"Red Dawn, Preston, and drinking the blood"

I saw “Red Dawn” on TV a few nights ago. “Red Dawn” was released in 1984 and was about high school kids fighting off the occupying communists who invaded the USA. They go to the mountains, hide out, survive and eventually kick some commie butt. They became known as “The Wolverines.” It was a great cold war flick and Brian and I loved it.

There was one particular scene in it that Brian and I thought was great. About half way through the movie, Robert (C. Thomas Howell) hunts and kills his first deer. Jeb (The legendary Patrick Swayze) and Matt Eckert (Charlie Sheen) make Robert drink the blood of his first kill and honor “the spirit of the deer.” Take a look at this you tube clip and watch the awesomeness unfold:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtr2XPuPxzE&feature=related

We fished frequently with the Adam and Kerry MacVay . Kerry worked with K-Mart (where my Dad and brother sold toys) and we went several times to Canada and Costa Rica. We always had a blast and enjoyed catching tons of fish (most of the time). We got to meet interesting people (Gen. George Patton III) and some utter and complete boors. The biggest boor was a guy we met in Canada. His name was “Preston.” When we first met Preston and his wife, they immediately preceded to tell us how and why they disliked K-Mart. They went on and on. Finally, Preston asked Kerry what he did for a living. Kerry says “I buy toys.” Preston said “oh” and drank his coffee. In mid sip, Adam surgically said “for K-Mart.” Preston was slightly embarrassed and tried to take his size 10 unsuccessfully out of his mouth. We all immediately despised the “Prestons” and made fun of them all day fishing. Brian called me Preston numerous times when he disliked my normal easy going personality and superb fishing skills.

The next day, the Prestons were again boring us with details of their life. Finally, Mrs. “Preston” did say something that interested us. She talked about how she had to shoot and kill a bear that wondered on their back deck in Minnesota. We listened to the somewhat interesting story and Mrs. Preston paused. Brian immediately went for the kill:

Brian: “Was this the first bear you killed?”

Mrs. Preston: (slightly puzzled) “Yes.”

Brian: “Did you drink its blood?”

Mrs. Preston: (shocked) “What?”

Brian: “You have to drink the blood of your first kill. You have to honor its spirit.”

Mrs. Preston: “You’re kidding me? That’s disgusting!”

Kerry MacVay: (nodding his head) “Of course you have to drink the blood!”

Rest of us now in on it: “Oh yeah, you always have to drink the blood. That’s what every hunter does with their first kill. Gotta drink the blood...gotta drink the blood.”

The Prestons were simultaneously stunned, mortified, disgusted and wanted desperately to get the hell away from us – Brian in particular. It was glorious! They left us alone for the rest of the trip. They thought we were all crazy and avoided Brian like the plague.

I was recently in Detroit and heard that “Red Dawn” was being remade. Most of it was shot in Detroit. In fact, in one of the scenes, a tank goes through the old K-Mart headquarters in Troy were Brian and my dad spent most of their professional careers selling toys to Kerry and other K-Mart buyers. How appropriate!

In the clip above, Charlie Sheen’s character says “once you do that (drink the blood) there will be something different about you.” I think that statement also relates to everyone who ever met Brian. You always remembered him and (as we know), he made you feel different and sometimes he made you “drink the blood.”

I always get a chuckle at the imagined conversations between Preston and his wife. I guarantee they remember Brian and probably still talk about “this crazy Ohio fisherman who asked us if we drank the blood after killing that bear.”  Brian certainly changed them!

WOLVERINES!!!!

The Waterfront

My parents came to visit last week and the conversation turned to good food and even better restaurants, which reminded my mother of the time they visited Cincinnati (after we had graduated XU around '98 or '99) and treated Brian and I to a big dinner at The Waterfront. We went a bit too crazy on the raw bar order and my father wasn't too pleased when the bill came, but it was a fun experience for all of us.

The Waterfront was special to Brian and I because we both had worked there, me for a year and a half during college and Brian for a summer in '96. Working with Brian was the absolute best and we ran that place like we owned it. The kitchen staff loved us and they'd always share their "mistakes" so we'd be consistently chowing down on the best 12 oz. filets, 16 oz NY Strips, fresh water lobster tails, and our favorite "Freddie" salads. I remember more than one time our manager catching us with stuffed mouths during our shifts, but we were good at our jobs and always brought the laughs so they pretty much overlooked it. Plus, no one in their right minds could turn down a Collinsworth Steak Oscar from The Waterfront!

That summer I put a vacation request in the shift book and called my week vacation a "sabbatical" thinking it was just a fancier word for vacation. While I was away Brian told everyone I was extremely holy and my vacation was actually a religious retreat, but I was too embarrassed just to say it! When I got returned to work everyone on staff treated me differently and made faces when I would share my usual obnoxious stories and jokes. This went on for a solid week until Brian finally broke down laughing until he cried!

Lucha Libre

While in Monterrey, Mexico this afternoon I was stuck in traffic in the back of my taxi and out of nowhere I see a guy in a Lucha Libre mask (the Mexican wrestling masks that is mentioned and shown in one of the stories below) bounding through the cars. It turns out he has a pole with probably 20 of the masks on it and it made me think of Brian. Brian would have bought the guy out and despite the 100 degree heat, we would have had them on.

Happy 4th of July, Brian sightings and Bacon fries.

Happy Fourth of July! This was Brian’s (and is my) favorite holiday. Both of like it because “you drink beer, blow stuff up and there are no gifts to buy!” This is why America is number one baby!

We had a grand time in Ireland. Patrick found his pot of gold, the kids chased some sheep, the ladies shopped, we saw some great sights, and helped the Irish economy.

No matter where we were, I (and all of us) could not help but think about Brian and how he we would react or enjoy Ireland with us. We had several “Brian sightings” throughout the trip. The first sighting occured at JFK (the worse airport in the US). “MCC/B” was listed (appropriately) as standby for our flight.

The first night we were in Doolin at a pub. I was talking with Susan about the standby listing and said “I am so obtuse. I just wish Brian would give me a clearer sign. Within two seconds, an Australian guy (the McCormick’s love Australians) dropped a Smith’s Bacon flavor fries wrapper on our table directly in front of me. This is the exact flavor Brian and I ate 10 bags of in 1991 at a Sligo pub where we placed the worst game of darts in recorded history. These, as you have already guessed, are bacon flavored chips and are described as “cereal snack with that extra crunchy bacon taste.” You know they are extremely healthy and good for you! Brian and I raved about them for years and never, ever, found them until that instant. All we could say is “wow!”

The next day we went to Galway. While walking through the town we heard a street performer singing Josh Groban’s song called “You raise me up.” This song was my Mom’s and brother’s favorite and illustrated their strong relationship:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

In fact, Brian took my Mom to a Josh Groban concert in Detroit. My Mom always thinks about Brian whenever and wherever she hears one of his songs. She thought about Brian when we heard the same song the next day in a store.

We don’t care if some think we are crazy (they already do anyways). Some may call these “Brian sightings” as amazing coincidences. We don’t. They gave us a smile and a happy thought about our Brian right when we needed them - while we happened to be in Ireland. Isn’t that grand?

Tapadh leat Brian.

May God bless him and the United States of America!