Below is a text copy of the eulogy I gave for James at his memorial service.

James was my big brother - and he was a pretty dang good one, if I do say so myself.

He was someone who showed up for the people in his life - and always literally showed up for me. When I moved away, and would fly back on the cheapest possible flights that inevitably landed in the middle of the night, he would always pick me up from the airport. He might give me some grief about it - but he would be there. Just a week before his diagnosis - he picked my partner and I up from the parade route on Rampart - on Mardi Gras Day. Now, if that ain’t love - I don’t know what is. And that was just the type of person James was.

He also approached most things in life - including a cancer diagnosis that would have destroyed most people - with humor. A dark humor granted, but I think it was a way of also a way of lightening the load on those around him. If he could make jokes about a terminal diagnosis, we might all just be okay too.

In his final days, he cracked a joke to Ms. Laura - whose love language is food, you’ll all soon see - that I would need to act as bouncer at his funeral, since everyone would be there for the food (and that queso fountain). His other funerary requests in case you’re interested, were an airbrush t-shirt station, a petting zoo (for the kids), Lil Jon to DJ, airings of both Top Gun movies (come on by the house later), and MRI scans for everyone.

But I don’t want to gatekeep - I want us to remember James fully together.

My brother had a big laugh and a bigger personality. He could be stubborn. He was loud. He felt deeply.He was a complete troll (who else would commission a Harambe painting?) He worked hard. He started most texts to me with “bro”. He was generous. He loved finding inside jokes with people (for us it was Nic Cage, Crocs, and trash animals.) He knew the ins and outs of every convention center in this country - and was a UberEats’ favorite customer. He tinkered and made music with friends for the love of it. He held court on his couch, with a steady rotation of sporting events on screen and friends beside him.

The world is so much less without him in it.

In his final days, he reminded me of that Mardi Gras pick-up story and reminded me that I still owed him. And I guess I always will. I plan on paying that debt by living in ways I think James would appreciate. I hope you will join me.

Let’s lean into the ridiculous - life is too short otherwise.

Find ways to connect with the people that matter to you.

Buy something absurd off the internet.

Listen to some good music.

Make something just to make it.

Wake up early to watch an F1 race - and maybe place a bet or 2.

Eat some decadent food

Take that trip to Vegas.

Find the humor in even the worst situations.

Hold your companions- human and animal - close.

And finally, show up for the people you love.

Thank you.