Today, it is the five year anniversary
of Brian’s death. Anniversaries are
usually good things. This is, of course,
not one of those days any of us are fond of remembering. The world sure has changed. We have too.
Older, grayer and just different is how things are with me now with my only
brother gone. I catch looks of him in smiles
from Patrick. I see that “look” in
Caroline when he was trying to get away with something. I think about Brian daily. Sometimes at the oddest moments and often I
just laugh out loud of some of the crap he pulled.
One of the greatest Brian stories ever occurred
when he was on a cruise with his group of friends. There was a couple from New Jersey that Brian
instantly disliked. From my
understanding, the feeling was mutual.
Well, on the last night of the cruise, Brian went up to the couple and
said: “I am sorry we did not get along on the trip. How about I make it up to you? I already talked to the captain and told him
your dinner is on me.” Then, Brian
walked away.
The New Jersey couple could hardly
believe their luck. Brian told me he
watched them order lobster, steak, champagne, multiple desserts, etc. They were running up a huge tab like Tony
Soprano! After they had their fill, the
couple walked away from the table. The
captain said: “What are you doing?” The
NJ guy said: “It’s OK. Brian McCormick
told me he talked to you about paying my dinner bill.” The captain said: “Brian McCormick told me no
such thing.”
Brian told me you could literally see
steam coming out of the New Jersey guy’s ears, nose and mouth. He was so angry and had to pay a whopper of a
bill!
The next day Brian saw the couple in
customs. He said: “How was dinner?” Brian told me he could not stop laughing because
they guy let out a string of curse words that are still probably floating over
the Caribbean.
You see, Brian was so freaking funny AND
smart at the same time! He KNEW the NJ
guy would try and take advantage of the situation and run up Brian’s supposed
tab. He KNEW he could not help himself
and would delight in “sticking it to McCormick” all the while he was actually
sticking “it” to himself.
All the McCormick’s delight in telling
that story about Brian because EVERYONE says it is great. It personifies Brian; funny, smart and
wickedly clever. Not a bad way to be described if you think of it.
These April days are the toughest. They
are not easy years later and I still catch myself reaching for the phone to
call him. I often wonder what he would
have done. How he would have handled something
and what he would become.
I find great solace in his Memorial fund.
This fund was his idea. Helping 70 Xavier students stay in school (so
far) is a powerful legacy for Brian that I am determined to keep going. I like to think he helps us – and those needy
XU kids – in little ways. (I feel his
has helped me in numerous ways.) God
knows, we could use all the help we can get!
Remember Brian with a smile today. Also remember him the next time you see a guy
from New Jersey with an attitude – and hope he was the guy Brian “got” at
dinner!
Love you and miss you Brian!
