School memories  / Magen Travous (friend)
well...I'm leaving for school tomarrow Brett. Actually I suppose it's today since it's after midnight now. I've finished packing most of my stuff up...I won't forget your pics...don't worry. I can't help but think about what future you would have when I think of my own. I sit and think...this would be Brett's second year at OCC this Monday. I wonder if he would have enjoyed it. I saw Mr. Tucker (the really awesome one) also known as the art teacher at OCC at Wal-Mart two nights ago. I'm sure you would have liked him a lot. I'm sure of this b/c to my knowledge every student of his enjoys him and I"m sure if you were going to college, you would have taken an art class. Perharps we would have taken one together....like old times. Do you know I still have my tiki man that we carved in class? Yes I kept yours too...in fact I kept it in the Jeep console for probably a year but I'm sorry to say it got broken and I had to throw it away. If I had known it was the only thing I would have of yours that is tangable...I would have kept it...even if it was in a million tiny peaces. I'd scoop them up and save them all and treasure it like gold. I treasure our moments together like gold...and I'm sure part of the reason is b/c if it was the other way around...I know you would for me. I miss you Brett, Magen Close

I wish I had known you.  / Amy R. Rose (Friend of Mother )
I never had the pleasure of meeting Brett, but he sounds like an incredible person.  I can't imagine the loss his friends and family must feel.  However, I am sure Brett would not want any of you to waste a minute in mourning, but instead live each moment to the fullest in memory of him. Close

Free Bird  / Magen Travous (friend)
Brett, I read this quote several months ago...I forget who it is by but I believe a famous band lost a member and a fellow member wrote this in this memory. 
 A brief candle; both ends burning
 An endless mile; a bus wheel turning
 A friend to share the lonesome times
 A handshake and a sip of wine
 So say it loud and let it ring
 We are all part of everything
 The future, present, and past
 Fly on pround bird
 You're free at last!

Fly on Brett, fly on Close

Untitled / Kelsey Ginder (Sister)
This is actually the first thing I've ever written on here. I've taken a glance at a few of the pages on occasion, but I've never really sat down and looked close. Now that I have, I start to think about things. I think about the plans that I didn't even know I had before. I think about how scared I am that Carson and Robbie won't remember you. I think about how I feel ashamed because I can think about you now without crying.

I can accept so many things, but what I can't accept is all of the great opportunities you were robbed of. You deserved that wife and those kids. You had this aura of invincibility. Whenever I thought about a tragedy or something like this before, I always wondered how you would react. I can say that it never crossed my mind that it could ever happen to you. You know, I have this nice car that I have now, but I would give anything to be riding shotgun in your car. 
Close

Brett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-!!!!!!!!!!!!!! / Meloni Whitten (fellow line dancer )
CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 1 YEAR SINCE YOU WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.I WILL CHERISH YOUR LOVELY SMILE Close

even without music  / Em Hunt (friend)

This is something I have not been able to put down in words yet, Brett.  No better time than now. 

A night or two before graduation you called me up and asked to hang out and of course I went because I would never not go someplace with you.  We saw a movie (I don't even remember which one, I wish I could) with some friends and on the way home found ourselves talking about where we go from here, what we do with our lives now that we're "grown up".... 

You asked me where I saw myself in ten years and I told you I didn't think I'd be around-- I just didn't see myself getting any older than what we are.  I thought I would be the one that went young.
I asked you the same and you said, very happy, a wife, you joked, maybe me.  It was funny (we both know it would not have been me, but you were sneaky and funny like that).  Kids, you said, you loved your nephews, you would love to have boys of your own.  And if you got a girl, well that would be okay too.  

You asked me what my biggest fear was, I said not making my father proud.  The question reciprocated you said you feared that too but your biggest one was not figuring out what to do with your life, radiology... you sighed, you shut up, you didn't finish what you were saying. 

