Memoirs of a Resaa whole lotta blah blah blah

The cheerleader conversation came a few weeks later. I was hanging burned off racks, a dirty ashy job. Brian was working close by and remarked about what a great job I was doing. I was cranky and snapped at him that I didn’t need a damn cheerleader. He replied “I’ll be the biggest cheerleader you’ve ever had in your life.”
He was right.

Brian was the rebel son of a fallen minister turned motivational speaker. When we met he was living in a transition house, between jail & the free world. I never saw him angry, violent, or discouraged. He taught me all the little sayings I use to keep myself going. “Fake it till you make it.” “You do what you gotta do till you can do it better.” “Let go, let God.” He’s the one that taught me that the only glue I need to hold myself together is… myself. He encouraged me to go after a different job, & showed me that I was competent enough to manage a vacation out of state without another adult. He also made me realize that everyone needs a cheerleader once in a while. I try to do that, to encourage people & help them believe in themselves. Sometimes I still need someone to do that for me. I would not be the “me” that I am today if I had never met him.

I haven’t seen Bri in a little over 3 yrs. I have a few pictures, one treasured note, and the knowledge that he’s doing great wherever he ended up. His last words to me were “You can do this”.
He was right…