I was ten years old when I met Brendan. It was my first day of school and I was standing in front of the class so the teacher could introduce me. He sat in the front row; his bright green eyes and toothy smile the only thing I could see. I was smitten from the beginning…and thankfully so was he. We pined for each other from afar, but the following year, his family moved, and we lost touch.
Fifteen years later, I got a call from Brendan. I had been on his mind and he wanted to see how I was. We had mutual friends still and against his friends’ advice, had gotten my number from them and decided to give me a ring. We talked for 3 hrs that night. He told me how he always had wondered about me; always remembered how I was wearing a cobalt blue sweater and matching corduroy pants my first day of school. At the end of our laughter filled conversation I told him it was wonderful speaking with him, but that I didn’t expect it to go anywhere. I was in Seattle, he, Bangor, ME. He laughed at me and said I’d be hearing from him again. He called me the next day at 8am, and every day thereafter at the exact same time for a month.
Just before Christmas 2007, Brendan said he was looking at a job out in Seattle and would also really like to see me. We made arrangements and he spent a week in WA, with me as his tour guide. At the end of his visit, he called his parents and told them he was moving to Seattle and was going to marry me. There was silence on the other end of the phone.
None the less, Brendan and I bought a house and were engaged by that summer. We set our wedding date for September 6th, 2009…exactly 16 years after my first day at his school. We always said we were the lucky ones. The ones that found their person so early in life and somehow, were able to recognize it. We were madly and deeply in love; that crazy kind of love where you spend twenty-four hours together and still feel like you needed more hours in the day. That never went away for us.
In 2012, we welcomed our son, Liam, into the world. As anyone with children can understand, there are no words for the joy that you feel when holding your child for the first time. And to see all 6’5” of him melt when he wrapped our newborn son up in his arms, is the happiest moment of my life.
But with Brendan, it went beyond that, he was meant to be a father. We had always joked that when we had kids, he would take some time off and stay home with them while I went back to work. We were fortunate enough to be able to turn that dream into a reality when Liam was born, and for that I am eternally grateful. Liam and Brendan were best friends. Brendan was there for his first laugh, his first step, his first word. The pride Brendan took in raising our son was palpable. Often complete strangers would stop and tell me what an amazing father Brendan was. Liam got to spend time with his dad learning how to ride a bike and build forts in the woods. I’ve never seen two people, regardless of age, enjoy eachother’s company so fully. The belly laughs were contagious, the stories of adventure were full of delight and imagination, and the bond that they shared made my heart explode with joy.
In March 2016, Brendan passed away, all too prematurely. However, his legacy of strength, determination and resilience will always live on. He fought and WON the battle against cancer twice. He rode the PMC 5 times (often without training at all...which drove me nuts!). He was an amazing father and husband. He was truly my rock and best friend...and for him, I will continue to ride.
