Emmett Broaddas Keyword

Emmett Broaddus

Emmett was 21. He was from California. We met in the HI Vancouver. He was as he would like to say “like a cookie man, hard on the outside, soft in the middle…”. We partied hard, played harmonica and drums during a 4am street riot: one of the fondest memories of my trip. We travelled to Victoria, drank beers at Big Bad John’s and tried to pick up ladies always failing with a smile on our faces. We swam in frigid waters and he did the best Steve Irwin impression I have ever seen. We talked, sharing a love of music and travel. We travelled together from Victoria to Seattle on a boat and then met up again in San Fran were we drank and talked about our future travels and Emmetts plans to visit me in Australia. I said ‘so long’ to Emmett in San Francisco, not farewell. He was funny, intelligent and profound. He was talented and energetic, open and compassionate. Most importantly he was my friend.

On Monday on his way to school Emmett was killed in a car accident. I’ll never get to introduce him to the ladies of Australia, or return the hospitality he showed me from the moment I met. The world is missing one magical person and is a little darker because of it. I hope that I can keep his memory alive by living my life as he would, always happy, always open and always with a smile on my face.

So long Emmett, I hope that where ever you are now the women are gorgeous and the beers cold.