Bob Riker

 

This one is going to be hard.

 

Bob Riker is one cool dude.  He very suddenly passed away. I am still trying to get my hands around it.

Bob was a collector of things.  Baseball memorabilia was one of his big things.  He has 2 Babe Ruth signed baseballs.  He has everything Derrick Geter, Thurmond Munson.  Are you seeing the pattern.  He was a huge Yankee fan.  For many years.  The first time I saw his collection I was blown away by one piece.  He has a shadow box with every no hitter pitched signed by the pitcher!!  Even the Don Larson no hitter in the 1958 World Series where he faced the minimum batters at 27.

However, Bob was a great guy.  Generous to a fault.  Kind to all.  Loving to his wonderful Jo Ann. And a great friend. He loved to cook.  He made the best Manhattans you will ever drink.  He loved smooth Jazz and a good time.  He loved to watch Jo Ann gamble, slots, he loved games of chance as well.  We went to a casino with them once.  All the staff doted over him and Jo Ann from the minute we arrived until we left.  It was so cool to watch.  We when to dinner and Jo Ann was flirting with our young waiter and I watched Bob just reveled in that.  Jo Ann and I would often kid Bob and my wife about not including us in their conversations.  It was our special time to harass them. Which sometimes they didn’t!  I am going to miss that as well.

My wife and I would go to their house for dinner often.  We so enjoyed Bob and Jo Ann. I have tried to leave their home many times when I had to look for my car in their driveway.

Fun Times….

I sure am going to miss my friend. I got a text from him 2 days before he passed with a crazy picture of him making fun of himself.  I am keeping that picture forever.  It will remind me of how much fun he was and how comfortable I was around him.

You know the Blessed Man is not liking writing about the loss of such great people.  I can remember my Granny telling me one time that the worst curse in the world is to out live all of your friends and family which in a way she did.  She buried all her children but one.  Her husband all her siblings and family.  I remembered that conversation when I got the news about Bob.  He doesn’t have to worry about that now.  And it is our job to make sure we all remember him in the light that he lived.  Kind, Loving, Caring, and Genuine.  Things we should all be striving to be every day. 

Bob Riker, God’s Speed my friend. You will be missed and always remembered.

 

Peace,

 

The Blessed Man

Karen Levy

 

You know I have been told that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.  I have been so blessed to have had some very cool people in my life for a long time.  However, Karen is one that was for a season and a reason, sadly not a lifetime. We recently lost her to a very quickly spreading cancer.

Karen was one of the people we all want in your life.  She was always smiling and laughing, and it was contagious you just could not help but become involved in her good time. I will miss her very much.

She was the partner of someone I call one of my best friends, Dan.  Dan is a story as well.  He is from New York.  Enough said, right?  However, Dan isn’t that New Yorker you dread to be around.  He is the one you always try to sit next to at dinner because you know you are about to be entertained.  Let’s just say I love the guy.

Funny thing is when Dan and Karen met, they were different people, kind of.  Her devoted family matriarch.  Loving Mother, Grandmother, whoops MIMI.  And that was her focus.  Dan came into her life and was the rain the flower needed to bloom.  She remained the family focused however she began to really let go and have fun.  I was never with her in a social situation where she wasn’t making sure we were all having a blast. Her and Dan were the consummate hosts, or the best addition to your event you could ever have.

This is Dan’s second partner loss.  His first wife, Jo. Passed and we all loved JO.  Dan was there for her everyday.  He also was there for Karen everyday.  I find myself thinking about him and I marvel at how he keeps his head high and powers through the pain, that I know must be mind-blowing at times.  I also find myself asking if I am doing enough for my friend and brother.  All I know is I’m trying too.  I hope he knows that.  He has a support network that is second to none.  He has Softball, Golf, Neighbors.  The list goes on and on which says a lot about my buddy.

I laid awake a couple of nights ago and tried to place myself in his shoes to try to feel what that must be like.  I really couldn’t do it.  Which I must confess I was a little glad about.  I know if I ever lost Darlene, it would be very hard on me.  She is my rock; she is my Karen.

Now to close the loose ends.  Karen came into my life for the season that was such a joy.  I loved her and all her ways.  I loved the way she simply made you love her; there was no other choice.  The reason.  Was to show me that the only way to live is full blast.  Never ever accept second best.  Love like your life depends on it.  Because, in the end it really does.  Share with another.  Her and Dan in a quick 6-year lived life like we all should.  At the celebration of life, for her, he shared a few of their stories and they were amazing.  And it was so fitting we ran out of Margarita’s!!! Karen would have been proud.

I’m going to miss my friend.  I am going to never forget the season or the reason that the beautiful Karen Levy passed through my life.

 

Peace,

 

The Blessed Man