Yesterday we traveled up into Berks County through places like Coopersburg into Emmaus, which was originally founded as a Moravian community in the mid-18th century. (All of these places are on the edges of Allentown.)
It was a pretty ride through lots of farmland. But even out there, we saw some predatory development starting to creep in, which is a shame. (But I digress.)
We went to Emmaus to say goodbye to a family friend of mine. He was older than I, but our families were friends for decades.
His name was Andy. He was one of four kids. He was a bigger kid who was always nice to me a slightly younger kid. (He was about 3 years older.)
Our families shared many memories and they are the reason we started going to Avalon in the summers, we originally were down in the gardens section of Ocean City. This family was also the reason we got our first English Springer Spaniel.
As a result, my memories of Andy really were childhood years. When I was a much younger adult and working in Philadelphia, I would see him occasionally and quite literally on the street in Philadelphia. He was always headed in one direction, and I in another. Always a big hello and a bear hug.
Andy loved music. He played multiple instruments. He composed and arranged and was in bands and sometimes the mad genius behind others. Baby Flamehead, Big Mess Orchestra, Wild Bohemians, and Emmaus Public Singing Society, and I am sure more.
It was a very big memorial gathering and no one wore funeral clothes. There was music and memories. Lots of laughter and Andy stories. Anyone could share, and it was great to hear everyone speak. As they spoke, these people from different stages of his life, reminded me of a lot of childhood memories with his family in general. That was very nice.
As they spoke, I also had my own memories floating around in my head. Nothing profound, just childhood memories that were often quite funny. His family was bigger and more boisterous than mine. It was ok to be occasionally messy. The memories were of everyone. Snapshots in time. Family barbecues and beach days. His mom’s friend Weezie giving all the kids a dollar to go to the penny candy store on 7th Street in Avalon and telling us to “blow our minds.” Or how excited he was when my father gave him this giant blown up black and white photo of Louis Armstrong on poster board from an ad campaign he had worked on.
It was great to see his siblings and everyone’s children.
But I think for me the kaleidoscope of memories belonging to so many people showed me another part of childhood memories that in a sense will now fade away a little more. It’s the whole thing about when the storytellers die.
These people we lose at various stages of our life are equally mourned and celebrated. But with the people from our early days, it’s another bit of childhood slipping away. It’s sad but beautiful at the same time.
I am glad I was part of yesterday by bearing witness, essentially. And the music was fabulous. After all, everything is better with music and art.
Fly with the angels, Andy Bresnan. You were a complicated, talented, and special human. Heaven has a lot more music about now. Thanks for the memories, you will be missed and are gone too soon.
