Bryan always wanted to go to Europe and one summer while I was in France visiting my family for several months, Bryan calls me on the phone to tell me he bought a ticket to Paris. He was so excited. I could not believe he actually saved up the money to go.
So I leave the south of France and head for Paris to meet him. Where is the first place we go but EuroDisney where we learned that the Europeans, especially the Italians, don't know how to stand in line for a ride. Well we were in line at the Pirates of the Carribean and there was a whole family of Italians who thought it would be funny to cut in line. Bryan and I saw them coming, along with the British couple in front of us. We stood our ground and when they tried to cut in front of us we let them know that was not going to fly. What flew were the granny and the kids. Hair pulling, punches flying and there we stood so damn proud of ourselves for letting them have what they deserved. Helll we all paid to get in and they were going to stand in line like the rest of us. A classic Bryan bodyguard manuever.
The train to Germany was the best where we found ourselves sharing a sleeper car with a German family. Bryan and I had the top bunks on either side of the car. Bryan couldn't sleep due to jet lag, so he was up there rattling the New York Times that he had found in Paris. (He was so thrilled) and I was mortified that he was making so much noise. "Bryan", I said, "SHHHHHHHH, what are you doing making so much noise? This nice family is trying to sleep."
The Bryan stories are endless and priceless...........
I love you Bryan. You were always there for me, think or thin and you never judged me or condemned me for being different from everyone else with my European heritage and upbringing. You were my bodyguard, my friend and my basketball mentor. I mentored you in volleyball, so we can call that even.
You will be missed by me and so many others who's lives you touched. May we meet again in heaven on the other side of this coin.