This is without question the toughest blog I have had to write in my six years of blogging.
Many of you know my only brother, Justin Adam Lanier, passed away of an accidental drug overdose after fighting substance abuse for six years prior. This Thursday, January 28 will mark 10 years since he left us in the physical.
Imagine your worst day ever. Well this day was 100 times as worst. And often it feels as it just happened.
Here are some tidbits/facts for those that didn't get the chance to know my brother, and for those that did.
1. He was born March 2, 1983 in Divine Savior Hospital in York, SC. (now closed). He arrived into the world feet first (breech birthed).
2. He was always very active and hyper, walking and running at only six months. To my recollection, he never had to learn, he just did it.
3. His baby names were "Lovey" and "Fatwad". If you saw his early pics, you would see why.
4. Adam was always popular, having many friends around. That continued throughout his life.
5. My brother had a natural gift with the ladies and young children. Both gravitated towards him. He was quite the entertainer. I'm confident he would have been an awesome father and possibly husband.
6. Adam was actually pretty smart in school, he just didn't apply himself. He was all about friends, girls, and fitting in.
7. His favorite holiday was Halloween and he made a huge deal out of it yearly.
8. He lived life to the fullest, possibly because he knew he didn't have a lot of time on Earth.
9. We didn't have a lot in common at all, but one thing we shared was a deep and loyal love for our mother. No one messed with our mama!
10. Adam was in the high school marching and jazz band for six years, playing the drums. He won many awards and was simply skilled.
11. His resemblance to rapper Eminem was uncanny, especially once he dyed his own hair.
12. My mom's house was the local teenage hangout for a number of years. Many parties were thrown weekly.
13 He, like our grandpa Frosty, was extremely superstitious.
14. His death has inspired others in his circle and age group to do many great things. Many of them didn't want to be a statistic. I would give anything to get him back, but I take solace in the fact that others loved him so much and he made such an impact on their lives.
This day is never easy for me or my mother. We have learned to celebrate the man he was becoming, and to tell the positive stories of his life. He can be a cautionary tale and an inspiration.
R.I.P. Justin Adam Lanier #forever22
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