My Brother…

While he’s always been my little brother and I’ve always looked out for him, I think we really got closer when I started my company, SICK STAR. Our sister, Kristine, and Norm have been my biggest supporters from the jump, and soon the company became “our” company. Norm and I became like Walt and Roy Disney, where I would have these crazy batshit ideas and Norm would make these what seemed like pipe dreams to normal people, reality. We didn’t have a blueprint for anything and we figured out stuff ourselves and with the help of our friends, and especially, Norm’s friends. I’d gotten our first huge retail order when I was in L.A. and Norm was the first person I called back home in Vegas. We were to deliver in 3 weeks. I was so excited and yet wondered where we were going to find the money to produce the order and I didn’t want to ask our parents for help. I was afraid that we weren’t going to be able to fulfill the order. Norm said don’t worry and that he’d figure it out. He called back in a couple of hours and said he got the money from his good friend, Kurtis, and we ended up delivering on time. Another time, I was managing someone and needed headshots for them and didn’t know who would be able to do them, and Norm said he had a friend, Genix, who had a camera and we got quality professional grade photos back and they looked better than I ever expected. With Norm, it’s not just him knowing a guy, but he has these friends that he has unique lifelong relationships with and knows these details you wouldn’t remember you told him but he genuinely cares about you and the things you say. With SICK STAR, Norm and I have done a lot of cool things, from making clothing and products, putting on art shows, throwing some dope memorable parties, to helping out causes bigger than ourselves by putting on fundraisers, and a whole lot more - all with the help of our friends. One of my favorite things and things I’m proudest of that we can’t really package up is making SICK STAR a platform for people to follow their passions. This stems from Norm’s passion for life that shines through in this big ass goofy smile that he wears all the time. You know what it looks like. You can tell that he’s enjoying life and he wants you to experience it just as happily too. Norm would see the potential in you and would work and strive with you to get and be better to reach the next level. He’d urge you to leave comfortability and contentedness for a chance at happiness - to leave your dead end job, to go back to school, to ask that girl out, etc... Of course the unknown is scary, but no risk, no reward, and Norm would remind you that taking the chance would be worth it no matter what. I don’t think much scares Norm but I remember years ago when he was dating a bunch of different girls but they all just seemed whatever. But there was one that scared him. He always talked about this really cute girl that worked upstairs from him. I asked him, “well did you ask her out?” This shit went on for like 3 months that he kept talking about this girl and I kept saying “are you gonna grow the balls and ask her out or what?” He’d finally ask her out and she said yes. He was so excited. I actually got to meet her right after their first date when they came to hang out at Little Darlings with Big John, Martin, and me, and we could see she was hella cool. In the same weekend, Celeste was there at a SICK STAR photoshoot at Norm’s house, side-by-side with him watching the two babies of one of our models while we worked and I could tell that they already made a great team. Throughout dating you could see how much happier Norm was, more so than his usual self. He’d always text me randomly, “My girlfriend is so hot! Life is amazing!” Coming from other people, you might think that they’re manic, but from Norm, you’d believe it. One of the more recent texts says, “Did I tell you that I’m thankful that my future wife is so hot.” I could tell how much he loved Celeste. Although he’s my little brother, I’ve looked up to Norm as he’s an inspiration, motivation, and keeps me and SICK STAR grounded while still reaching for the stars. And just life is that much funner with him in it. I think that everyone can take a note from Norm and follow their passions and take the chance on whatever you’re marinating on. A lot of people live their lives on autopilot. You can check off all the boxes and still only be content. From Norm, I’ve learned that there’s so much more to life than being content. As they say, there’s a lot of things in this life that are mediocre, but of all those things, Love should not be one of them. And I’m beyond happy that he’s found someone that he’s so passionate about with Celeste and the life and love they’re making together… To everyone, may you be more like Norm. And to my brother and new sister, that your lives continue to be filled with passion, joy, hope, and the love of all your friends and family. Cheers!

- eRecto

Norman & Celeste

11.16.19