{UPDATE, 2/8/13: I’m happy and incredibly honored to say that Johnny did, in fact, read this letter. He tweeted out the link and all #### broke loose. But it must be said that my intent in writing it was simple: years from now, I wanted my son to know just what that moment looked like through his momma’s eyes. The fact that Johnny read it too was just icing on the cake. Thanks for reading, commenting, sharing and liking this post. It’s been an honor. Really.}

Dear Johnny,

30 seconds.

So many things in life pass us by in 30-second increments.

Two football plays. A red light. Waiting at the drive-thru. A Superbowl commercial. The last bit of your favorite song on the radio.

I suspect you’ve been asked thousands of times in the last few months for “just thirty-seconds Johnny. This won’t take a minute.” There’s the football to sign, the picture to take, the handshake to share. To you, I’m betting it’s starting to run into one very long, but incredibly exciting and humbling, string of events.

Phone interviews, camera closeups, cameos, late night talk shows, newspaper quotes, tweets and more. You’re 20 and you’re living the dream that some boys think about their entire lives.

Today, though, the 30 seconds you gave my son were more than just a handshake and a photo. They now serve as a lifelong memory.

You see, today he was asked to serve as a Page for the Texas House of Representatives. Ever since we heard the news on Monday, he’s been beside himself. A little more than 25 years ago I served as a Page. He’s been asking me all week, “What do I wear? What do you do? Do you think I’ll meet anybody famous? They won’t ask me to speak in the microphone, will they?” There was an incredible amount of anticipation and honor leading up to that morning.

He borrowed a jacket from a friend, got a slick new haircut and his dad fancied him a double Windsor knot of a tie. Red with a hint of maroon, no less. If you asked Will, though, the best part was “missing school for a day.” He’s 11. Honesty comes easily.

We headed down to the State Capitol early and that’s when we heard the news. A friend of ours is a State Representative and shared the news you were being recognized on the House floor today. “I wonder if I’ll get to see Johnny Manziel today, Mom.”

“I don’t know honey, but it sure will be a fun day no matter what,” I replied.

You see, this is the kid who has cried himself to sleep for darn near every Aggie football game of his entire life. Just last season, after the t.u. debacle, we heard him sobbing in his room. “It’s just so hard to be an Aggie fan,” he cried. But even with the bitter taste of being outscored, year after year, he’s always bled maroon. His dad was a yell leader, so I suspect that love comes natural. Will has proudly worn his Aggie jersey in the lean years and the fruitful ones. It’s so worn, the number “12” is no longer recognizable.

But this year, the entire team made him cry a different tear. One of sweet destiny. He’s followed your every statistic, every play, every touchdown, every moment of glory. I’m certain he’s almost worn out YouTube and 12th Man TV from watching all the videos.

Will’s morning on the floor was full of awesome moments. Rapping the gavel to open the session, shuttling messages to various legislators, getting his photo taken with Representative Dale and being shown around the Chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms. I was the proud mom in the Gallery, taking lots of pictures and shooting him the “thumbs up” sign.

Then I saw him meet you after you were recognized on the House Floor. He proudly shook your hand, took a picture and had you adorn his Page badge with your signature.

Those 30 seconds meant the world to him.

So, on the days that social media gives you the beat down for a tweet you sent out, the reporter blasts you in a story or a passerby has less than stellar words to share, know this:

What you do, what you represent and how you treated my son matter to this family of Aggies. We’re honored to call you a Heisman Trophy Winner, but even more proud to call you an Aggie.

Gig ’em,

A very proud Aggie mom, Class of ’96

*A huge thank you to Rep. Dale for sending our family this photo. Definitely the framing kind.