I've helped a lot of people over the years; just seems like the right thing to do. I may not have been in the best place or had all my shit together but whenever someone was done, I'd do my best to help get them on thier feet, whether money, a bed, or just advice. Before leaving Califonia, my friends would praise me for being an amazing guy or something big to play myself up, I'd always respond, "I'm just a guy, nothing special about me." I'd do this because I believe people can do the same as me, don't me myyself to be played up as something special because there are others who exceed me who truly deserve the praise. So this blog isn't about me, it's about a friend, a friend who exceeded me in every which way, a friend who ended up giving up his own life to do the right thing.
I remember Brett from high school, he put out this dry humored skits on the TV bulletin, his hair was slicked back, he wore Oakley's, looked really dorky. Dorky in a good way that could give you a chuckle from his energy and vast knowledge on comics, Disney, film, and Star Wars. Oh boy, kid fucking knew things about Star Wars that I never even thought to venture to. Halloween, I still think, he should've won every contest at school cause you would just see the creativity and hard work put into these costumes, unfortunate, that in a cest pool of hormones the sexy nurse or sexy officer always won. We knew each other but hadn't really stopped to get to know one another until probably the last year.
We had the same friends and he came up to me, "OH MY GOD BRO! THAT'S A SICK ASS STORM TROOPER SHIRT!" From that moment, Jesus Christ, he went onto a whole lecture on everything Star Wars. Shit I couldn't keep up, I tried, but at the end of his speech, all I could say was, "Do you Star Wars, bro?" We continued talking about Star Wars, Captain America, Hook, and Nature. He captivated me with all these different hiking spots that I suggested we go hiking and I also felt brave enough to say that we should go see Episode 7 when it comes out. Both suggestions he agreed to with such excitement that every sentence after that ended with, "my friend." That felt very heart warming to hear that from him for some reason, that bar was filled with all my friends, but something about hearing it from him felt very, very cool. We never did get to go hiking and I saved him a spot that was never gonna be filled when time to see Episode 7.
Brett was the definition of kindness and the poster child for a caring soul. He was into superheroes which was proper because he was indeed a real life superhero. It was raining hard one day, there were flash flood warnings in the mountains, it was a storm that had come out of nowhere. Brett was already up in the mountains, he was on a date, all this information is just from what I've heard. I could read the articles again, I could ask his mom, I could ask the girl he was on a date with, but I don't want to open up healing wounds. The flashflood warnings came after they were already up in the mountains and someway they were stranded. The flood was extreme to cross but they had to cross, he helped her across, the flood carried them both for a bit, he got her across, but Brett didn't get himself across, he was found a ways down by a couple of other hikers, he didn't make it. That's the tidbits I caught, I could find out the whole story but I just haven't wanted to know for myself. Didn't want to think or imagine that guy with all that energy and all that warmth to say, "my friend" to me; didn't want to imagine how he died.
I found out scrolling through Facebook, one of my friends, had posted the article and it made me pause for a moment, moment turned to minutes, minutes turned into the rest of the day. Took me back to seeing him the week before in passing, I just said to him, "Three more months my dude." He just smiled like a little kid and grinned wider, "YES!" was his response. Another example was that same week, I was in Orange County, heard my friend, Kris' little sister was taken to the hospital after drinking too much at Disneyland. Me, I was ready to drive down to the hospital, Kris just said," It's all good man, Brett stayed with her." I felt relaxed after hearing his name cause I knew she was in good hands. It hurt, it stun me, I'm still so proud he went out a hero, but still I miss my friend.
It hit me but it hit my friends harder. After I found out, didnt think of my pain but went through the whole roster of people I knew to see if they were alright but think they were in the same state of shock. Hell, not sure the shock level ever left us. However, beneath all of our pain, we each found a way to pull through together. Brett was sent out in probably the most bad ass ways possible. People gathered at the local park and paid tribute to him inspired by his favorite Pixar movie, "UP" Everyone wrote a message to him then they released the balloons into the air in hopes our friend would see. His services wouldn't even be able to be classified as a service but...as maybe Comic Con in itself? The traditional viewing was held the day before but the next day everyone was encouraged to dress up as a superhero. Everyone did a cosplay and even Brett was dressed up as Indiana Jones with a lightsaber. Think that's the way he would've wanted to go to be celebrated as a hero in a chamber that was kinda like the end of "A New Hope." Fitting that he went out that way cause Brett had been a hero all along before that day and continues to do so.
He made sure you had a friend and would take you through this life as an adventure with the mindset of the inner child inner us. Which is important to keep up because life can get hectic but if you can get down, sit with some friends, read a comic, dress up, play with legos, and such. Then you become so much more and you find yourself smiling in those hectic situations...that's the most powerful weapon of all in a mad world.
Definitely helped me, opening night of Episode 7, went to the 2 oclock showing, that was the first time I could shed a tear for Brett. As I stared at the empty seat next to me, only knew him briefly, but that was an energy that defines the Jedi. That selfless, caring, and gentle man that saved a girl is just a wonder that the world was lucky to have. That energy and joy for life did wonders for me...still does. I could talk about my good deeds but the true hero should be shared with the world...Brett Usher, you're my hero.
@rambo @lyxzen @missy
