I was 10 years old when I met Mike Kowalski, back then we called him Squeezel but we wouldn't really have a friendship for a couple more years. We were seasonal campers at Brialee Campground in Ashford. When you are a seasonal camper, a club is formed so to speak. All the kids that are there week after week obviously become close and friendships are formed. We would always make fun of the "weekenders". Those were the kids just coming for one weekend and not cool like us kids.
Mike was always larger than life. He was loud. He smoked, he drank. He always had girls flocking around him. Whether it be at the basketball court, game room, the pool or table rock. Where Mike was, so was a crowd. He would get in trouble a lot. Always getting in to something. I remember him coming by our site once a week to get the garbage. Mike, always the hustler scored himself a little part time job to make a little cash by working for the owner and grabbing the garbage. He would chat with my dad and say hi to me, He was three years older and at that time the age difference was big so he didn't pay a ton of attention to me, but he was always nice.
My last season at Brialee I was 12 years old and Mike was seeing me more as a young woman then a little girl. He was flirty and fun and we hung out more. I mean I am 12, not much going on people so don't get weird. He had plenty of girls his own age lol. That was an amazing summer. We had our Louisiana friends who were living there, and all the folks from CT towns, and so many from Bristol where Mike is from. We had luau's and bbq's and just had a blast. I have so many fun memories with Mike. On my last day at Brialee I went to say by to him and he said later girl. He didn't know I was never coming back as my parents didn't plan to return for another season. I was walking away and suddenly i got swung around, and Squeezel gave me a big ol kiss on the lips. It wasn't some passionate thing or anything like that. I was a little kid. What he didn't know was it just happened to be my first kiss. We didn't have facebook , or cells or texting or email or any of that crap back then so when I left Brialee that day I never expected to see him again but I always remembered him with a smile.
Years passed, we became adults. I went on to become a mom and live my life and one day on Facebook I saw the name Mike Kowalski and thought, no way, can't be, but I had already started finding so many other old Brialee friends and he had the same friends so I knew it was him. I friend requested him and we chatted for a really long time. I caught up on his life. He told me how he met his wife at a really young age and he became an instant dad to his amazing daughter, Krysty. He explained she might not be mine by blood but she's my daughter and anyone who tries to say different will get their ass beat. He then had his daughter, Brianna who is the spitting image of him and so much like him. He told me it scares the hell out of me cuz I want her to do better than me. He was so proud of the life he created. He adored his pets, Oreo and Peanut the pibbles with the wiggles and his 4 cats, and of course the bikes. His passion for riding can't be measured, and the icing on the cake is that his Hot Wifey as he called her rode with him as well and as he would always say she rides better than most dudes I know. I shared my story and he was so kind and caring. Mike came back into my life right after I had my surgery so his support was beyond amazing.
Mike was extremely intelligent and well spoken. He was a mechanic and not just a mechanic but the best mechanic I have ever seen. That dude could fix anything. He had a very hard head and wasn't necessarily open to anyone challenging his opinion, but I quickly learned how to get around that. When I was at my lowest and struggling it was Mike who with the love and support of his wife opened their home to me so that I could get back on my feet. I went from friends to family in a blink of an eye. It was an amazing summer. I dubbed him bad daddy cuz he adopted my dog, Roscoe as his own and that's what we would call him to Roscoe. The family all got on board on day one. They included me in their life. I wasn't just a roommate. I was welcomed into the delivery room when Brianna's daughter, Kyla was born. This is a family who loves hard and is there no matter what is happening.
So when it was time for me to move back out on my own, I was sad to leave but knew that it was the right thing to do. It didn't change our friendship. He was always checking on me even though he knew I had Brian here. He worried. Always worrying about something. Some thought his cranky, aggressive behavior was "Crazy Mike" being an asshole. It wasn't. That's how he showed he cared. He always wanted better for the people he loved and himself. He was unable to express that so it came out as frustration.
A week ago today, I stopped by his work with a coffee and to chat for a few. He was in really good spirits. Things were going well at home and he looked happy. I didn't stay long, but when I left I said later gator and he said Love ya toots. Those would be the last words I would ever hear. I can't express how grateful I am that his stupid fire stick broke and that I had to stop by there to get the money to get it fixed. I am blessed with one last happy memory.
On Sunday, May 21st, I received a horrible call from his loving wife, and at her request, rushed to the hospital to be with her. I said my goodbyes and since that day Dawn, Krysty, Bri and I have been working like a Bad Daddy Super Team to make sure we do everything he would want us to do. He knows we will grieve but he wants us to keep moving forward and I am sure he is proud of how we are sticking together and taking care of each other.
Bad Daddy I will never forget how quickly you came in to my life and a little over a year later you are gone, but you will always be with me. I see the signs. I pay attention. Dawn and the girls will be fine. She is a rock and she is honoring your memory by doing what you would want her to do and staying strong. It was too soon. It's not right and I will never understand the reason why but you are at peace and you can now take care of all the ones you love without the constraints on earth.
I love you. I am so grateful I found you again and that we connected like no time has passed. Dawn and the girls and I will be just fine. We will stick together because that's what you would want.
Until we meet again.
