A Lover of Bikes and a Friend from Long Long ago!
Very Early on the morning of Sunday, July 30th, 2023
This story has been harder to write and talk about than I thought. Sometimes, the tears just grab you and you sit and wait for them to pass before you can do anything. Today was one of those days. It was a little over a week since I returned from Ireland. I felt it harder this year returning from family and friends. It must be age I thought or perhaps not? I fell asleep unusually early, the children were still up but something was drawing me to sleep. In what seemed like seconds, I was transported to another time and place. I could see I was in a big room. There was a very small handbag sitting on a chair. It was an old wooden chair and the handbag was just sitting there. A small rectangular navy handbag with a long strap. I went closer to look at it and I opened it. Inside, I could see a book. I lifted it up and out of the handbag. It was a journal. That was it, there was nothing else to look at. I step back and I see there is a small purse under the chair on the floor. I realize that this looks like my mom’s navy handbag and her purse. All of a sudden, I see myself in another room sitting on a chair that reminds me of a ballroom in a big hotel. My mom is also there. The room is full of people. I cannot make out faces, places or names. I am just there. I feel thinner, I begin to feel sad and put my head down.
Without Notice, a Man appears as if sitting on the side of an old wooden kitchen table looking down on me.
He is full of life and talking what seems like one hundred miles an hour. I notice his kind and beautiful eyes. I am listening and I can feel my mind wandering and trying to figure out who is this person. My mind was speaking, I know this person, I know this person. I know this person. I felt a huge pull like I was half in and out of sleep. Then, all of a sudden a woman appears with blondish shoulder length hair and pale skin, who looked like she was somewhere in her late forties or early fifties. She marched right in, came from the right and walked straight up to the nice young gentleman talking to me. She looked at me and just as I was thinking I was lucid dreaming and my mind was beginning to question how I am talking to these people she spoke. She said as clear as day, in a very direct manner “Brian what are you doing? You are dead”. We all stop. I am in shock “everything clicks”. I see myself put my hands to my face and start to cry still in the dream. Then with what feels like the click of a finger, I am awake with a face full of tears.
I lie there trembling, crying and in sheer disbelief.
He is gone. The lady is gone. I am left in tears.
The very last thing I remember is that the bright young man, sitting on the old WOODEN kitchen table with leg on my chair was talking about his dad. He said “he had to go and get his dad and take him somewhere”.
He was excited. He was ready to go. He was happy!
This was no ordinary dream. You see, while I was grappling in the dream with the fact that I know this person, I know this person. The lady stepped in and said the name just as I was figuring out “Oh my Gosh, It’s BRIAN!
With the spewing of his name, I am in tears just like I am now.
Brian and I went to college together in Birmingham. England between 1990 and 1993.
We both studied Hotel Management. Every time Brian walked into a room, everyone would say “Here comes Brian”. He was funny, he was witty and always thought he could take on the world. His personality was infectious and I truly believed anyone who knew Brian, who would meet him in the future or have him as a future boss was in for a great surprise. He was Mr. Executive Ready to Go! He always wore a way too cool jacket, with blue Jeans and only the very best Italian made leather shoes. He put us poor students to shame.
Dress to impress! He was so right!
After we left college, many of us lost touch going to many different countries to try to find our new and wholesome careers. Sadly, we never had a reunion and I never saw Brian again until I heard the news.
On July 23rd, 2018, I had just left Ireland and my mom called me, recognizing something about the Youngman on the news.
It was Brian.
His name is Brian O’Callaghan Westropp.
He died on July 23rd, 2018 in the wildfires while on honeymoon in Greece.
Survived by his new bride, Mrs. Zoe Holohan and his mom.
His father died when Brian was five (5) years old and his only brother, Scott died
on a motor bike accident in 1997 at the young age of (21) years.
Just before I started writing this story. I asked myself in my mind if I had a photo of Brian with me.
Right there and then,
I heard a voice say “go to the book shelf, Brian is in your college photo”.
Wow, they were right! Brian is on the last row in the photo below. He is the funny guy with brown hair wearing a white shirt, the second person in from the far right holding a bottle of bear!
True to spirit you could not meet a happier person!
This is Brian and Zoe on their wedding day, a very short time before his untimely death.
Brian we all love you!
You brought so many college friends back together in your honor and memory!
It took FIVE (5) Years
but I knew you would show up, when you were ready and needed to speak.
Strangely enough, it was only a few days after the anniversary of your death or journey home.
It was great to hear from you Brian!
I can tell you I will remember it for as long as I live.
Thank you for coming to say Goodbye or was it HELLO!
I have a strange feeling there is more to come.
Determined by something Far Beyond US!