Jim Brehmer 1971 - 2006
After losing my father to cancer in 1998, his death has had a bit of an effect on my feelings towards some of the people I have been close to over the years. Up to this point, none so much as James Brehmer's death.
Interestingly enough, I did not really hang out with James a lot other than riding, and the occasional lunch or dinner. At his wake I doubt more than 5 people knew me, and yet it seemed like I knew many of them.
What drew us together was our first trip on sportbikes to Deals Gap. James, Don Proctor, and I made that trip together. We became very close friends through the years and the many trips we took together.
If you would like to see more of James head over to the Road Trips link under Deals Gap Trips. You'll find him goofing off in there.
I liked James' sense of adventure and the craziness he openly flaunted to any and all who might cross his path.
His piercings and my tattoos told the story of who we were and the pain we felt all around us in some form or fashion. We both worked within the computer industry, and we shared the same disdain of its often-lame translation to the end user.
He could scare most people just by looking at them. He was a big guy. But that was not indicative of the person inside. James had a big heart and he was a true friend who had no problem going the extra mile for you.
But foremost in my memory is that he loved motorcycles, and pretty much had a garage full of them at any given point in his life.
Around 2001 the excitement of Deals Gap had all but died off. Jim's job was what kept him from hanging out with us and making the annual trips, and Don and I ventured off into trackday riding. James headed off into mountain biking, but continued to ride motorcycles, and we talked about the day we might all gather for another riding adventure over the occasional lunch or dinner.
The day never came, and for the rest of my life, I'll regret that it never did. I miss his comedy, his camaraderie and friendship, his love of motorcycling, and his riding ability and sense of adventure. I'll miss the fun and craziness he brought into my life for small periods of time.
No one I have met can replace that.
God Speed to you James, Thank you for your friendship. This is my memorial to you my friend.
