To my brother.

Just last week we had a video chat while I was in Istanbul, and I couldn't have been more proud of the guy on the other end of the call. You were back in the gym, working at a new spot, and you sounded happy. Happiest I had heard you in a while actually. We kinda kept it brief and said "I love you" as a goodbye and then hung up. The whole conversation was less than 10 minutes. 

I was so proud of my friend, of my brother, of my partner in crime and mayhem at many different junctions of our lives. 

Man, you sure knew how to piss me off sometimes though. You must've been my brother because we have had some drag out brawls over the years. It was always from a place of love and friendship (we were just both stubborn personalities), but we both knew exactly how to get the other going. 

 

We also had some insanely fun times, some of the best memories in my life involve you and your crazy brand of fun that was absolutely infectious and brought everyone into your massive orbit. You were a "glue" guy in every sense of the phrase. 

 

You were the life of the party everywhere you went, and people were drawn to your super human magnetic personality. No matter what, if Ryan Macgowan was involved, it was going to be at the very least not boring. Right now the afterlife is LIT up there, of that I have no doubt. 

 

 

 

We went to Thailand together and we shared some pretty incredible memories out there. We talked about going back often and I now wish that our lives would have allowed us to do that. The full moon party, the trips to all the islands, the nights spent in paradise while we sipped on Singhas. I'll always hold those memories very close. 

  

 

As we grew up we got somewhat wiser and somewhat more mature. Going up north to work was a good thing for you and you started really hittin' the gym and working on yourself. You were looking more fit, more happy, and more present than you have in a while. I was so proud of my brother. 

 

 

Yup, you had some flaws (don't we all). Anyone who really knew you could see your true heart though. You were a walking calamity at times, and you certainly drove us nuts constantly, but you were a person that was always there when I needed you, and you would have never turned your back on the people you loved. And you were surely loved in return. 

 

 

There's so much to say about you, the mark you left on people was unerasable. You will leave a void in my heart and in the hearts of so many that knew you. Your flame will burn as long as the memory of you stays strong within those hearts, and luckily for us, you were unforgettable.  
 

I love you.