Jason

Jason is my oldest brother. He is the most loyal Cottier. He takes his role of oldest sibling seriously and never lets any of us go through a struggle alone. As I write this I wonder if we have done the same for him. I don’t think so.

My earliest memories of Jason are sleeping in his bed. I must’ve been 3 or 4. I felt safe in my oldest brothers room. I remember sitting in their rooms as they pledged their belongings to me after a recent family feud resulting in their eviction. They had to pack light. I couldn’t wait till they were gone so I could have their stuff. I guess I never asked myself who would make me feel safe once they were gone. As always things calmed and they stayed, unfortunately.

Jason would take me around with him at the ages of 6 and 7 collecting bottles from the drunks in downtown Red Deer. They didn’t seem like drunks, they seemed like our friends. We didn’t have a lot of money. My neighbour had a beautiful bike that had shocks and fenders that looked like a dirt bike, so Jason cashed in bottle money to buy me bike forks with shocks on them and built me a bike out of an old frame that wasn’t quite as cool as my friends but pretty close. My friend and I would jump those bikes as high as we could get them. No helmets, no pads. I can feel the impact of the concrete, cut shins and gasping for breath after being winded to this day. It was amazing, I’m glad I lived in that era. Together with my friend and younger brothers we owned the bike paths of the river valley near downtown.

As our lives changed my connection with Jason changed. I think I started spending more time with my two younger brothers. Our family started a new life. I watched as he took the brunt of the blowback stemming from kids that didn’t know how to be Mennonite. Twisted Sister blared from his bedroom on an illicit radio when parents were gone. The rebellion was glorious, we all lived it while he paid for it. I still remember my parents trying to tell an older Mennonite pastor what Twisted Sister was. Makes me smile. Jason wood burned a TC into my pellet gun stock that looked just like the Twisted Sister logo.

In my late teens I’d accompany Jason to meet with friends. Everyone loved Jason. He was himself. He didn’t try to be someone he wasn’t. My favorite trips were late night drives to Red Deer to catch a movie. One night we watched Jeff Bridges in Blown Away and snuck into the very first Toy Story. Jason loves a deal. I had lunch with him a few days ago and he enjoyed Dairy Queen’s meal deal. “Good value.” he said.

He’s been a furniture maker, bought and started a new furniture company, EMT, Firefighter, Real Estate agent, Framer, and now a Red Seal Mason. He is and was excellent at them all. He’s a skilled scuba diver and mechanic. Within an hour of finishing my Open Water course he navigated me and my brothers down 100 feet to see a wreck. As always, I felt safe because I was with him. Despite all those things I know what he is most proud of is his family. He loves his wife very much. He adores his three children and constantly serves them.

It’s no secret I am Christian. Not a great one but trying. Lately the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to say has been on my mind. I feel it’s really the only prayer I need to know. It once again brought back memories. In Red Deer, the family feeling like it was about to fall apart yet again. Jason would let me in to his room and he taught me to pray…..

“Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name…..”

I’m lucky to have a brother that taught me to reach out to my Heavenly Father. I know they both will be there for me when I need them. My prayer is that he still says that prayer as he rides the storm of his life. I think he does. He just doesn’t feel a need to tell the world. I think Him and God are working things out. He knew God long before he knew Mennonites. I know. He introduced me to Him.

If you read this far, thank you very much.

Tris.