles

I’ve known Bucified since the summer of 2010. Ever since I was introduced to his program, I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing individuals and gained insightful experience in the field of journalism. His enthusiasm and perseverance motivates me to continue to do great things in college and beyond. Thank you, Bucified, for being an inspiration in my life and may you continue to be a blessing in the lives of others. – Kari Knowles

Before I talk about that ugly game Sunday when we were beaten, I’d like to send a special note to everyone. In the tradition of keeping my mother’s legacy going, I would like to send a special message to my fanatical friends, the naysayers, a.k.a “Haters,” and even Wonder Woman and her Crew. This is what keeps me going day in and day out!

I want to send each of you a special greeting and a wish for Santa to bring you and yours many blessings in the New Year!  Thanks for being my friend. Your friendship and the “fun” times we enjoyed in 2011 were certainly blessings in my life.

May the gift of love, the gift of peace and the gift of happiness be yours at Christmas. Let the spirit of love gently fill your hearts and homes. In this loveliest of seasons, may you find many reasons for happiness. 

Please know that this was a milestone year for the Bucified & OLE IS Alive Mission. The Dream Seeker Program now has 16 students who have received scholarships in honor of my mother, Emma-Lee’s Legacy. This December, I had to travel the same roads my mother grew up on for a graduation in Tallahassee for one of my scholarship recipient’s graduation. Here is the e-mail she sent to me earlier this month. 

“Dear Bucified Bert, I will be graduating from Florida State University on December 16th 2011, with a Bachelors of Science in Criminology and Sociology. I would like to invite you to participate in the commencement ceremony for the 2011 graduating class. I appreciate all the moral and financial support that you have given to me over the course of these three years; and would be honored if you were to celebrate this momentous occasion with my family and I. It is a blessing to have met you back in 2008. You are a very warm and caring individual and I am very inspired by the Bucified Bert motto. I am pleased to be apart of the legacy of “Ole is Alive” operation Emma lee. Thank you for all that you have done; it would be a pleasure to share this moment with you. Thanks, Ornella Dickson”

I want to thank Ms. Ornella Dickson and congratulate her because it was a wonderful experience to witness the first-ever Bucified Student to walk across that stage and obtain her bachelor’s degree. I don’t need anything else for Christmas,  because I am so excited that my student invited me back to my mother’s hometown for this very special occasion. We celebrated so much after the ceremony that I had to stay overnight at one of my relatives’ houses, and Ms. Ornella had to help me navigate because I never would have made it without her assistance!

Now, My Fanatical Friends, you have been most helpful in my profound quest to keep my mother’s legacy alive. As I look to a strong closing of 2011, please know your kindness was greatly appreciated and I look forward to continuing our relationship in 2012.

OK, I can`t say much about the game against the Cowboys, other than we played better than them in the second half, and those are signs that we are getting this ship in the right direction. This is what Ms. Focus had to say about the game,

“I loved the entire event. The fireworks, the music, the car give-away, the pyrotechnics (the fireballs were really cool) and just the entire fanfare of an NFL pro football game! How cool is that for a birthday gift, huh? I guess you can tell this was my first NFL football game! Anyway, that was the most exciting birthday I’ve had since I was 18 years old and I cannot thank Bucified Bert enough.”

This is week 16 and the only reason we will play hard in this game is because we have pride and we have Santa. After all, the game is being played on Christmas Eve and we do not like the Panthers. Wish for win No. 5, and that is not asking for much because we know we can beat these chumps from Carolina.  We need to get revenge this holiday. Please, Santa, bring victory No. 5 our way, so we can keep hope alive!

My Bucified Prediction is the Bucs 26, Panthers 17.

As my mother would say, “Merry Christmas!” Bucified
includes Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa also!/ Albert
Owens