Living in Brian’s shadow

A man walked out to the street and hailed a taxi that was just going by.  He got into the taxi, and the cabbie said, “Perfect timing. You’re just like Brian.”

Passenger:  “Who?”
 
Cabbie:  “Brian. He’s a guy who did everything right all the time.  Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happen like that to Brian, every single time.”

Passenger:  “There are always a few clouds over everybody.”

Cabbie:  “Not Brian.  He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star and you should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy.”

Passenger:  “Sounds like he was something really special.”
 
Cabbie:  “There’s more.  He had a memory like a computer.  He remembered everybody’s birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with.  He could fix anything. Not like me.  I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out.  But Brian, he could do everything  right.”
 
Passenger:  “Wow. Some guy then.”
 
Cabbie:  “He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I  always seem to get stuck in them. But Brian, he never made a mistake, and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good.  He would never answer her back even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man!  He never made a mistake.  No one could ever measure up to Brian … “
 
Passenger:  “An amazing fellow. How did you meet him?”
 
Cabbie:  “Well, I never actually met Brian.  He died.  I’m married to his fecking widow.”