Things that make you say "hmmm."

1.      We recently moved and now live about two miles away. Naturally, a move brings up a lot of emotions due to all the actives associated with a sale/purchase of a new home. Our kids have really only knew one house and we had some great memories at our old home.  Caroline asked “will Uncle Brian know where we are?”  We told her “of course.”  Well, we hired a cleaning crew to come in the day after we moved.  Susan was doing a last minute inspection after they left.  She was down in the basement and found a ten dollar Hong Kong coin sitting out in the open.  This coin was missed by us and the cleaning crew after repeated attempts to clean the basement.  Yet, it was there.  Why is this interesting?  Many of you will remember Brian used to go to Hong Kong several times a year for his job in the toy industry.  The coin was also dated “1995” – which is the year Susan and I got married.  Some will say this is just a coincidence.  We believe it was a connection from Brian and him letting us know he is still with us.   

2.      I was driving back from Cincinnati Airport and was listening to the last seconds of the UD/St. Joseph’s game on WHIO. I said a little prayer to my brother: "C'mon Brian, please help UD lose." I thought: "Man, this is not really Christian, praying for them to lose." Then, I said "I don't care, I want them to lose badly and so would my brother." I then listened to the homer announcers on WHIO describe the push-off, Galloway hitting the three, the no call and then three minutes of non-stop CRYING/blaming the refs about "what a terrible way to lose." I don't care if it was true - and the refs screwed them – IT WAS FREAKIN' GLORIOUS! – and I am glad Brian helped.

3.      Patrick had his basketball banquet Sunday at the Wetherington Country Club.  Kid ate three omelets and then demolished a monster porterhouse steak later that day.  Amazing.  Well, the club had a signup sheet for the NCAA tourney and was selling squares.  One of contestants was named “Brian McCormac.”  Pretty close!

4.      Not really a connection – but it was a great Brian story.  Once when we were in New York City (Brian was still at Xavier) and it snowed.  Brian did not have a hat.  He bought a simple black knit cap with “Harlem” tastefully embroidered on it.  He told me a few days later he went to United Dairy Farmers (UDF) to buy something and was wearing the hat.  The clerk said to him:  “Harlem?  You ain’t from Harlem!”  Brian said (in a hurt/aggrieved manner) “How do you know!” 

Miss you Brian!  Help X tonight. Love, your brother.

 

Wow!

Received a report from Xavier today about Brian's fund. It seems 72 students have received funds - totaling $56,195 - since its 2008 inception. This is impressive! Can you imagine how many lives have been changed due to everyone's kindness and generosity? Thank you and WOW!

Two more students stay at Xavier thanks to Brian's fund

Dear Matt:

My name is ____ _____ and I am a recipient of an award from the Brian McCormick Memorial Fund.  I want to first start off by thanking you with the deepest gratitude.  That award has made the completion of my senior year here at Xavier a lot easier.  I hope the fund continues because I know there will be other students like me who will benefit.  Your donation is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Name withheld.

To the Brian McCormick Memorial Fund:

I just wanted to drop a thank you not to you to thank you for having this fund here at Xavier.  This fund helped me to stay at Xavier.  I am in my junior year.  Please continue to keep this fund here to help students like me.  I hope I can do something like this too one day. 

Thanks,

Name withheld

Brian and his hugs

My dad and I were talking to my kids about Brian and Hong Kong.  We discussed how my dad arranged for me to travel over and surprise my mom and Brian (Brian was working in HK and my parents went over to visit him.)  My dad talked almost reverently about Brian’s reaction to seeing me when he opened the door.  “Brian did not say a word.  He just gave you a big hug.” 

 Often, my kids will stall when I am trying to put them to bed.  Patrick said just a few nights ago: “Dad, uncle Brian gave the best hugs.”  I said:  “He sure did. Now, go to bed.”

Afterwards, I was thinking about Brian and how he did give great hugs.  The one I remember the most was the one I received on my 38^th birthday – the last day I ever saw Brian. 

We had a bunch of people over to our house to watch Xavier get crushed by UCLA in the Elite 8 NCAA game.  Brian, for some reason wore a yellow sweater – the same sweater he wore to “honor” Bob Huggins in the Sweet 16 win over WVU.  (Brian probably wore it because it had good “mojo” and wanted it to help XU in the next game.)

Brian gave me my birthday present.  I told him I did not need anything.  He was almost taken aback and then he insisted I accept the money he was putting in my hands.  Then, without a word, he gave me a big hug and told me that I was his brother and he always loved me.

Thinking back about that day almost six years ago made me realize two things.  One, this was probably the best last encounter anyone could have with a departed loved one.  We did not know Brian was about to leave us.  But, we both knew we loved each other and had no issues between us.  Two, this was the best birthday present I will ever receive.  How can it be topped?

Love you Brian.  Help our family out.  We need some extra special assistance for all our loved ones. 

C'mon Brian, help Judy!

Our hearts, prayers and love are with the entire Gunnoe family.  We love all of you and are with you every step of the way.  Your assistance would be appreciated Brian!

What a great weekend!

