Be like Brian

Darla McCorkle/Columnist

We have a lot of new folks in town. Folks that don’t know about that time I almost killed Hugh when I did a juice cleanse. People who don’t know about my stuffed Yorkie that used to sit in the foyer. People who  missed Hugh hanging off the balcony planting all my roses. People who missed the drama of me painting that front door yellow. 

All those things are good stories over a drink or dinner and easily told they’ve been told so many times.

But ya know what isn’t easy to tell people about? The people that they’ll never get to meet. 

How do you explain the heartache of losing Brian Bode five years ago? Not just for his family but this entire town feeling the loss of one of our boys. 

When Hugh woke me up that awful morning and told me that handsome boy wasn’t gonna yell up at me on the balcony anymore it broke my heart.

 I meet Brian when he moved in behind the McKay House. All I knew was a jeep was parked back there and he was always driving his car. So I started posting flirty things on Facebook about how my new boyfriend had moved in next door and I couldn’t wait for him take me out in his jeep. Well, turns out he wasn’t “new” he was just back in town and he was a Bode boy. The next time I saw him walking into his apartment he yelled out, “Anytime you wanna take my jeep the key is in it, do it!” 

After that it was a dinner with him, then it was funny jokes about my tanning bed and him never been in one and using mine to send Ben pics of himself in it and laughing about it. There was the excitement that his brother was coming home from college, his sister was coming to visit, a family excursion was happening. Nothing would do until I got to meet his brother Ben. He was so proud of Ben Bode. Later, it was, “Hey Darla! I’m gonna be an uncle! My sister is having a boy!” 

Brian was kind. 

Brian was a guy that always had a smile when he saw you. Like a geniune smile! 

Brian laughed easily.

Brian appreciated the simple things like sharing a meal with friends on a random Tuesday.

Brian was always bragging on a sibling.

Brian was the type to tell you cool stories about his parents and what they meant to him as an adult. 

Brian knew how a spring day and an old jeep could make for a great day. 

Brian was the type that if he was on a sidewalk and a person paralleled park he’d say, “great job!” when you got out your car. 

Brian was also the type if you just couldn’t do it he’d parallel park for you!

Brian was funny and nice and so laid back it would make you jealous. 

If you never got to meet him, you really missed out, son. He was quite a young man that made this old woman belly laugh on many occassions and always made me smile by just being around. 

After Jefferson, yes Jefferson, because the entire town lost the boy, but after we lost Brian it just felt wrong –still does. As a way to make those he knew feel a little better Be Like Brian was started. 

You’ll see stickers here and there. You’ll see some of us hashtag it. But for those that are new and don’t know the meaning the meaning is simple. Be like that young man we lost too soon. Smile more than you frown. Laugh lots. Hug your family. Brag on your brother. Show off photos of your nephew. Tell the funny stories about your parents. Let your neighbor take your car even when you don’t know her. 

Be Like Brian.