Letter Written from a great friend and 2nd Daddy Rick Westfall 12/26/10:
This letter is to talk about Big Daddy (Rick Westfall) and Big B (Brandon Nichols). Wow, where to start concerning Bib B and me. We were there for each other from the minute we met. I was working to put together an elite AAU Basketball team when Brandon was in 3rd/4th grade. No one else knew this is what I was trying to build but myself and the Lord. I went through the neighborhood, YMCA, kids I had encountered, parents, and many others. What actually happened was relationships that will never be forgotten or fully understood.
I became a friend and second father to several kids within the neighborhood. We became very good extremely fast. We were together for a couple of years and went to several places within Oklahoma. Brandon and I became very good friends and I really pushed him to the point he responded aggressively. Those of you that really know Brandon understand him know that was not his personality. Brandon loved to take everything as is and not get to emotional about things that would change when the sun went down for the night.
Brandon understood life and realized everyday was not to be taken for granted and to smell the air and appreciate the day. We would always get into heated conversations and Brandon would tell me not to question his authority. I would tell Brandon he better get ready because I was about to put Kyle and him into a can of whip ---. Brandon and Kyle were like brothers always having a blast and working up ideas to put me in tricky positions. I generally stayed a step ahead of them but there were many occasions when that did not occur.
There were times when we were working out and I was pushing them to the max. Brandon would always have something to say to make everyone laugh and get me to relax and change course for an hour or two. One day I was working them out and Kyle had already got sick and Brandon told me that he had enough. I of course was not through and I was going to get them on track. When I turned my head to get fired up Brandon had the biggest piece of grass from where we were running hills, laps, etc.. The piece of grass from the field went from his mouth all the way to Brandon's waste. It got everyone laughing to the point of crying.
Brandon has the ability of getting everyone to thinking like he was one way or the other. In those days no one was more intense than I was concerning what we were doing. Brandon got me like only he was capable of doing. When Brandon was young I would be yelling at him and telling him what he should be doing on the court and Brandon would just look at me and smile from ear to ear and shake his head to tell me I got this don't worry. I of course never thought anyone just got anything on the court and I would stay on him like the other young kids. Brandon and my relation grew and we were always going to be friends no matter how long we did not communicate.
We moved to Dallas when Brandon was in 7th grade and shortly Brandon and Family moved to Houston. We would talk and Brandon would come to Dallas to visit. Brandon's situation turned and an opportunity occurred for Big B to come and Live with us his Senior year.
Wow, was I naive I thought I was doing this for Brandon and his life. I quickly began to realize this situation of Big B living with us was more about him giving to me and my life than me to him. Christen was in college at the time but Brandon and Christen had a very unique relationship as well. Big B was part of the Westfall family. Jodie took him in like one of her own. Kyle and Brandon were always like brothers.
After games at North Mesquite, Brandon, Kyle, and I would set in the hot tub for at least an hour hashing out every play and what he should of done and how Kyle should have passed him the ball and how Brandon should have blocked a shot or how coach Hefner should have done something he did not do. We would laugh about everything and realize tomorrow was a new day and this one would be lost no matter how hard we tried to hang on to this moment of time. Again, Brandon understood to smell the air and not take a second for granted.
One day Big B was outside by the pool and I asked Jodie where was Big B and she said he was out by the pool. A good hour and a half had passed by and I said to Jodie are you sure Brandon is outside and she said yes with smile. About that time Brandon walked in the house and said "that was the best sleep I have ever had". He was laying in one the chairs and had crashed and he got me laughing
the point of crying. I said did you enjoy yourself he said you have no idea. You need to try it some time. He said he was for sure going to do that again.
Recently, Brandon and I was talking and he told me that things were not working out with his treatments and he may not make it. He did not understand why but he knew him getting better was truly a long shot. He told me he was not getting better. I told him that this very well could be true but he needs to realize he will never go anywhere that he is in a special place in my heart. We both told each other how much that we loved each other and then we started talking about the Saints and how they were playing.
Saturday, December 18 I went to visit Big B knowing this would be it for our conversation as everyone here understands. I know I talk to Brandon every week. I talked to him tonight. I told Big B that the team I was coaching was playing extremely well and I told him about all the players. Big B would want to know about each of them. I reminded him about the nap or sleep he took by the pool. He blinked his eyes. I told him that I was going to take a nap each week by the pool as soon as it warms up. That was going to be our time. We were going to talk and he could give me insight on his thoughts and I was going to take a nap. I know when this happens Brandon will give me his opinion and I will wake up knowing Brandon was right beside me.
You see Big B and Big Daddy go forever and ever. I will talk to Brandon all the time and our love will always be where it was when Brandon was actually here with us. This relationship and impact in my heart will be felt until I meet him again in Heaven. This is what I know and what I know is Big B, Kyle, Christen, Jodie, and I were his second family that holds him in a place that the Lord has for each of us to reunite.
I am going to keep working through Brandon to make a difference with kids each and every year. I know Kyle and Christen is also going to keep Big B close to their heart and not allow others to change the direction Big B has for them. Jodie is the most caring person I have ever met and she knows Big B is still by the pool taking the best sleep ever. Thank you Brandon for the best time ever.
Rick "Big Daddy" Westfall
