My friend Mike Brown died on November 9th. I haven't been able to write anything about it until now....
My friend Mike Brown died on November 9th. I haven’t been able to write anything about it…until now. This past Saturday night there was a benefit for his wife Liz and daughters Jackie and Sam. The community response in support of this family was just overwhelming. It makes me even more proud to be an Alexandrian. And there were hundreds of people there from other communities where Mike Brown has left a lasting impression. It was a class act.
Just like Mike Brown.
I met Mike in March of this year. He invited me to his office to discuss the possibility of me becoming a regular contributor to BluebirdToday. Seldom has anyone made such a profound and lasting impression on me. I was immediately charmed by his zest for life, identified with his sense of humor; and I had immediate respect for his business acumen. He was so excited about this new website BluebirdToday. He wanted it to be the eyes and ears of the Alexandria community. A community website providing immediate access to information about the city, county, school district, politics, sports, the arts….you name it! And he was off to a good start.
Over the following months we had long talks at the office, exchanged e-mails and phone calls discussing our friends, families, politics, Alexandria, kids, sports,…you name it. He effortlessly became pals with someone elses mom and grandma, age difference aside. He was the kind of guy who had several dozen “best” friends.
I remember the exact moment my friend Lonnie Wing at KXRA told me Mike was sick. That he had suffered from terrible headaches for a week; and after a collapse at his office, was diagnosed with an inoperable, malignant brain tumor. I immediately called Mike’s cellphone and he answered, “Hello Patty”. I told him I had heard the news and asked him if there was anything I could do. He said, “Just keep doing what you’re doing”. Somehow I knew from the sound of his voice that nothing was ever going to be the same.
On November 8, 2006 I visited the Brown home. He was so proud of his beautiful wife and daughters and kept motioning for me to look at them. As if I could help but look at them! As I told him that night, they are picture perfect.
I feel so blessed that I had that opportunity to hold his hand, kiss his forehead and tell him that I loved him. Mike Brown died the following night, in his lovely, happy home surrounded by the people who loved him the most. Along with everyone else whose life he touched, I will never, ever forget him.
I have a dear friend who says, “Life is fragile. Handle with care”. And the sudden loss of this vital, vibrant young man with such a brilliant future and so much to live for, has driven that lesson home hard and fast. I’m going to enjoy this Christmas like never before. And just keep doing what I’m doing, with even more appreciation for life.