Tribute to Bryan Shaw

Throughout my relatively short life so far, I have met many people and have had the pleasure of calling a good number of them friends.  However, I can probably count on two hands the amount of people that I can call "good" friends, the ones who stay with you through the thick and thin, the ones who you can call up on a whim and pick up wherever you left off.  Bryan Shaw, it is safe it say, is one of those good friends of mine.  Currently, I have known him for over ten years and it seems whenever we get together, our friendship picks right up where we left off.  Recently, I haven't seen him for over two years, yet I know that if we got together, there would be no "re-acquainting" ourselves, we would just delve right into some deep philosophical discussion and keep our friendship going.   Bryan is one of those rare individuals who likes to push people, not physically or emotionally in a negative way, but push them in a way that forces them to consider their actions, put reason behind their beliefs, and explain themselves.  It is not out of an effort to make people feel uncomfortable, it is just who he is, a philosophical instigator of sorts.  To be honest, I wish there were more people like him in the world, people who seek to understand at a deeper level the undercurrents of life, why people do what they do, and to understand how everyone fits into the greater scheme of things.  Perhaps that is why we have become such good friends.  From the first time we met and he questioned my motives or actions, I fired right back with an explanation and subsequent inquiry and to this day it hasn't stopped.  We don't always agree on things, yet we are always able to push the boundaries of each other's understanding and rationale and to a certain extent, enlighten each other with a different point of view and our explanation of it. 

I first met Bryan at St. Bonaventure University where I studied for a year and half.   From the first moment we met, the discussion started and it has yet to stop.  During our time at St. Bonaventure, we raised havoc wherever we went, often times skirting the law and remaining just under the radar.  (Those stories will not be told here).  But through all of that havoc, I knew I could always count on Bryan.  He was always there to lend a hand and would share whatever he had with others, (at least his friends).  I have many great memories of those years at St. Bonaventure, but the better memories were to follow.   After I left St. Bonaventure, we remained in contact off and on.  We lived 7 hours away from each other so it wasn't like either of us could simply take a day trip to see each other.  But periodically we would make the trek, and whenever we did, it seemed like no time had passed.  It was almost as if you simply took a book mark, placed on the page where our friendship left off, and opened it back up when we saw each other again.   Whether the conversation touched on metaphysics, personal identity, Catholic theology and the purpose of religion, or whether it was as simple as discussing other people's actions, there was always something to talk about.  I must say, however, that the best conversations were had between 2 and 4 in the morning when there wasn't much distraction.  If we ever got into a conversation with others around, we would normally lose them somewhere along the road because either they couldn't follow our thought processes or we just went way over their head with our introspection and philosophical bent. 

It is not just the conversation that keeps us together as friends, it is the fact that we understand each other and will always be there for each other.  I can speak on behalf of Bryan here because I know him so well.  Even though we might only see each other every couple of years, I feel that I am closer to him as a friend than many others in my life.  That isn't to say that I don't value my other friends highly, it is just that I feel closer to Bryan than I do to others.  My only wish was that he lived closer so we could see each other more often.  But such is life.  I know that I can call him anytime and he will be there, ready to talk.  He is a unique individual who has much to offer anyone he comes in contact with.  It is safe to say that anyone who calls him a friend is lucky, for there are not many people like Bryan out there.  His viewpoints may clash with a lot of people, but then again, I often wonder how many of his friends actually know his viewpoints and his deep yearning to explore the philosophical underpinnings of the world at large.  It doesn't really matter, for all that matters is that I am one of the lucky ones who can call him a friend.  I will always hope for the best for him and know that whatever he does and wherever he is, he will always strive for happiness and satisfaction.  He won't settle for anything that detracts from his way of life or what he wants to do.  To Bryan, I wish you happiness and a long life, and know that our conversations will continue!  Cheers, brother.