Brian would have been 35 today. It is tough to imagine him getting older. In my mind (and many others) Brian never viewed himself as an adult. He thought – and often acted – like a “big kid.” Man, he would have hated getting grey hair and would have joked that he “needed a new rug.”
One of Brian’s best birthdays was 14 years ago when he turned 21. My parents had treated me and several of my friends to a great dinner at The Precinct when I turned 21. (We had a great time and Brian ordered a “Tanqueray and Tonic” like a pro even though he was only 16.) Brian, naturally, wanted a similar experience and upped the ante by requesting we go to the Maisonette. At the time, the Maisonette was the best restaurant in Cincinnati and maintained a five star Mobil ranking longer than any other restaurant in the US. In short, it was the best of the best.
Brian invited several of his friends. There were so many of us, we had to use the upstairs party room (near the flags in the photo) that was used by then President Clinton for a fund raiser only one hour before our dinner. We had a sublime meal filled with great conversation and laughter. Brian got mad at me when I asked one of his lady friends “what the hell are you going to do with a French degree?” I honestly do not know if he ever forgave me for “embarrassing him like that?” (Did Brian really, ever, get embarrassed?) Brain played the role of host, court jester, and practically licked his plate after devouring all the great food. He was humming and in his glory.
The funniest thing of the evening occurred when we were leaving. My parents, Susan, and I watched Brian’s friends pile in his blue/green Saturn POS. They were dressed to the nines, just ate at one of the nation’s best restaurants and acting cool. They pulled away and we followed. We noticed Brian had several things on the back “deck” of his Saturn’s rear window. The most prominent object was a rather large, plastic Viking helmet with horns.
We burst out loud at the contrast between a person who could eat at the Maisonette and also wear a Viking helmet with horns. I doubt the valets saw many Viking helmets and exactly zero other Maisonette patrons had similar headgear! This memory personifies Brian to me. Humor was always in his mind no matter what he was doing and that he was his own person.
It is tough to believe where we were 14 years ago. What a great memory. What a great brother.
Happy birthday Brian!
Help our Muskies and our nation today!
Matt, great story. I remember that viking helmet well. I think it had to of lived the most exciting life of all the plastic viking helmets
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