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Facts of Life

rback33

rback33

Hangin in Tornado Alley
I know it seems strange for me of all people to put something in the seriously speaking section, but I am in one of those somber moods of reflection. I just got back to the office after attending the funeral of a "good friend" to use the words of his daughter. Kenny was everyone's good friend. Kenny also played a role in the early beginnings of what would evolve into KMW, the company I work for. I saw him most often when he would come by the plant and see how things were going and just stir up trouble. He was a bit of an honorey old cuss. He lived right on the main street through town and always sat outside in front of his garage with the door open and two lawn chairs. One for him and one for whomever stopped by to visit. My baby sister works at the Pharmacy here in town and was very close to Kenny. He told her personally he was ready to go. I can honestly sit here and say that the THIS world lost a great man, father and friend and we would all be better off if we were a little more like him. If I get the chance I will post the back page of the memorial bulletin that his daughter wrote. It really summed up the kind of man he was. As I get older, it happens more often that I have to deal with these kinds of emotions. The passing of people is a fact of life and one that gets more blatant as we age. I am sure there are a great many of you that have worked through this way more than I have, and I wonder how you do it. I will admit to you all here (where you can't make fun of me) that I am a crier from a long line of criers. For all the greatness my family has put forth on the football field, we cry at the drop of an emotional hat. To be honest...that's how I knew to marry my wife. The day we put one of our dogs down and I called HER to cry on HER shoulder rather than one of my other long time friends. I needed my best friend to lean on. I am not sure there is a real point to all this, but thanks for listening. I have some work to do and I need to call m wife and daughter and remind them that I love them. You can't say those words too much.
 
Well, Sir, I'll be the last to make fun of any guy who'll shed a tear. It shows caring and the ability to love and be loved. Losing anyone close, be it family or just a great friend is, indeed, a time to reflect. Now come the days of driving by Kenny's garage and not seeing the open door and two lawnchairs. Gone are the days of occupying one of those chairs, if only for a few minutes. In losing Kenny, you lost a part of yourself because he played a large part in your life. If you have any pictures of this "ornery cuss", I think we'd love to see them. If you feel a need to talk more, you're welcome to pm me, email me, or, if you'd rather, I'll read of him in posts right here. Thing about grieving is that however you're feeling at a given moment is the right way to feel. So, go on. Whatever comes will come. I, along with others of this forum, will be right here for you to lean on, should you feel the need.
I'm sorry for the loss of Kenny. Men like him don't come along very often, anymore.
Take care of yourself.
 
Well you and I certainly do have a few things in common. And that man who passed sounds like an honerable gentleman that had a kind heart too. And its true what you said about people like him dont exist nearly as much as they should or as they were. You made a nice tribute to him. :thumb:
 
Sorry to hear about Kenny rback33. What a great man Kenny must have been, to leave such an awesome impression on the people he touched in his life.
 
Good post rback. :thumb: It sure shows what type of person Kenny was to make an impression on you like that. Those men are rare nowdays. Salt of the earth we used to call them. Sorry for your loss, and the communities loss.
 
Thanks guys. I really appreciate the words. It really is strange for him to not be sitting outside, especially this time of year. I was talking to my MIL about and she was like "who?" So I mentioned him sitting outside.... and the light came on.

Monte, I may take you up on the PM offer later. I know a very small amount about the losses in your life and I think we could have some nice chats.

Thanks again guys.
 
no fun.
and don't worry about being sad - if you ever get to the point where things like this DON'T hit you in the heart, THAT'S when you'll have the problem. it'll take some time for the "m,issing" feeling to ease, then you can go out and get your own pair of lawn chairs and keep the tradition alive.
 
Erik said:
no fun.
and don't worry about being sad - if you ever get to the point where things like this DON'T hit you in the heart, THAT'S when you'll have the problem. it'll take some time for the "m,issing" feeling to ease, then you can go out and get your own pair of lawn chairs and keep the tradition alive.
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Ya know... I like that idea about the chairs... if only I lived in town.... gonna have to think on that one..... his daughter would like that I think...
 
The only thing to help in times like these will be time.....
Draw from the memories of these people and how they impacted your life and learn from them how you can be an impact on the people you care about.
Losing my parents was the hardest for me. Theres not a day that goes by that I don't see them in myself.
 
rback33 said:
I can honestly sit here and say that the THIS world lost a great man, father and friend and we would all be better off if we were a little more like him.
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I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

You were fortunate to know him, and I suspect as time goes on you will pass along the good things you learned from him. Doing so, you honor his memory.
 
For you to post such a sad yet enjoyable read Kenny must have been someone real special.
Maybe a bench in town is needed for you to sit and remember Kenny.

I'm sorry for your loss.
 
kimi said:
For you to post such a sad yet enjoyable read Kenny must have been someone real special.
Maybe a bench in town is needed for you to sit and remember Kenny.

I'm sorry for your loss.
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Ditto Kimi's post....

You are a fortunate fellow Rback, as is your sister. Many never get the chance to experience special relationships like that.

Maybe the bench can resemble two lawn chairs! THAT would be special. Maybe outside the company office.

Excellent idea Kimi....:thumb:
 
That was beautiful Jeremy :)
The world needs more like Kenny, doesn't it?

Every once in a while a person comes along that makes your world a whole lot brighter.
Sounds like he was one of them for many in the community.

If you ever need to talk about loss- feel free to PM me.
Been there done that many times in my personal life ( lost my Dad to lung cancer-a sister and a niece at the same time in a car crash-my baby half-sister in a car crash- and my hubby (6 years ago this August).

Friends, faith and lots of crying is the only way to work through it.

Erect a small memorial someplace in town for Kenny.
Like others have suggested, it could be a small bench ..with a little garden nearby for others to sit and enjoy.

Mucho hugs sweety.
Thanks for sharing..:wink:
 
Hey rback, sorry it took so long for me to see this. Like the others said, I'm here for ya. Feel free to pm, e-mail, or hell, send me yer ph# & I'll call ya when I get home from work. That would be about 1:30........AM :poke:

Serious: So sorry for the loss of your friend. I like the idea of a bench in town, "in memory of Kenny". Hopefully under a nice shade tree.
I'm here for ya, feel free to contact.
 
Hope you don't mind rback but had a look and thought this type of seating would be fitting if you do go ahead and install something in his memory.
 

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