Not a specific memory, but a collection.
Jackson was one of the few people who could truly cheer me up in any instance. He had a talent for finding ways to make people laugh, taking away the gravity of life, and bringing light to any situation.
He made an immense effort to remember milestones and traditions that were important to you. On the first of every month, we texted each other rabbit rabbit. It was a separate tradition that both of us had done in our childhoods, and when we learned that we had both grown up doing it it became something between the 2 of us too. He always felt like a piece of home that came with me (especially since we were both midwestern boys). Hr also made sure to text all of our friends wishing them luck on interviews, on their first days of work, anything that was important to them was important to him.
He always managed to surprise me, like when he randomly knew all the lyrics to the first song in Hamilton the musical, or when we both were listening to the Indiana Jones soundtrack in studio one day without talking about it.
Something that I’ve thought about often is one day in studio when he randomly laid a breadth of knowledge regarding 1940s Bebop music. Something that I had never even heard of, Jackson taught me the phrase “Salt Peanut.” A rhythmic phrase in a song that was repeated over again. We thought it was so hilarious and we died laughing. For weeks we greeted each other with “Salt peanut, salt peanut,” and every time one of us needed a pick me up, the other was there to say those words and immediately bring the other out of it.
Those simple efforts made Jackson one of a kind in my life. He was an incredibly thoughtful friend who always put a smile on my face. I’ll always think of him when I hear the Hamilton sound track, watch an old classic movie, and even just see a peanut. He was an amazing person and I will miss him very much.
August 31, 2026