Helicopter, Emergency response vehicles, 150 (ish) cyclists... a full on mini parade... accompanied this man as he made his way to his final resting ground. If you didn't know it was "just Braydon" you might have thought That... I don't know... Clint Eastwood's (???) funeral was being held here. Or maybe Elvis?
There was such a HUGE outpouring of love today from the community.
I came a couple of minutes early for the funeral, but it was already packed and I had to sit in the back of the overflow. people were still pouring in. I had no idea that this large church building had an additional overflow, but it did and a few minutes later, another screen opened in back to make room for all the friend and family of Braydon that were still pouring in. Wow... just wow...
The service was good. We heard great remarks from Braydon's friends and neighbors and church leaders. Remarks that Tri club president, Ryan Duckworth shared also included remarks from facebook from MANY friend of Braydon.
THEN...
after the funeral was the processional... a GRAND processional. It was overwhelming for me. I am highly emotional in the first place, so that doesn't help. I was standing near some friends, Shane and Karrie Neilson, and Dustin and Melanie Roberts and another couple I did not know the names of. As the procession began to go past the 100's of us watching... I saw the other couples hold each other a little tighter. Husbands and wives clung to eachother. Many people were tearing up. My husband, Bill, had decided he was going to send Braydon out the same way he had met him.... on his 6 foot long board. I was running in the Hostess Half Marathon, so was Braydon. My husband no longer runs and was skateboarding alongside us. Braydon and Bill struck up a conversation and just like Braydon is with everyone... they became friends. Braydon and I bonded over twinkies and Donettes and running. That was... December 2010 I believe. Since then, I have had opportunities to run with or past or start races with Braydon. I'll admit, I used to think being toward the front of the pack was the best place to be. I soon learned that the party was wherever Braydon was. So, when I felt like keeping an easier pace, I would laugh and talk and jog with Braydon. Usually I would eventually say "see you at the finish!" He'd give his signature "Booyah!" and cheer me and whoever else on as we passed him up.
As I saw the Tri club ride by on their bikes and my hubby go by... I felt a huge wave of emotion overtake me. I put my arm around the woman next to me - a complet stranger - and said "you don't mind do you? I need someone right now and my hubby is out there with them." She was cool with it. After a few seconds and seeing more and more bikes ride by. I just dropped down. I had to sit. The feeling of love from the people that knew Braydon was immense. I could not stand up. I sat and sobbed. part of it was of course sorrow. but mostly it was just overwhelming to be surrounded by this outpouring. To see and feel the love of so many people for one simple man... It touched me deeply.
Bill and I are not triathletes. But as water support at nearly every southern utah triathlon for the past 4 years, we feel a real connection to the sport. My runner/triathlete friends would get in the water and I couldn't tell who was who because of all the matching swim caps and black wetsuits. I usually never could get an opportunity to say "hi" to my buddies as they would swim by me while I sat in my kayak or was on my Paddleboard. But Braydon... he ALWAYS, ALWAYS would stop his swim, poke his head out of the water and say "Hi Michelle, Hi Bill! Good to see you! Thanks for volunteering!" sometimes he would come over the kayak to catch his breath, but usually, he really did just want to say hi. I have a few triathlete friends that will occassionally stop to say hi. But most of my buddies are seriously trying to beat a time or maybe place in the top of their division. So their heads are in the water, they are NOT looking for me and we never get a chance to say hello as they swim past. It doesn't bother me at all. After all... we are both there to do a job. Mine is to help struggling swimmers, theirs is to do their best and finish their race strong. I'm not there for social hour with my tri buddies. But Braydon somehow always managed to make my day with his huge smile and his "Booyah!".
Braydon never won any race if by winning we mean being one of the fastest guys across the finish. nope. Not Braydon. Braydon wasn't even usually in the first half of the finishers. In fact usually those of us who crossed the finish line before Braydon we would wait and see him coming in toward the back of the pack if not dead last and we would all start cheering him on. He would cross that finish line as if he just won an Olympic gold medal. Huge smile. Never disappointed.
So... what made him so great? Why the huge procession? Why the parade?
What was that all about?
I think I finally learned a lesson I have been taught every Sunday in church since I was a little girl.
