Ashley

Brandon, you were one of the kindest, sweetest, and silliest souls I have ever known. From the moment you were born, you have only been a light in my life and in the lives of everyone who had the honor of knowing you. I knew you were so special from the moment I first held you when I was 13 years old.

Your mother posted a tribute for you on your birthday, April 8th, and all I could think of how logically, I knew you just turned 19 years old but you would always be that baby in my eyes. I know that is a common sentiment with parents, older siblings, and as your older cousin, I really did feel that way with you. All these memories of watching you grow play over and over in my mind, make me smile and giggle, and offer me comfort in this moment.

As a little toddler, you would say “Uppie!” and ask me to carry you and walk around with you, which I always delighted in. You were growing bigger and bigger, and others around would say I couldn’t lift you anymore, but I secretly loved it everytime and I just kept lifting you up until I really couldn’t. And even then you found a way for me to hold you. I remember when you would ask for me to come swim with you and your brother Nathan in the ocean camping, and then you’d jump up in my arms and I can hear your voice say “Hold meeee” and maybe I feigned annoyance, but I was very happy to do so.

Going to Jalama will never be the same without you. The thing that sticks out in my mind is that you would always ask me to play with you and your brother. Constantly. It never mattered that I was 13 years older at all, and again, your mom and family would light-heartedly chide you and say to leave me alone to relax. But you knew that I would get up every time and ride bikes or go to the beach and swim and God, am I grateful that I want to say 99% of the time (the other 1% was at night when we were by the campfire and if I was reading a magazine) I would always get up and have fun with you both. My precious niños. Our precious niños.
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