RAY
“He was in a category of his own...”
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I first met James...
Marwan and I were roommates in college. James and Marwan had an accounting class together and they had started hanging out a lot. James would often come by to our apartment and that’s when we first got to know each other. With James and our growing circle of friends, I felt like the only guy who didn’t like crunching numbers…a computer geek amongst accounting enthusiasts. But as James and I became closer friends, I realized that he was just an awesome person to be around. He was in a category of his own..
Memorable moments...
Although there were lots of good times and memorable moments between us, there was one incident that just really stuck with me. To this day, I can still remember it vividly. One night in college, James, Marwan and I had just come back from a late night out. We told James that it was cool for him to crash on the living room couch. In the morning, I came out from the bedroom to grab a drink from the kitchen. As I walked towards the kitchen, I heard James snoring. Then I turned my head towards the living room and did a double-take.
James was lying there.
Completely naked.
My first reaction: “What the?!”
My second reaction: “Ok, did we have women here last night?” The answer was NO. James got naked all by himself! Talk about making yourself comfortable in someone else’s home.
James realized that he was naked when he woke up later that morning and told us the countless stories of the weird things that happen while he’s asleep. We laughed about it that morning and have continued to laugh every time that story was told.
From that morning forward, Marwan and I never sat on the middle seat cushion for we knew that James’s goods were all over that section of the couch. We always made an effort to sit on the left or right side of the couch just to be safe.
I think it’s just a hilarious story to tell over and over again. Nonetheless, I was scarred from the image of a naked James on my couch. Hey, sometimes the most memorable moments aren’t the most pleasant ones.
Forever in our hearts...
James, remember when I would sleep at 3am LA time while you would wake up at 6am NY time? You’d begin your day, and I’d end my night with a short conversation on how things were going. Those times were always nice.
It’s funny. I used to think of my last name as just a regular last name until you came along. I really didn’t get used to it until you started using it with such humor. You used to say that Phan sounds like some ultimate entity that excels above all. Phan is anything and everything. You’d give examples of college level questions like
If the wholesale cost of Company ABC’s products increases, which cost curves will shift?
A. Average fixed cost
B. Marginal cost
C. Average total cost
D. Phan
A test taker could choose answer D every single time and still get the question right. Those ridiculous questions always put a smile on my face.
Bro, I always enjoyed the music you and I traded online during odd times of the night. I still listen to all of your jams and I think about you every single time I listen to a Coldplay record. We enjoyed the same stuff, and I loved the enthusiasm we both expressed when listening to the songs together. I’ll NEVER forget those times. I’ll continue to explore the realm of music, and when I do come across a song I know you’d like, listen to me when I say, “This is a great song huh James?”
Take it easy bro. Don't ever put that guitar down...
Love,
Ray
I think of James when I listen to:
(click to listen)
Three things you gotta know about James
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James always had Perfect Posture. Too perfect that he looked goofy at night clubs.
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He laughed at little things that people don’t normally laugh at. It was contagious.
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James played imaginary keyboards on the car dashboard...to cheesy 80’s music