I was at Albertson’s on Linfield’s campus this last Friday and ran into the person I suspect of selling my cousin what he OD’d and died on

The guy was clean and claimed he was sober for 11 years. He even has a successful business in McMinnville.

At first, I couldn’t place him. So, I said “You look familiar… My name is Andrew, what’s yours?” And he said his name and it all came rushing back.

He acted shocked when I mentioned Chris and his passing. However, I was reminded that he did attend my cousin’s funeral. Maybe he just didn’t remember through the fog of trauma, drugs, or disassociation.

I don’t talk about Chris often, but I should now. He had a rough childhood, was years older than me, smoked whatever cigs he could get his hands on, drank like a problematic frat-douche, and couldn’t hold a job. And, because of that, and his issues with drugs and the law, my family largely shunned him.

But, then he had a child who was full of life and love. At the time, I was moving into a house in Mac and since he needed a place for his family to call home, and a yard for his kid, I invited him to move in.

Sharing the house was a bad idea. I quickly moved out of the place on 3rd Street and a few months later he OD’d and passed away there.

I wanted to be mad at the guy at Albertsons, I really did. But, at that moment, I just thought about Chris and was glad the guy was healthy and alive.

-Andrew Brunello