Maybe the moment got to serious for you, maybe you just didn't want to talk about it, maybe you didn't have anything left to say, that's just where the thought ended, I don't know...  you just started laughing and threw your head back against the seat to get all your giggles out. 

A song came on the radio and we rolled our windows down along the highway and sang,  you knew all the words and I made fun of you because it was a girly song.  

....

A week, maybe two before the accident, we saw Batman Begins.  I asked you, which would you rather be, Batman or Superman, you said, Batman, because it could actually happen, ...Superman is completely mythological, Batman is real, you said,  accentuating the real part. 

You then proceeded to do a fair Michael Keaton impersonation, "I'm Batman!!"

It was raining when we got back to town and we went to McDonalds to get something to eat and because that's where your car was parked.  We left and you started dancing in the rain and I did a little jig and said, Brett we have got to get in the car, we are getting all soaked, we are going to catch colds.  

You stopped dancing.  

I got in my car.  You got in yours.  You rolled down your window and said that you'd call me sometime, maybe next week we'd hang out, go for lunch, get a group of friends together to see a movie, something....You turned left on to Main and the right on to Silver... it was the last time I ever saw you. 

....

If I would have known that was the last time I got to see you Brett, the last time I'd get to talk to you, hear your voice, see your sweet smile, I would have prayed for it to never end.   

I would have kept dancing. 




I keep the ring you made me on my right thumb, because that's where yours was.  I tell people I love them and practice senseless acts of beauty because you always adviced me to do so. 

I dance all the time even without music, just the way you did. 



I just thought I'd tell you that, Brett.  

Close

Brett / Amanda Ginder (Sister In Law )

Brett

 

 

A year has passed

Since that shocking night

That changed our world forever.

 

I don’t know how

We’ve won the fight

To keep ourselves together.

 

You were a bright

And shining beacon

Of hope and joy and love.

 

You meant so much

Though rarely was shown

How much you had our love.

 

The time has come

To turn away

And say goodbye again

 

But in our hearts

You will remain

Until we meet in Heaven.

 

Goodbye to one

Who had such fun

Who showed us how to live

 

And in our hearts

And souls and minds

You, to God, we give.

 

                                      ME

Close

Forever with us.  / Cody Crane (Friend)
I am sorry that he is gone. Brett was such a good person and an awesome guy. I didnt know him very long but one lasting memory of him that i have was art class. It was in that class that i met him and got to know him. I was there when he made that ring that he always wore. Forever he will live with me and i cant believe he is gone. But maybe someday we shall meet again. Close

missing you  / Magen Travous (friend)
Brett, this weeks been pretty hard. Not quite as hard as the first couple of weeks, but none the less-hard. Everyday I think about you, not skipping one since you left us....I know your mom is afraid of people going on with their lives and forgetting you. I wish I could tell her otherwise...but I'm not sure how. I don't think she realizes that you touched so many people and that you're someone we could never forget. Just because I don't talk about you everyday doesn't mean I've forgotten...it just means I don't feel like crying. Because...inevitabely...that's what will happen. I miss you so much. I guess it's been a year now...a year since we last saw one another-I'll never forget that night. Remember? The last thing you did was wave to me. I sat right infront of you to the side a few seats and you waved....after the movie I looked for you but you must have went out the side entrance. So I'm gonna come see you tomarrow..we all are. It's kind of hard for me to come...so try not to hold it against me for not coming as often as I should. I hope it's beautiful out tomarrow when we release the balloons for you. I miss you completely, Magen Close

Missing you so much.  / Melissa Ginder (Sister-in-law)
Brett, I can not believe it has been a year since we've seen you.  I'll never forget the week before the accident, being able to spend a lot of time with you.  Going to Holiday World with us, goofing off at the pool that Wednesday morning, soaking up the sun and listening to your music you brought in your CD player.  Never so glad you decided to go to 'Ladies Night' with us that night at Joe's.  I can still see you waiting in the car, so bored, playing with my umbrella while us ladies' stood and gabbed.  I'll also never forget that moment when your mom told us you were gone.  You were such a good person and so much fun to be around.  You were just as much of a brother to me as my own.  I am so glad I got to know you as well as I did. 

