Austin

Austin is my second oldest brother. I don’t even know if we are talking right now. Sometimes we rarely talk and sometimes we do not talk. It’s one of those.

That aside, Austin is someone that I have always looked up too. You tend to do that with older brothers. He is athletic, driven, hilarious and reckless in a devil may care way.

One of my oldest and fondest memories is when he took me along to a soccer game he was playing in. I vividly remember him jumping over other players to strike a ball with his head. It was two of his greatest qualities combined in a moment. Fearlessness and determination.

Austin introduced me to the game of Hockey. He was a very competitive speed skater, but also loved the game. He would let me tag along on winter nights as we walked to the community rinks. I was often the youngest kid there, which tells me other big brothers didn’t bring their kid brothers with them like mine did. This makes a young kid stand just a bit taller. I will never forget him buying me my first pair of hockey skates at a thrift store. We traded a tea kettle, and a few other things from our basement and 20 bucks for them. CCM Super Tacks. To this day one of my favourite purchases ever.

Another great memory I have playing with him on the outdoor rinks: I had hit a player on the opposing team. The player overreacted and tried to take my head off with a baseball swing with a hockey stick. This was a mistake. I ducked the swing and before I could do anything Austin had his stick with two hands. I will never know why the player never let go of his stick as Austin shook him like a rag doll all the way to the edge of the rink and tossed his stick with him attached into a snowbank. This was not the first time Austin ended a fight my mouth or antics started.

I went motorcycling with him a few years back. I was able to watch him as I trailed behind as he rode on one wheel, on almost everything but his side of the road, often standing up, once even standing on his seat if I recall correctly. He puts on 30000 km in a summer, mostly in ripped jeans and a T shirt at 100 mph. He’s not too cool to wear the proper gear, it’s just how we are. We grew up pretty wild and free. There is no ego, we just don’t think about those things. There are guys that ride Harleys to be cool, and then there are guys who ride Harleys that make riding Harleys cool. Austin makes Harleys cool.

Recently I ran out of gas. A stranger stopped and gave me a few gallons. Turns out he knew Austin. “Nobody works harder than Austin, and he is the strongest guy I know.” He described him as unpredictable.

Sounds like Aust I thought to myself, and grinned.

Austin would give a stranger the shirt off his back. He will do anything for his friends. I think we share a disenchantment with society. Austin is the guy you want on your side in a fight, and not the guy you want to be across from. I have been on both sides, so I know. Austin is very intuitive and sensitive. That sensitivity combined with his strength, fearlessness, and unpredictability makes him one of the most dynamic people I have ever met. Austin can connect with anyone. He makes friends easily. Walk into a bar with Austin and soon you are friends with the server, and some of the patrons.

I think if you asked Austin what he cares the most about I am sure it is his 3 daughters. For as long as I have known him since the first one arrived that’s all I believe he cares about. He is a damn good Dad. He along with my oldest brother set the gold standard of fatherhood for me and my two younger brothers. Of course we all made mistakes but we gave our kids everything we had to give. To a man we are all disasters in relationships, but made good fathers.

Despite brotherly tensions and squabbles how do you not love a guy who will fight for you in a heartbeat, ride a motorcycle on one wheel, shed a tear as he is forced to work away from his family as his dreams were crushed, and who will give you the shirt off his back when you hit rock bottom.

If you read this, I love you Aust.

If you read this far, thank you.

Tris.