Myles
20 years.
20 years ago things changed.
In April I met Brian on the senior class trip and then by June we went on our first date, from there I went to camp and when I came back my cousin was hit by a car and died.
Through this Brian was by my side and I knew he was someone special. (Our detailed story maybe another time).
This post isn't about Brian, but I think it is important to mention that 20 years ago there was so much good happening in my life and sadly there was also a bomb that hit my family. A big huge bomb!
1996 is bittersweet for me.
The nine years prior to this tragic day in July, my family felt huge. Daily life included 8 cousins almost all of the time at one house or the other. Or at least one aunt, and a grandma connecting with us daily or every other day.
There were always kids (family) around, and it was normal to me.
Then on this tragic day it all changed.
Probably it would have happened slowly anyway as my sister and I were 17 and 18 and now dating (Brian and Jason), and thinking about post secondary soon anyway, but in reflection, everyone grieved hard and in their own space and way. Sometimes we understood each other but lots of times not so much. We did everything together and we didn't know how to deal with a missing piece of the puzzle.
A little about Myles, he was a funny kid, while I don't remember why exactly I just remember he made me/us smile often, in fact we called him Smiley.
He loved magic, both the actual magic and the card game. He wanted to be just like my brother and would mimic him often.
I don't know why I remember this but I seem to remember he had an unusually large head (funny things that you hang onto).
He was 8, but July 23rd would have been his 9th birthday. I seem to remember my aunt either wanted to buy or had bought him a lotus flower card which he would have loved for his birthday. I don't really know anything about magic the gathering card game but I remember this so it must have been special.
He was sure that my mom's banana muffins could cure anything, common cold to bruise. (Perhaps just an excuse to come to our house).
I remember (I think the summer before), all he wanted for his birthday was to have a pie in the face. So that was arranged. I remember him being so happy. So incredibly happy his laugh was infectious.
I was fortunate enough to travel the year before to Florida with him and his family. We enjoyed a long drive to Orlando, and then Disney and Universal studios as well as much motor home camping time.
While I had done the Ottawa trip with my school in grade 8, this was my first long trip. Our immediate family vacations usually included no more than 3 hours of driving. So this was huge, the beginning of my travel bug. :) Plus, a well remembered and cherished vacation to hold onto. So very cherished.
I don't know how to do his memory proud but I do think of him often. Especially in the last year as I have my own 9 year old child.
20 years and yet in moments it feels like yesterday. Always remembered.