My Best Friend

jonkross:

Dear Bradley,

                I write this now regretfully because of the situation that has been given to you where you will be in Afghanistan fighting alongside your marine division. They could not have a better corpsman, soldier, or friend with them for the next year. Bradley you have been my best friend for the past six to seven years. We have traveled the country, worked together, had the deepest of conversations, and have grown up together. When I think of our lives and the paths that they have crossed I am so grateful. You have really grown up so much. No one ever thought that the kid who used to eat blueberries in the closet because he was hiding from his brother’s chore list or the guy who had shown no and I mean absolutely no common sense would be the first of us to get married, buy a house, and settle into a lifelong career.

                I remember a friendship that started in a movie theatre between two employees who equally enjoyed kicking kids out for talking on their cell phones during movies and the countless bags of popcorn and candy that were left and needed two goofy bastards to clean it up. From the K10 crew going bowling at Brunswick to me trying to sell you my firebird for as I described it “one hell of a price” it was a good first year.

                Then came Cucina, and the nights in the back parking lot with nothing to do but play Frisbee, take pictures, and drink the coke products that were so readily available to us because of our skills to evade our boss. Fancy Fridays re-defined our pizza deliveries and occasionally brought in the big money tips. Nate joined the trio at this point and we spent countless nights at NIU to join up with lauri pat Tim and Tyler. The random road trips where we were able to just start driving and wind up in the most random of places, especially when you would not fill your gas tank leading to us pushing your truck miles upon miles in order to find the next fill up station or when you decide to drive through a snow bank that required all 3 of us to push out the S10. The first epic trip to Florida for your dad’s wedding. The nights in Orlando high-rises drinking in the same area as the police officers convention.

                Graduation and senior year prom were some good times that I will never forget. Prom night, cooking food on the pallets in my back yard during bonfires. The night before graduation when we could not think of anything better to do then drive to my cottage in Michigan just to see the beach and then drive back. And one of my favorite memories is when I received my diploma, confidently walked down the isle and you proceeded to stand up and tackle me right in the middle of the ceremony with both of us  yelling, “SKIP!, BRADLEY! SKIP! BRADLEY!” the only thing comparable to that moment was driving away from that school windows down, hats and gowns blowing in the wind, and boys of summer blasting on the radio.

Then Nate was deployed and you soon after, but it wasn’t a quiet departure, I remember the parties at my house that led to all nighters, bon fires bigger then a car, and a hot tub filled waaaay past the overflow limit. We came to see you at Great Lakes and picked you up as much as possible. We did some crazy jeep riding with the top down and the highway open, we met castle and spent our days living for the weekends when you would come home on break. I remember hiding in the scariest house in aurora’s basement while the police officers unsuccessfully looked around for the underage kids that they knew were not far away.

Then we found ourselves making the second Florida trip to visit your dad, drive was good, stories kept flowing, and matt pollit made us welcome in his home. We ate, drove, and explored that entire state while finding that car submerged alongside the road, you quickly jumped into your role as a corpsman. Louisiana trip to visit Nate, So many Cajun mc’chickens and karaoke at BW3 (I don’t think were ever allowed back into that state after that night haha) once again, the drive, especially because it was in the Jag. Then was Bethesda Maryland to see your hospital and to meet Johnson. The trip was filled with abandoned houses, hospitals, asylums, breweries, and factories. So many good pictures and times.

Then you got married and I could not have been happier for you.

This is just a fraction of the times. Most of the good times fell onto summer nights, full tanks of gas, and a common goal to make the most of what we could. Enjoy every moment as much as possible. I am going to miss you buddy and I will keep you in my prayers, I just ask that you send as many letters as you can and keep us posted on what’s going on. Just remember your training, protect the guy next to you, keep your head low, and never forget that you have good friends and family that are patiently waiting for your homecoming. I love you buddy and I will be counting the days until you are back in the states.

Remember, “Stay True, Keep it Real, Always Live, Never Die”

                                                                Your friend,

                                                                                -Skip