"Jesus said love everyone. treat them kindly too. When your heart is filled with love, others will love you."
"You can share the love of Jesus Christ by being a good example and living a life full of love."
"The best way to serve others is to love others"
Braydon.
Wow. You showed me. And the Community watched and learned from your simple example. THAT is why the parade today. You loved and lived what most of us have yet to learn. HUGE HEART!
I had a talk with my kids about this yesterday.
I was trying to make sense out of why God would allow a man like Braydon to be taken from his 4 young kids and loving wife. How incredibly tragic. How could this be fair? But as I watched the outpouring from the community following his death I came to realize something amazing. Braydon's life and example mean so much more to me right now then it would have if he had lived to be 96 years old. That sucks. I know. It doesn't make things easier for those that love him to think about it. So forgive me as I try to find a reason behind why he left this life so young. So just go with me on this little journey for a minute.
Braydon was a cool guy. He was friendly and full of heart. There is no one like him out there that I know. BUT... I don't think I realized just HOW amazing he was/is until I realized he was gone. I don't think his life lessons were as impactful to me and maybe the community until after his death. I am sorry if that sounds heartless. Please forgive me. But I hope it will make sense a little more when I am done here.
When I read the scriptures, I am touched by the lives of people who really meant very little to the world until they were gone. There is example after example of great human beings who were metaphors to the life of Jesus Christ - who also would have only been a good teacher if there had been no early death. Now, i am NOT saying that Braydon is just like Jesus. BUT....
As I was talking to my kids about all this and one of my little ones said to me, "Mom, was your friend just like Jesus?" I grinned. "Well... Jesus taught us to love and asked us to try and be like him and love everyone. And Braydon did that. So, yeah, I guess so.
Braydon loved everyone. Everyone loved him back. Braydon was determined regardless of the obstacles. He inspired me. I remember watching Braydon in an event and being a little judgemental, I thought to myself... "If I guy that size can do that, then so can I." I found out I was wrong. It's not a size of the body that makes a person capable. It's the size of the heart and Spirit. Braydon's body had to be a little larger to house his monstrous spirit that made him more capable than most of us average people.
It was because he got inspired years ago to do more that he was able to, that he then was able to meet more people that were touched by him. It's because I got off the couch 5 years ago and decided to do more, that I was privileged to know him. When you sweat next to someone and cross finish lines together over the years... you can really learn to love them.
Like 100's and maybe thousands of others... I am a fan of Braydon and my life is better not just because of his life, but sadly also because of his death - he means more to me than ever and I will take this tragedy and learn from it.
Only a small part of his fan club showed up at his funeral today and there were 100's of us cheering Braydon on as he made his way back to his Heavenly Father. Booyah! To the greatest celebrity I have ever had the privilege of knowing. What an amazing tribute today from all your friends. Love you and miss you! And yes, we will work on getting that lifesize Braydon cutout to do future races with us. We need your smile to pull us through those tough moments. By the way... Braydon, I thought about skipping my training run this morning. Thought of you after I hit snooze a million times. The thought "what would Braydon do?" came to mind. So I said a quick "BOOYAH!" jumped out of bed, threw my excuses aside and went for my run. thanks again for your life and example to me Braydon. Now what I need to do is learn from people while they are still with me here in this life. I want to tell people how important they are to me while they are here. So if I get extra gushy and hug you and tell you I love you and how much you mean to me and I start crying... just know, I am still trying to figure out how to express myself correctly without embarrassing me.
It's been fun reading other friends thoughts about Braydon. - I read Jason Smith's Facebook post - awesome.
plus here is more of some of the tributes I have read online...
words shared by Ryan Duckworth:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865585762/Triathlete-killed-while-cycling-in-southern-Utah.html?pg=all
Cory Reese AKA "Fast Cory":
http://www.fastcory.com/2013/09/life-lessons-i-learned-from-braydon.html
Friend Cherie Santiago:
http://www.ultraspire.net/blog_posts/a-beautiful-spirit/
I am sure there are more out there. Everyone deals with sorrow, pain, anger, etc... differently. Me... I have to write it out. Thanks for "listening".
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