One of my Moms

[Zadoc]

Last night my best friend told me that his mother finally succumbed to cancer. I can't even imagine what he's going through having to bury his mom when he himself is only 32 - with as broken up and in tears as I am right now, I can't even fathom what my best friend is going through at this very moment.

From the moment Kirk and I became good friends his mom basically adopted me as her "fifth son". Although I'm not "family" by blood, Kirk's mother always made me feel like I was just another one of her boys. I've spent a few holidays and family birthdays with the Brinleys right beside them and was just "another one of the boys" as far as anyone else was concerned. In fact, when Kirk and I were teenagers, Ma Brinley had even gone so far as to threaten to "disown me" if I ever happened to fail to invite her to my eventual wedding (which I absolutely made sure of inviting her when I did get married in 2000) or if I failed to bring over any future newborn children for her to see (sadly I never got this chance, as I have still not become a father yet).

Most importantly to me was how wanted the Brinleys, especially Ma Brinley, made me feel when I was thirteen - at a time when I felt that not many people wanted me around. Most of my friend's parents wanted their sons to stay away from me, due to the petty amounts of trouble I'd find myself in - whereas Ma Brinley could see past all the shenanigans (of both myself and from Kirk's own mischief) and saw that I was really a bright kid going through a rough period of time at home - something her own sons had gone through just the same.

There's nothing that can ever make me forget that time of my life when I really needed friends and family when my own family was shattering apart.

Thank you so much for accepting me, taking me in at times when I had no-where to go, and for being there for me when I've needed it the most.

Love always,
Nathan Z. "Brinley"

[WiTcHy]

Sandy was one of those people who just excepted you for who you were. I actually met her 18 yrs ago, before I met Kirk. I had heard the stories about yours and Kirks adventures (mostly my mom and Sandy swapping stories about their "trouble-makers" ;D ) and I was told on one occasion that if I didn't straighten up I would not only have to deal with my mom but with Sandy as well.
She will be missed.

Love,
Mary Frye

[Zadoc]

WiTcHy said:

Sandy was one of those people who just excepted you for who you were. I actually met her 18 yrs ago, before I met Kirk. I had heard the stories about yours and Kirks adventures (mostly my mom and Sandy swapping stories about their "trouble-makers" ;D )

Oh no...18 years ago saw Kirk and I at "our worst".

Back in those early days we spent many days "hiding out" at Ma Brinley's house after causing much chaos...a police helicoptor comes to mind in one instance. ;D

That summer of 1988 was in so many ways my "Golden Years" of my youth. When Kirk and I weren't causing extreme chaos in the neighborhood, we'd spend our days cooped up in the Brinley household drinking iced tea that Ma Brinley made while swapping albums onto cassettes.

WiTcHy said:

and I was told on one occasion that if I didn't straighten up I would not only have to deal with my mom but with Sandy as well.

Oh indeed...I was issued similar threats as well - and there's no doubt she would have followed through. I have seen Ma Brinley in her mean-zone, and I'm just glad that I've never been on the receiving end ever.

WiTcHy said:

She will be missed.

She already is...and will be for many for the rest of their own lives.

Thanks so much for posting your own memories, Mary. It was good to see you and your mom the other day, and I only wish that it could have been under better circumstances.