A Gentle Giant Part II
Brian Bob
(3/21/66-3/21/23)
This is the part when it all begins to sink in.
“Oh, he’s really not gonna text back.”
“Wait, I should hear from him by now.
Oh … yeah, he’s not here anymore.”
“I miss my daily check-ins with him.
I miss our dialogue.
I just miss him.”
Brian’s birth family and extended family members
Brian K. Bob building.
Covenant House
Oakland, California
This past week, Michael and I traveled to Long Beach to join my brother and sister-in-law to memorialize our friend, our family member, a person we loved.
As he has practically reached celebrity level status with the Covenant House, this was the first in-person celebration of our friend Brian Bob held in Los Angeles. Next weekend, April 28, an in-person celebration will be held in his honor in Oakland, CA.
Here he is with his family. He is sitting behind his birth family and extended family members. In this picture, as you may see, is a building dedication - in his name.
Brian K. Bob - erected in Oakland, California.
There were many speeches
offered up today.
A man who arrived in Southern California with a wad of cash in his pocket and wishes and dreams in his heart. He was from Louisville, Kentucky when suddenly he found himself on the streets of Los Angeles. It was Brian who showed him the way. This man is now the chef of Covenant House.
Another man’s story who was ready to end his life as he had run out of hope. He was desperate and filled with emptiness. Brian was a persistent force who returned to this man over and over again until he was ready to accept help. This man is now a former politician, a successful businessman and an outreach employee of Covenant House.
Various expressions of Jean
But the one story I liked best, was the one which spoke of the person Brian Bob. Jean spoke of who he was and not of what he did. She reminded us of his essence through in-depth description of WHO he was. She exposed his bad habits, his faults, the moments when he couldn’t shine his super powers.
But none of that stuff mattered.
It only made him more human.
“How?”
Jean spoke of his essence
When Jean spoke, she spoke of HIM. She allowed us to see HIM. She described HIM in familiar ways and reminded us that he was simply our friend who processed these super powers when he followed through with his purpose; and as a result, as it just so happens, many lives were saved.
When our friend spoke, she helped us remember that he was a person for whom we loved regardless of his achievements and for whom now resided within each of us.
Although this is who we were over 30 years ago …
And this is who we are today (plus some bonus loved ones) ..
He remains present through our stories and experiences.
It is that for which we rely upon - to knit us together - forever.
The world will greatly miss our gentle giant. He lives on as we continue his legacy of service and love.
