jloewe
Cathlete
And it was the same person!!! His name is/was RJ Kleckner.
One of the servers at the restaurant inside the hotel I work at passed away after a long illness yesterday, and his passing answered a question I had been asking myself for months on end....
RJ and I had always gotten along fairly well because of our close working proximity, but nothing to the point where I could say we were really good friends. Last winter my wife and I had bumped into him and his girlfriend at a social event where he came up to me and told me he was glad we were such good friends. I was a little taken aback by the comment, wasn't upset about it by any means, just surprised is all.
I was sad to hear of his passing last week, and decided I would pay my respects and attend his mass yesterday along with the restaurant staff, and am so happy I did, because I got to hear story upon story of how RJ would do anything for you, and considered you a friend just by coming into contact with him one time.
One by one his family and closest friends stepped up and spoke of him, and how he would, despite his own health issues, would drive 4 hours daily to care for his elderly parents.
RJ is finally at rest now, and I am kind of at a loss to describe the emotions I have..why didn't I get to know him better??? It's not like I have a ton of friends...here where I live if you don't drink like a fish, you don't fit in, I'd rather not fit in. While I feel bad for my loss, on the other hand, I am most honored that someone that kind would consider me a good friend...I went from surprised to beyond flattered all within the same day.
RJ's goal was to make people around him smile, and feel a little bit better about themselves in his company, the best way I can honor him is to continue to try to do the same in my life.
I woke up the day of the mass, trying to function on very little sleep, feeling like crap after a junk food filled lazy Sunday, and feeling sorry for my pathetic self. I went to bed last night feeling like a million bucks because someone like RJ considered someone like me a good friend.
I will always remember the stories he told to help make the long afternoons at the hotel go quicker, and I will adhere to his final wishes by not mourning for his passing, although that one is going to be a little tough.
I dedicated my Cathe workout (BC/ME Combo) today in his memory and had one of the greatest workouts I have had in months!!
I'll miss you, my friend..and I'm honored beyond belief to be considered one of yours!!
One of the servers at the restaurant inside the hotel I work at passed away after a long illness yesterday, and his passing answered a question I had been asking myself for months on end....
RJ and I had always gotten along fairly well because of our close working proximity, but nothing to the point where I could say we were really good friends. Last winter my wife and I had bumped into him and his girlfriend at a social event where he came up to me and told me he was glad we were such good friends. I was a little taken aback by the comment, wasn't upset about it by any means, just surprised is all.
I was sad to hear of his passing last week, and decided I would pay my respects and attend his mass yesterday along with the restaurant staff, and am so happy I did, because I got to hear story upon story of how RJ would do anything for you, and considered you a friend just by coming into contact with him one time.
One by one his family and closest friends stepped up and spoke of him, and how he would, despite his own health issues, would drive 4 hours daily to care for his elderly parents.
RJ is finally at rest now, and I am kind of at a loss to describe the emotions I have..why didn't I get to know him better??? It's not like I have a ton of friends...here where I live if you don't drink like a fish, you don't fit in, I'd rather not fit in. While I feel bad for my loss, on the other hand, I am most honored that someone that kind would consider me a good friend...I went from surprised to beyond flattered all within the same day.
RJ's goal was to make people around him smile, and feel a little bit better about themselves in his company, the best way I can honor him is to continue to try to do the same in my life.
I woke up the day of the mass, trying to function on very little sleep, feeling like crap after a junk food filled lazy Sunday, and feeling sorry for my pathetic self. I went to bed last night feeling like a million bucks because someone like RJ considered someone like me a good friend.
I will always remember the stories he told to help make the long afternoons at the hotel go quicker, and I will adhere to his final wishes by not mourning for his passing, although that one is going to be a little tough.
I dedicated my Cathe workout (BC/ME Combo) today in his memory and had one of the greatest workouts I have had in months!!
I'll miss you, my friend..and I'm honored beyond belief to be considered one of yours!!
