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Long time friend, Sufferer of Narcolepsy
Brandon says:
I spent my "coming of age" years with Ryan as my closest friend, so he has probably played a large role in molding my
current flawless personality. We attended the same college for (approximately) the same length of time, and wound
up re-convening in Jacksonville one year later as roommates. (He's actually still my current roommate/landlord/chef) It's
a luxury to have close friendships from high school that remain intact, which is why I want to say: Ryan, I'll have the rent check by Thursday.
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Scott
Bill
Josh S
Mikey
Ryan
Josh A
Marty
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How I met the groom
Brandon and I met during the eighth grade, also my first year at Episcopal. I don't remember the exact details of that
fateful day, as I'm afraid eighth grade would still fall under the classification of a "short-term" memory...so to speak. Perhaps one day all the details
of that glorious first encounter will come flooding back, but for now, I do remember the circumstances. First, we never would have met if Brandon
did not step in a big steaming pile of dog pooh. You see, back then Brandon was roughly two and a half times as tall as me (it wasn't until the following
year that I hit the 60" milestone). So if he had not looked down to survey the damage to his Doc Martins, he would have walked past me and never
known I was there. Luckily for both of us, he did look down. Unluckily for me, from his towering vantage point he was staring directly at the top of
my head, which at that time was where I liked to store my impressive collection of hair gels and mousse. I think our first exchange was something like this:
Brandon: Oh my God! What a clever place to keep that extensive collection of fine hair product.
Ryan: Thanks, I like your nail polish...Mozambique Charcoal?
Brandon: Good guess, it's actually Ebony Night, notice the subtle hint of purple?
Ryan: Cool.
The rest is history...
What I think of the groom
Well, first I think he's a bit narcissistic for asking all of his friends to record stories of how great he is just to show off on
the internet. That aside, I don't think I have ever met anyone with more integrity than Brandon. One top of being one of the friendliest, least
judgmental and most reliable people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing in my entire life; Brandon is absolutely uncompromising in what he
knows to be right. I count it as a real privilege and an honor to be his friend. Plus he's really tall.
My funniest memory/memories/story of/about the groom?
What an interesting/odd way/means of posting/asking a question/query. Picking a favorite would be pretty tough,
here's the highlight reel:
The trip we took to Costa Rica in the tenth grade was filled with hilarity. Of course there was the near death experience of whitewater
rafting and the...um...hours we spent working on our bromeliad presentation. But the funniest moment happened a couple of years later
when there was the mutual realization of the irony of Mr. Gagnon telling us to behave ourselves with the girls on the trip.
Our freshman year of college the movie The Blair Witch Project hit the big screens. Now, Brandon and I have never been what one might
call "Not Huge Cry Babies." We were so terrified that I insisted Brandon stay at my house that night...he agreed.
My favorite memories are probably the few weeks Brandon and I spent writing, directing, producing, starring in, editing, promoting, and promptly
misplacing our first feature length movie...for school. It was an adaptation of Apocalypse Now, we called our version, Apocalypse Shortly Thereafter.
In the original script, which we spent hours writing and story boarding, we had everything including but not limited to explosions, robot fights, love
scenes (vampire and human), scuba diving, a live performance by Molly Hatchet, dinosaurs, spelunking, and the demolition of the Pyramids. Due to
budgetary setbacks the actual version was somewhat...less than.
The time Brandon and I realized that riding a jet ski is pretty fun...but trying to do murder by throwing each other off with power turns at dangerously
high speeds is worth risking your life for.
That one leads me to my final funniest memory, which is...
Pretty much any day-after me and lobster boy spent more than four consecutive hours in the sun. Any one seen the aloe?
Departing words/advice for the groom
What advice could I possibly give a man capable of landing a bride as sweet as Stephanie? I have heard married couples
say in order to have a successful marriage you should never quit dating (each other), I think that makes sense.
Any words for the bride?
Certainly, "the woman participant in her own wedding ceremony" or "the antonym of groom." Sorry, bad joke. Stephanie,
congratulations on finding a guy as great as Brandon. I love you both and wish you all the happiness in the world.
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