A place to recall & share all the good times
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I’ll start things off, although you can post to my wall if you prefer. He delighted in messing with people, me especially. Since I have this knack for knowing what is inside my presents without actually opening them he went out of his way to try to disguise them. Often I would receive a box, within a box, within a box…each one wrapped individually. That is how my last Christmas present from his was given to me, in multiple boxes. I figured it out on the final box before unwrapping it in spite of his efforts though! One year he inadvertently gave my step-dad Al a gift as well when each of my presents were packing in a nest of golf balls in a box only slightly smaller than a case of printer paper! There were hundreds of golf balls rolling around the tree that Christmas morning! I’ll miss those crazily wrapped presents.
He was also partial to wrapping gifts in the funny pages from the newspaper. So if anyone ever thought I was being ‘cheap’ when you or your child received a gift presented that way know that I am not. I am just trying to keep some of my sweetheart’s sense of humor among us.
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I loved sitting in History of Architecture with Brian and heckling the teacher
— Karen
I remember when he helped rescue my old Contour after it had died in Joshua Tree. Had to tow it all the way back for repairs.
— Scott
I remember that too! He checked with me to see if I minded him going to help you and I remember thinking, ‘Right, like I’m going to be the bitch who leaves Scott’s car stranded because I wouldn’t let Brian help him.’ Brian made me be a better person because of the decisions he made.
At Escondido fair: Ana was a toddler and Brian and I went walking about the fair with Ana between us, each of us holding one of her hands. Whenever we came to an open space, on the count of three, we would swing Ana up into to air while running forward several yards. All three of us loved it
— Greg
Universal Studios Halloween Nights Monkey Run (TM).
— Charles
That’s one of Ana’s favorites too! And she wasn’t even a glimmer in his eye at the time. 🙂
My fav memory was the Easter “egg incident”. Brian was a big man and he loomed over the kids, asking who did it with his loud voice. He intimidated the kids with his imposing presence – yet he would not have hurt a fly. Many people did not realize his heart was bigger than his frame. Yet he certainly got the attention of the kids that day!
— Jennifer
FYI: the “egg incident” involved one or more kids deciding to toss an Easter egg up into the whirling blades of the ceiling fan in Brian & Juli’s den.
Brian always watched over everyone. He was the protector.
More than once I was ready to drive back to Bakersfield after Faire or a visit. If the weather was bad or Brian saw that I was tired he would say to me, “You are not driving. You are staying the night.” There was no arguing. Brian had spoken. No arguing. I would just say, “Yes, Brian.”
— Mary Margaret
To add one of my own. I recall the Escondido fair in which we embodied the definition of “cacophony” The royal court had us in the parade and made the mistake of granting our request for the bells. We then proceeded to shake the crap out of them the entire time. There were more gypsies than bells, so we tag-teamed. We maintained a solid tone the whole parade. The never made that mistake again.
— Chris
Juli Laudermilk Von KleinSmid: I have pictures of that escapade as well!
Actually I think the court did it twice. I missed the first time but was in on the 2nd. Maybe it was my saying out loud how nice it was of the court to leave the bells with us as “Faire Souvenirs” that did it (they actually went off and left them with us) but I’m guessing Brian detaching his hand and having it fly off toward the Queen while drumming for the court also had something to do with it.
To elaborate on the “hand” thing: It was Halloween weekend. Someone in the Tribe came up with a plastic severed hand complete with a bloody stump at the wrist. In the afternoon the Royal Court visited the Gypsy encampment (say what?). After a bit of this and that we set about to do a short performance for them. Brian had the “hand” in his right hand, with his real hand hidden in his sleeve. We started drumming. Brian hit his drum really hard, screamed in pain, and let the hand fly. It landed at the feet of the queen. Who screamed and jumped up, as did several other members of the court. Good one Brian.
I remember a time when Roman Morga was practicing for a faire. We were parked along a road, and a truck (can’t remember if it was Brian or Don’s) had the windows open. In about ten minutes a swarm of bees nested on the inside of the back window of the truck. Watching Brian and ‘the boys’ rid the truck was both hillarious and showed the bond he had with all of us. A truely selfless individual willing to help others
— Ray
That was his truck. He was blasting some heavy metal music, I don’t recall the band and he said the bees must have liked it. I gave him a little stuffed bee that Christmas to keep in his car to scare the bees away. He called it the ‘bee God’. They never returned. He had that stuffed bee tucked into the visor of whatever vehicle he was driving until the end. It just turned up hidden in the Pinto a few months ago, I started crying when I saw it as I immediately remembered that story. :’)
Yes it’s still in Frankenpinto. It wasn’t “hidden” just stuffed into a roof brace where Nico could get at it (over his seat). He takes it out almost every car show. I found it on the floor last show – pretty sure I stuffed it back in it’s “home”.
I did not know the significance of that stuffed bee. I thought it was one of Nico’s toys. I will have to make sure it’s still tucked away in FrankenPinto.
I remember at one of the Esco fairs helping break down the encampment and suddenly realizing the bluegrass music I was hearing was heavy metal….and utterly being floored by how odd it was…and how much I enjoyed it!
— Amber