Nich

So I’m sitting in Pathos using the Internet and the cutest little Italian girl comes up to me talking in Italian. I only know a little bit of Italian but I was able to introduce myself and ask her a few questions. Her name is Maria Sofia and she had big brown eyes. She is beautiful. I asked her how old she was and she told me five. We sat there a bit just kind of wondering about each other, she must have been bored. Then she went back to her family.

So I go back to checking my e-mail. I had a new one from Reyes. He explained to me that Nich Boan passed away last Thursday morning and the funeral is tomorrow. I didn’t know what to do or what to say back to. I know Nich was one of his best friends too.

It didn’t sink in at first, then as I scrambled to find my phone to call my mom the tears came. I started balling in the middle of the café. None of my friends were there so it was all just Italians watching me. I called my mom and I lost it. She told me she would go to the funeral for me in my name. She is crushed by my pain and will do whatever she can to help me. Gosh I love her.

Sofia Marie saw me crying and came back over to me. She said something in Italian, probably asking me what was wrong. I didn’t know what to tell her or how to tell her, but just the fact that she was there made me feel so much better. She gave me a huge feeling of hope.

I need to talk to Reyes, he is in Japan serving in the Military so he can’t go home either. He must be having such a hard time. I can’t stand the though of him dealing with this on his own. I wish I could be with him right now.

Nich was my best friend my freshman year of high school. We met on a blind date to a dance. I was so happy to finally meet him in person after spending so many hours on the phone. He gave me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek before handing me a red flower to match my dress.  I remember feeling like I had known him forever.

 

He was the perfect date. I was freezing on our way to the dance so he gave me his coat. It was icy and I was in heels so he carried me down the driveway to the car. The car was packed with people, I’m pretty sure we were sharing a seatbelt and the whole way there we were laughing and joking. I was not used to being treated so well..

The dance was at Nich’s school so I didn’t really know anyone besides our group. I was worried he might ditch me for his friends, but he never left my side. Instead of ditching me he introducing me to anyone and everyone, pretty mature for a ninth grade boy. We danced the whole night. Then during the last slow song he picked me up and put me on his feet before gently kissing me on the forehead.  

From then on we became even closer friends. I was going threw some rough times and he was my person. He was never to busy for me and could always make me feel better. Sometimes we would call each other during class to see how long we could talk before getting caught by our teachers. Those calls usually ended with out goodbyes.

After a year or so we started going our separate ways, but that didn’t last long. My friend and I drove out to Davison for the football game against Creek and I managed to park us in a muddy ditch. We were stuck good and right as I was about to give up my phone rang, it was Nich. Within 5 minutes he was at the scene with his dad’s truck and toe strap.

Nich always made me smile, he was always there when I needed someone. He was just the type of person who could brighten anyone’s day.

Things were not always easy for Nich. Life started dealing him some bad cards and he did what he could to survive. I tried to be there for him as much as I could, but not as much as I should have. I was crushed when I heard about his car accidents. Each time he would call me and tell me about his new battle wounds. One time we were on the phone and he was distracted so I asked him what was up and he told me he was just picking some more pieces of glass out of his arm. That kid has more metal rods and plates in his body than a transformer. I always wanted to watch and see what would happen if he walked threw a metal detector.

My most recent memory of him is last year Christmas break. Reyes and I met up with him at the mall just to bum around. They got smoothies, but I refused to let him buy me one because I was trying to be healthy.  That lasted 10 seconds and I drank his whole peanut butter shake. He just smiled and called me a fattie. Then we went in a store he thought it would be a good idea to put different hats on me and dress me up.

The next day he sent me a picture message of the makeover. He wrote how glad he was that we were friends and hoped to hang out again soon. That was one thing Nich was good at, telling the people around him how much he cared for them. He loved his friends and family more than anything. He always told us how much we meant to him, he gave out so many hugs and kisses. it was awesome! Nich Boan was a word, his definition would be; the spreading of love.

His messages always cracked me up. I would read and listen to them whenever I was down and his words always made me feel better and loved. I still have a voicemail saved from February 2005. It starts out with Alyssa saying, Hey it’s A-dawg, then Nich steals the phone and replies, more like poop-dawg.

Nich was probably one of the most unselfish people I know. He would do anything for anyone and never expect anything in return. Well maybe a big hug and a kiss on the cheek if you were a girl. Ha.

This is really hard on me. I want to be home, I want to be with everyone, but I can’t. I’m on the other side of the world. I know he knew I cared about him, but that doesn’t seem like enough right now. If only I could have been home…

Nich was someone who had held my heart together when it was broken. He hugged me so tight when I was down I could no longer feel the emotional pain. He played a huge role in my growing up, more than anyone will ever know. For a while, he was MY person.  

I am lucky to have him as a friend. I am grateful for Alyssa and Sloan setting us up on that blind date 6 years ago. If there were one thing I could tell him now, it would be how much he still means to me.

I will never forget him. He was a blessing to me and I am going to miss him very much.