There are so many people who are missing you so much.  I know in my heart you are watching us from above, and I also know that we will see you again someday. Close

Remembering Brett  / Darrelynn &. Steve Eichhorst (Friend)

Bob, Cheryl & family,
Steve & I ache for the memory you all are remembering this evening.  Some people will tell you that time heals, but we know that at this moment there isn't enough time to make you forget.  The tragic sounds of the words your son is gone, that sick feeling and numbness that were felt a year ago but most of all the void of Brett not being here are all very real today.  Over the past year we have gotten to know Brett through your stories, showing us all the things Brett loved and through your tears.  Please know that our tears are for your family and in rememberance of Stephen as well.  There will always be a bond between our families that I'm sure we would rather not share, but as time goes on remember that we will always be here to listen, guide and cry with you.  It's a club no parent wants to belong to, but for some reason known only to God we belong.  We love you and your family and pray for Gods comfort in the days to come.

Love,
Steve & Darrelynn

Close

You are in my thoughts  / Sandy Smith
Cheryl and family,
My heart aches for  all of you.
We will never forget that day almost a year ago.
We laughed and were having such fun, for it to end on such a tragic note.
I just read that you got your gazebo.  That is a great healing gift.
It will be a great meditation place, where you can visit with Brett and tell him all about life as it is now. Tell him all the joys and all the sorrows and let the healing take place within your heart.
May each smile and joy from your family and friends lighten your burden.
You are in my prayers.
Sandy Smith Close

My heart aches with yours  / Sharon Anderson
Anyone reading this that have children, it just has to break your  heart.  I can't even begin to know the pain you are in..My heart, my love, my condolences to the Ginder family.  I met Brett at a get together of a group called the Corkies, he was very young then, but such a nice young man.  The tribute you have to him is so nice. Close

brett a true friend  / Meloni Whitten (Friend)
Brett,

Can't believe you have been gone almost a year

I always think of you when I'm at line dance class

Seems like Yesterday I was told you was gone

You was a inspiration to me as a friend 

I'll always won't forget the first time we met Close

To The Greatest  / Aaron Steber (Friend)
I am very sorry for your loss.  With each passing day i still remember him, even though I only knew him for 1 year he was a friend and i will miss him alot.

Fly with the angels and watch over us all to guide us to a better life.  In my head and heart i will always remember you!

-Aaron Close

To A Friend Who I miss  / Meloni Whitten (Friend)
There is a angel in heaven who is looking down at me

He was a dear friend who liked to line dance

Brett I miss you at line dancing 

I always enjoyed watching you dance

It is so quite without you at dance class

Everytime Phil And Vickie does the dances you danced i think of you

I miss you dear friend and I'll see you soon up in heaven



Close

miss ya Brett  / Meloni Whitten (friend from line dancing )
Brett

i miss ya at line dancing 

you was a great dancer and always made me smile when i was sad Close

Sorry for your loss  / Christina (http://mark-andrews.-memory-of.com/about.-aspx)
Close

I understand your pain  / Judy Kinsleys Grandma (visitor)
My Heartfelt sympathy goes out to you as my prayers that God eases our pain of loss and missing our children.Your Brett is a handsome young man I can see  and hear the love in reading about him. Our Kinsley was almost 12 when she left us on July 1, 2005 sometimes this hurting seems unbearable but we go on the best we can one minute at a time Holding on to Gods promise that we have the opportunity to see our children again. 
I care I dont know your pain each child is different but I do understand your pain Prayers and thoughts of your Brett
Judy Close

Thinking of you.....as always....  / Mom
If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. 

Love and miss you  forever dear Betz. Close