When we look back, we see that you were blooming all a long.
— inspired by Morgan Harper Nichols 
Hey man, remember "Hope Street"? I was in California at the time and mentioned to you that I missed Washington and you went and bought a one way flight to LA that very night. I thought you were absolutely insane but it was the most real thing anyones ever done for me.
Right at the start of our roadtrip back to Washington we got horribly lost. Neither of us had a clue and figured we might have to turn around. You saw a street called "Hope Street" and turned onto it shouting "I FOUND HOPE". We made so many jokes about how "Hope Street" wouldn't let us down and how we just have to have hope. Sure enough, that damn "Hope Street" lead us to i5 and we couldn't stop laughing.
Remember my old dump of a car kept overheating so we had to blast max heat with the windows down in 90 degree weather. We hit that never ending stretch of cows with the miasma of manure and we had to decided whether to roll up to windows and cook ourselves to death or keep the windows down and suffocate. We had to stop the car and let it cool off so we ate at the sketchiest dark diner up in the mountain and kept making jokes that we might get murdered and have our meat served to the next unlucky souls that would come across that place. The single room motel we got and how we had to sneak in the other guy without making it look suspicious or like one of us were a male prostitute. How we thought my car would break down in the middle of Oregon and feared for our lives. We somehow made it back though. As shitty as it was it's still one of my favorite memories.
Man its been years and yet still whenever one of us were going through some trouble or feeling depressed or just weak we'd always respond "Hope Street dude" and for some reason it was always comforting.
17 Years of talking every night, I'm going to miss it.
Hope Street dude.
Right after the pillow fight, all red in the face.
I thought you were being too rough. And that the pillow you were using to bash my kids with was a little on the heavy side. I admit that pillow was small compared to the size of their smiles and uncontrollable laughs. They were euphoric, and you were doing your best to hide your laughter behind further taunts in their direction. This is one of my last and favorite memories of you. You were a wonderful uncle, and I thank you for that.
You were also a great brother. With wicked smarts and a sharp tongue, you were always ready with a witty comeback. A coping mechanism perhaps, hiding your deeply compassionate side. You were non-judgmental of anyone down on their luck, and I will remember you as the wise soul you were.
It was a treat to be your big brother. I want so bad to tell you again how proud of you I am. To give you one last hug. Neil the fighter, you went through more than is fair to get back onto the positive path you were on. Thank you for showing me what it means to really fight for yourself.
I love you, Neil.
-Cameron
I have to admit I was scared to let you hold my baby for the first time. Gentle was not always your strong suit. But it was Christmas and you waited nearly 6 months to hold him. So slowly I handed him over, closed my eyes and sat down. When I finally looked over you had him standing on your knees and the two of you were looking at each other. You introduced yourself said, “Hi, I’m your Uncle Neil. I am going to teach how to cause all the mischief. ” You had him sit down in your lap you held him close and you looked at me with the biggest smile. The title of Uncle was one that suited you so well. We will miss you so much.
-Andrea
Thank you for teaching
me how to
ride a skate board.
-Coda
This one time I was sitting with Uncle Neil and I sneezed on him and he said ewe gross and then laughed really really hard.
Uncle Neil could hit me with a pillow really hard. But I was stronger.
-Terry (3)
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