I always used to get a kick out of seeing the terms LIVE, Laugh, Love everywhere. And just thought that that was a part of life. You know I never really knew the true meaning of that until I met the other Dan in my life. Ok let me explain. I know my husband Dan is the storyteller in our family and I am going to give this a shot. Try to keep up.
Now I am sure for most followers of Life on Smars you have heard the story of Mr. Smars and myself, so I will not bore you with those details. This is a tale of two guys and one girl. No this isn’t that type of story. (GEESH! This is a family story well kind of). So many women know that when you marry your significant other their best friend is part of the package (whether you like it or not) That is just the way it is. when I saw the true Bromance between the two of them, I knew it wasn’t a force to be reckoned with, all I could do was sit back and watch the shenanigans. And that was exactly what I did.
Dan and Dan shenanigans. The first that comes to mind was a trip my daughter and I made to Wisconsin for the Scottish Games in 2012. We made the trek to see The Finn Maccools play. We decided to go visit the guys and give them a Pep talk before the show. When we arrived at the hotel we walked in and saw Dan Smars sitting on the bed with Dan Brown kneeling in front of him with his head bowed. (no really it isn’t that type of story). Dan Smars was reading from an open Bible on his lap and had one hand placed on Dan Browns head. Now mind, it took a minute for us to realize “Hey, the blind guy is reading a book.” We stood there in disbelief for a few seconds, not wanting to disturb them. We thought this may have been some sort of blessing the 2 of them did before a show. Those 2 “holy rollers” could not keep up the act and they started to crack up. That’s when we realized that we were “pranked”. There were many pranks over the last 11 years that I have known them. There were many more things like this that just kept the laughter going every time we were together. From phones ringing in the middle of our wedding, to mooning the bridesmaids and scaring them off, Dan Brown had this way of making the most out of a situation. I was blessed to be part of the laughter.
Dan Brown was a very important part of my husband’s life, and I grew to love him dearly. Over the past 11 years I have been dubbed his second wife according to his wife Vikki. I was the gig wife who would help load and unload, set up his drums and be the beer wench (yes that is still a thing). I would also get video of the shows that Vicky was unable to attend. We all spent a lot of time together over the last few years.
Before gigs Dan B would get all nervous and anxious and almost “DIVA-esque” (oh how he would get mad when I told him this) but he would calm down and they would put on one hell of a show.
There is a reason I wanted to bring these things up. Today we were tasked with the honor of bringing Dan’s ashes home. This is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I do it with all the love I have in me because I know that is what he would have wanted. So Dan Brown, as the physical adventures have come to an end The LOVE and LAUGHTER you have brought to so many through your words, music and just the person you were LIVE on in the legacy you have built.
In Loving Memory of Dan A Brown,” THE STICKLESS WONDER” (he hated that nickname!)