Yep, he would be 38 years young today.
We were born thirteen months apart and he is the oldest. (and obviously the better lookin' too!) Even though it looks like I don't have a tooth in my head, I love this picture of the two of us. We had a lot of fun together.
Brandy and Kristee- March 2005
Most of the time, I did all the talking and joking. He would just smile that huge smile, shake his head and laugh at me. I honestly believe with all of my heart that he was my biggest fan. He didn't gossip, talk about people and was a true friend to many, especially me.
This week has been tough. The ride to Birmingham with lots of radio time and time to think was rough. Lack of sleep was hard. Hormones on top of it all, terrible. I miss my brother. This week three years ago he left his life on earth. I want to remember him always.
So.... I had to post a blog about him.
My dad, his twin brother and my granddaddy have been in the trucking business since before I was born. Brandy and I both had CB handles at a very early age. I remember us playing in the trucks, or cleaning the windows in them together. We were always told not to play on the CB. We did anyway and Brandy was Bocephus and I was Special K. I can hear him right now saying, Breaker-Breaker 1-9, talk to Bocephus one time. We would laugh so hard at ourselves and hear the truckers carrying on about the young kids on the CB. Then we had to hurry and disappear because we knew we were about to get caught.
To say he was a Hank, jr fan at an early age is an understatement. He had all the records, then later the CDs. I never cared too much for ol' Hank and I am pretty sure Brandy knew that, which made him play the music even more.
This song was played during the slideshow at his funeral. I saw Hank, jr at Bama Jam year before last and he played it. I vividly remember standing there and wanting my brother by my side more than anything. I had about four messages or texts from friends that were there too and immediately thought of Brandy. While looking on You Tube, I chose the Alan and Hank version because, I prefer Alan. :)
It happens at the strangest times and occasions. Today, I was dicing an onion and started crying, not because of the onion, but because it made me think of my brother. It's just like that and it happens. It's a river and I cannot stop the tears. I think about him everyday. Usually, when I think of him, I just smile or a fun memory comes to mind. Then, there are days or moments, like chopping an onion when the tears pour. They are happy tears, because I feel lucky to have had him as a brother and friend. I wish more than anything that he was still here, but I know he's in a better place and that carries me through.
So, as I was crying, I started laughing. Bipolar maybe, but I really just started thinking about what he would say to me. Something along the lines, "Red, you look awful and need to pull yourself together" or "My God, Red, are you on your cycle?" or "Looks to me like you just might need a drink!" and just like that, my face was covered with a smile.
