I've been meaning to post a blog all day about how life isn't fair for taking Brian and how saddened and angry at God I am, but instead I figure I should talk about how great he was and is.
First I heard from Brain was am email that Susan forwarded to me after telling him that we were engaged. He was so bubbly and excited for her and stoked that we were going to wait for him to come back from his mission to be able to attend. His email was full of "wow's" and "yea's". I could tell how much he loved Susan and how truly happy he was for her.
I got to go along with Susan and tom and Kathy when they picked him up at the airport. He was a turd; rather than coming down the escalator like the rest of the missionaries he snuck around another stairway and tried to sneak around the crowd of people to surprise his family. Susan spoiled that plan by discovering him. He laughed it off and threw his arms around Kathy.
All the way home he muttered things such as "where am I?" "what is this place?" "where are the trees?" Susan reached out her hand to him and he put a pass-along card in it and said "Jesus came to the Americas." I was being dumb and he'd mutter "who is this guy?" Whenever his mom or dad called him "Brian" he'd correct them by muttering "Elder Kelley".
I have dinner twice a week at his parents house where he stayed for a while after coming home and I'd get to laugh and joke with him and play card games and watch him try to cheat all the while directing his signature 'ssssssssssss' at his mom.
Brian moved in with us for a couple months to be closer to Provo. I remember nights of playing Mario while giggling like idiots and screaming in fright at the unexpected traps in the levels all the while with Susan laughing at us.
Of course he came out to Nauvoo with us when we got married and he made the trip hilarious. From climbing on statues to making friends with everyone out there to stealing Susan's cowl and parading around to being the self appointed cake-cutter/drink filler at our reception he just kept everybody laughing and happy.
Brian was a joy. He was truly a happy kid and he was beautiful and he knew it. Everybody was Brian's friend, they just didn't know it yet. The world is a darker place without him, and I am lucky beyond belief to have known him and to be able to see him again.
I just feel so bad for you. I only met Brian once or twice but I felt he was a joy as well. Even though people will talk to you a lot about the eternal perspective over the next few days, it still sucks for those left behind. It just does. I'm so sorry for all the Kelleys right now and am thinking of you often.
ReplyDeleteI love you Joe susan to xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI think Mary captured exactly how I'm feeling. I only met him a few times but he made such a great impression. I'm so very sorry that he's gone. I love you and I'm thinking of you often. Give my love to Susan.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post of memories for you. I hope you, Susan, and all involved may find peace and comfort through this time. I will say a special prayer for you.
ReplyDeleteBrian is the true definition of a gentlemen. When I was having a hard time he wouldn't think of letting me sleep on the couch, and I'd barely known him. He made sure mom was alright and kept warm when we waited outside the temple for you. He was always offering to help whenever he could. I feel heartbroken that someone so perfect with so much life left was taken for reasons we don't know. I hate life sometimes because it just doesn't make sense in the moment. I know no words can make it better, and in my experience only time can ease that pain and sorrow. So all I can say is I have so much love for the Kelleys and for you, and I am always here for all of you.
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