Stretch: A birthday tribute to Brandon Lee

Ok so one Saturday a few years ago in like maybe 2024 I get a call from my adoptive mother asking me was I coming to this church event that was happening later in the day. Now originally I was gonna tell her no because I was tired from work the day before, but before I could inform her that I changed my mind, she starts telling me about this “friend” of hers who’s gonna be joining us at this event. Apparently they had started dating at the time and she had introduced him to all her other closest family members and now it was my turn.

I let out a big sigh of exhaustion because I didn’t know she was dating anyone and I really didn’t wanna meet this dude. But what makes it worse is I couldn’t even bail out of this event now because it would’ve looked like I was bailing out to avoid him. Then mother Peggy starts telling me that she told him about me and she let me know that I would meet him asked me to be nice to him, to which I was very offended. I’m like “why she tellin’ me to be nice to him like I’ma be mean?” My older sister later reminded me who I was and cleared this up.

So I get to church and this big tall dude walks in behind me. He was literally one of the tallest people I’d ever seen, but what I didn’t realize was this is mom’s new boyfriend. It wasn’t until the ceremony was over that she introduced us and he seemed friendly enough. She asked me was I coming with them to eat after the ceremony and I told her I wasn’t because I was tired, which I felt bad about later because I didn’t want her to think I wasn’t coming because of him, I actually was just tired. His name was Brandon Lee and today is his birthday.

Brandon Lee was born February 18th 1981 in Frog Pond, North Carolina. Don’t ask me where that is, I just live here. Growing up in Frog Pond he knew a young woman named Nicole (first name Peggy) and though they were pretty cool, as adulthood approached their lives went in different directions. Nearly three years ago he reconnected with Nicole after life took a big turn. They found each other and found love in that regard and got happily married.

During this time Brandon and I became connected on social media and exchanged phone numbers. It was here that I started to learn a lot about the guy. The biggest lesson I learned is that it’s very difficult not to like him. I found that we had similar interest. We both are big pro wrestling fans and we like a lot of the same movies, but that’s not even the meat and potatoes of it all. Brandon became someone who checked in on me a lot (still does to this day) and he has a habit of sending me alot of dad jokes. I ain’t gonna hold you tho, them dad jokes be kinda funny.

I also learned that he is a father and a very great one at that. I ended meeting his oldest daughter (who I’ve become really cool with I’d say) and a few times I wanted to tell her how blessed she was to have a dad like Brandon, but with how much she loves that man back it’s not even necessary, she knows how great he is. Brandon is a special type of kind soul. He really loves and appreciates life and everyone in it. He treats everyone equally and an invitation to an open door to his house is one you’d greatly enjoy.

Me being who I am I tried my hardest to dislike the dude, but failed miserably. The guy just seeks you out to love unconditionally and them dad jokes are just the icing on that love cake. I’d probably never tell him to his face, but I hope his birthday is as amazing as he is because he definitely deserves it for all he does for others. I asked him what his greatest accomplishment was in addition to being a great father and he said marrying moms was that greatest achievement. So to the great father, husband and family man named Brandon Lee, happy birthday Stretch.