R.I.P. Nico Osorio

I've been putting this off for awhile. It's been pretty tough dealing with the loss of such an awesome person that I was privileged to call my friend. Although I only knew Nico for a little more than a year and a half, he easily became one of my closest friends. I still remember the time I met Nico: CU band camp 2011. I was getting my stuff all ready for the first day of band camp and meeting all the new freshmen when up to me comes this guy wearing a black beater with tattoos and toe shoes. We said hi, introduced ourselves, and meanwhile I'm thinking to myself "this kid's kind of strange, who the hell wears toe shoes?" However, over the following week and marching season, I realized this guy was one of the coolest and most mature freshman I've ever met and he became my one of my closest friends. I don't think I've ever had a friend I felt more comfortable spilling my secrets to, and he probably knew more about me than 99% of all my other friends.

At first, he was kind of an introvert, at least it seemed that way. But after I kept talking to him and nagging him to come out with the cymbal line to parties and such, the closer we became. The one moment that kind of solidified our friendship was after a cymbal party when we slept over and took care of one of our friends. During this we had a drunken tell-all and got to know each other very well. 

Over the remainder of the season, we became even better friends. At one point I needed a suit for band banquet. So the only person I would ever trust with fashion advice, Nico, came out with me and for 5+ hours helped me pick out a suit (which btw, is my favorite suit I've ever owned). 

After the season ended, we hung out every now and then, but nowhere near as much as we did during the season. When we did hang out, we usually drank scotch, listened to jazz, and just talked about life.

The last time I saw him was at our cymbal party, only briefly, in early February. I wish I could have seen him more and talked to him more during that time, but there's really nothing I can do now. I am grateful I was able to hang out with him one on one the week before. 

I miss my friend. I miss the one person I felt wouldn't judge me. I miss the continuous back-and-forth Family Guy references. I miss the mustache jokes. I miss Nico Osorio. 

Billy Joel was right when he said only the good die young. He was the best of us. I miss the hell out of the man and I can only hope that he's in Heaven and that I'll see him there some day.

Love you Nico.