ON DECEMBER 16, 2001, WE LOST A BROTHER. HE DIED ON HIS BIKE COMING HOME FROM A TOY RUN FOR KIDS. THE WEATHER WAS FOUL, RAIN AND COLD, BUT THE DAY HAD BEEN GOOD. WE DIDN'T HAVE HIM FOR LONG, BUT WE MISS HIM LIKE HE'D BEEN THERE FOREVER.

OUR BROTHER ART WAS A GOOD MAN. HE WAS ALWAYS FIRST TO BE THERE, FIRST TO LAUGH AT A JOKE, FIRST TO THROW A PUNCH IF IT WAS NECESSARY. YOU COULD DEPEND ON HIM AND IF HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING, HE DID IT.

IT MAKES ME THINK THAT WE NEVER APPRECIATE OUR BRO'S AS MUCH WHEN THEY'RE ALIVE AS WE SHOULD. AN OLD FRIEND ONCE TOLD ME THAT THE TRUEST THING IN LIFE IS THAT "FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT." WELL, I WISH THAT WASN'T TRUE, BUT I KNOW IT IS. THINK ABOUT THE TIMES WE'VE DIRESPECTED ONE ANOTHER JUST BECAUSE WE THINK WE'RE SUCH TIGHT BRO'S THAT IT WON'T HURT. THINK ABOUT THE TIMES WE EXPECT OUR BROTHERS TO JUST BEND OVER FOR US JUST BECAUSE WE'RE "BRO'S MAN." IS IT RIGHT? FUCK NO IT AIN'T!YET WE DO IT ANYWAY. WELL I THINK I'M GONNA THINK MORE FIRST AND THE RUN MY HEAD FROM NOW ON. IT'S A SHAME IT TAKES SOMETHING LIKE THE LOSS OF A BROTHER TO MAKE US OPEN OUR EYES. KEEP THE FAITH. WCFFWC