How do you say goodbye to a person you've known for all your life? I still can't believe my brother Chris is in heaven. He drove me crazy growing up. We fought like cats and dogs. He would be the first to call me out on any insecurity I had about myself. He was also the first person to stand up for me or my family when someone did something wrong to us.
Christopher Reid Lindley was a true mess. He loved soccer, clothes, shoes, and his little boy Kingston. I have so many memories of Chris- ones that made me laugh, cry, mad, or simply shake my head. He was truly unique in his own right.
I remember growing up, his room was a disaster....literally a disaster. He would have clothes all the way around the perimeter of his room. He would simply wash what he wanted to wear that day and then it would return to his floor. Even though he was a slob in his room, he always dressed nice. He loved to iron his jeans. I never thought I would see him use an iron, but he did. He would use a ton of starch on his jeans for a crease. He loved looking nice.
His room usually had some sort of sports gear in it. He loved soccer. I remember running around the hotel hallways with him when we were out of town for a soccer tournaments. We probably drove other people in the hotels crazy. The whole team would usually just roam the hallways and elevators occasionally knocking on a random door and then running off. He loved to referee soccer games. I remember at Murray Park, he reffed a game final. It was a big deal. He did great. He also had his Mom, my Dad, and several others doing parent crowd control to show their support.
At a regional tournament one year, after our van breaking down (which it did all the time) outside New Orleans, we ended up in a horrible hotel. We all found our places in this room- ones where we didn't have to touch anything. Chris ended up sleeping in a chair all night. He never moved. Speaking of hotel rooms, Chris always had to sleep on the floor. He always took the comforter too. Mom and Dad kept the rooms freezing at night- Chris would wrap up like a cocoon and I would freeze to death with the sheets on the bed.
Chris and I would fight anywhere. The car, house, outside, we simply didn't care. One day we started fighting in my parents room. We were on their bed, ended up on the floor, and then preceded into the hallway. We were met with a giant inhale of air. My Mom never yelled at us. She simply told us to go to our rooms. We looked down and there on the bottom of the wall was a hole. It was about the size of my head. Mom told us it would cost 10,000 dollars and that we were going to have to go to sheet rock school to learn how to fix it. Did that ever stop us from fighting? Nope....not at all.
After high school, Chris went many different ways himself. He had numerous jobs- too many to count. In fact, I remember him saying that he had his bills covered for one month, so he quit his job, and would find work next month when more bills were due. What?! He flew by the seat of his pants many a day- so unlike me. He would drive me crazy with the dumb decisions he would make.
He once traded in his brand new 2001 Mustang for a 1995 Cadillac because his payments were about $25 bucks cheaper a month for a year. It had a tape player in it! Who does that! I remember the day it happened. My Mom ended up inside the dealership talking to the salesman- she cleared the place out. They soon decided to let Chris live with his mistakes over that one. That car was so sweet- the Mustang that is!
Oh, and speaking of cars. Chris apparently sneaked out one night with a friend. They drove my PaPa's old white Ford pickup truck. It had no power steering at all. Chris was lighting a cigarette and couldn't hold it and turn the truck around a corner. He ended up scraping the truck across a street sign and removing the door handle. He covered it up by place a $10 bill inside the truck. Later that morning, he convinced Mom and Dad that someone had been trying to break into the truck to get that money. He came clean after Dad said he was going to call the police and get the truck dusted for finger prints.
When Chris became a Dad, it was a happy time for my family. It wasn't so happy for me at first. I had a hard time accepting it. It was no lie that I was jealous of Kingston. I wanted to be the first to have a grandkid for my parents. The Lord saw a bigger plan though. It took me a while to come on board with that. Now though, I wouldn't trade that little Turkey head for anything. Chris sure did love his little boy. I remember the time Luke had to change his diaper in our guest bathroom. I really thought he was going to lose his lunch. Kingston was the light of Chris's eye. I think it's truly what helped him get his act together. He wanted the best for him. It's going to be hard not hearing him call him "King" anymore.
I would love to say that Chris and I became best friends throughout the years. That we were super close after leaving Mom and Dad's house. That's simply not the case. I would find myself wondering why he was calling me....what he wanted....what kind of trouble he was in now. The truth is, in the last couple of years we were able to talk and become friends. I was able to put away my hard feelings towards him, and just be his sister.
At Mt. Magazine a few weeks ago, we had the best time as a family. We all laughed and played and ate together. Chris, Summer, Luke, and me all took the kids on a hike. It was a long hike straight up the side of the mountain. It was the first time I felt like I was more physically fit than Chris. We had been teasing him about putting on a few pounds. He had discovered butterscotch milkshakes at the local diner he was working in. While decorating Mom's tree, I teased Luke about eating cookies. I told him if he didn't stop, he'd be looking like Chris. Chris just laughed.
I can honestly say that the last few months and weeks have been the best times for our family. Chris was able to just be his old self- one full of laughter and jokes. He will forever be missed. His legacy will carry on for his little boy. Kingston will grow up knowing what a mess his Daddy really was. I love you brother of mine. I can't imagine all the fun you are having in heaven!
