from Meagan

. . . from "Cousin" Meagan

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Thunderbird Falls, Alaska

Brandon,

     So close to my heart yet so far from me. Since I live in Washington, we didn't visit often (not nearly enough). Yes, I could sort though the pile of stacked memories that are piled in the back of my mind and find many are the times we spent together.

    But there is one memory that was recent, one memory that made me realize how creative and brilliant you were.

It was three summers ago I believe, not exactly sure. The entire family gathered together in a van, a tour van. We went visit waterfall after waterfall and you were recording all of it.

Brandon at Thunder Falls

What he kept calling it all day.

And we kept saying, "It's ThunderBird, Brandon!"

You told us to wave and say something to the camera and we all did thinking nothing of it. But what we didn't realize was you had a plan. No one knew about it, no one thought you were going to do what you did.

You gathered all of the moments on that trip that we shared and made it into a movie. Like a night at the theater. Our own family theater.

You took the funny moments and shook them up, making it a new story. A Brandon story.

I watched that movie ten times once I got back home and still do. It makes me laugh and cry like all good movies should do.

Brandon, you were and are still so special! Everyone you met you touched in one way or another. You are one in a million.

Though I'm only 13 and you were only in my life for about 10 of those years, it is like I knew you for a century. You smile and spirit would brighten a room.

You and I both know how much you were loved and are missed. But you will always be with us, though thick and thin. To help us when we are down and to catch us when we fall. Even though you aren't here in person, you spirit surrounds us. Giving us advice.

I love you Brandon!

More then you'll ever know!

Sincerely,
Meagan Peterson
13 years old
Federal Way, Washington