Congratulations to Drew and Stacey Gunnoe on the birth of their daughter Katherine Vida Gunnoe.   Mom and baby are doing great.  Dad is already searching for a baby kayak for his girl.  What a beautiful baby!

 

Xavier absolutely crushed UC.

 

Patrick made two free throws in overtime - with 13 seconds left - to ice the victory for St. Gabriel’s.  His team remains undefeated and plays in Cincinnati CYO’s toughest seventh grade division.

 

All is right with the world.  Brian would be ecstatic with all the good news and looking to celebrate.

 

We are truly blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Couple of random thoughts:

·       Brian would always be one of the last to show up at a family gathering (e.g., Thanksgiving, Christmas, Bat Mitzvah’s, etc.,) and the first to leave.  Usually, because he “had to go somewhere.”

·       All the McCormick men - except Patrick - have been hurt while fishing (yes, fishing.) Dad hurt his shoulder in Brazil as he was trying to get away from the “ugliest, hairiest spider in the world” while showering on the boat.  He slipped, fell and hurt his shoulder.  Dad eventually required surgery.  Brian, in his usually Christian manner said at breakfast: “Hey, did you hear that a****** fall in the shower?”  Dad:  “That a******* was me.”  Brian (laughing) “oh.”  Matt got his ear caught on a fishing hook in Costa Rica.  Brian (again in a Christian manner): “Mom is going to be mad that you pierced your ear.”  Brian dislocated his knee in Canada while trying to push a huge boulder into the lake.  Brilliant, we are all simply brilliant - and fishing is really dangerous - just to the McCormick men!

·       He was always humming.  Usually, during happy times like eating.  Brian liked to eat good stuff and was always finding the most exotic foods.  He was a regular at Jungle Jim’s.  Case in point, he loved to drink Coca-Cola from Mexico because it used real cane sugar instead of the “processed crap” we had in the states.   It was too sweet for my taste.  But, seriously, who in the hell would know this except Brian?

·        Like most McCormick men, Brian could sometimes pull arcane facts out of his arse.  I loved his stories about the College Bowl quiz team at Xavier.  He named the team “Bye” in hopes that other team would believe they would not have to show up.  Brilliant – but did not work.  Brian told me that "Team Bye" played a bunch of nerds.  He especially did well and (I think) the team won.  Brian, being his usually gracious self, rubbed it in.  Brian then told me right after the match he had to go to a disciplinary board meeting that was chaired by "Team Nerd’s" captain.  Amazingly, Brian got off with a warning. 

I think about Brian every day and will always miss him.  Man, he had personality and made an impact on everyone he knew.  Love you Brian!

"Do it for Johhny!"

Eight years ago tomorrow I completed the Chicago Marathon. I enjoyed crossing off one of my life’s goals – but it hurt like hell doing it!

 

When I was on the last quarter mile I was near exhaustion. I was tired, grumpy and hurt all over (y’know, feeling normal) because some dumbass decided to put a hill near the finish! As I was getting close to the final turn near the finish line, I head Brian’s distinctive voice, trying to urge me on: "C’mon Matt McCormick! "C’mon Matt McCormick! Do it for Johnny!" 

 

For those of you who don’t know/remember, the clip from "The Outsiders" may help you. Brian and I would often encourage each other or others to "Do it for Johnny" when they needed to go the extra mile for something. Or, when doing a shot.

Rest in peace Dr. Marcos E. Amongero, M.D.

The entire McCormick clan went to the memorial mass for Dr. Marcos Amongero today.  Marcos is the brother of Kevin Amongero.  We are dear friends with his family.  Kevin’s wife Tori and Susan buy shoes at Nordstroms together (frequently!) and our kids go to the same school.  It was quite a testimony to Marcos as Holy Angels church in Dayton was packed. It was a moving ceremony and our friend Tammy Schaff provided some amazing singing. 

 

I only met Marcos a few times.  He was always a cool cat - comfortable in his own skin, a brain without having to prove it and he loved being with his family.  His prayer card was particularly moving:

 

To those I love and those who love me

When I am gone, release me, let me go,
I have so many things to see and do.
You mustn’t tie yourselves to me with tears
Be thankful for our beautiful years.
I gave to you my love. But you can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown.
But, now it's time to travel on alone.
So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must.
Then let grief be comforted by trust.
It's only for a time that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on,
And if you need me call and I’ll come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near

and if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All my love around you soft and clear
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and say

'Welcome Home.'

 

Marcos, like Brian, lived a full life in their limited years.  Both had moving funeral masses and had many friends remarking about their amazing lives, experiences and how much they will be missed.  I thought: “this has to be the greatest honor bestowed upon a person.”  Where, upon your death, people talk at great length about how you made such a positive impact on their lives. How you left the world a better place. How you made them better.   It humbles me.  I firmly believe how you are remembered is the truest measure of success.  May we all strive to be as successful as Marcos and Brian.  God rest them both.   

In keeping with Matt's post below I wanted to share of photo of myself invoking Brian spirit in Idaho this past summer. This picture was taken somewhere deep in the Frank Church Wilderness area of central Idaho on our trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

It was costume night and, as always, I tried to make Brian proud...