Dear Family and Friends,
The Reck “Kids” are leading the annual Christmas letter. Here’s their version of 2012:
Not too much has changed for the South Carolina Recks this year. After major renovations on the inside of our house last year, we focused more time on the outside, clearing away 25 years of overgrowth. We are hoping for an early spring so we can begin to add flowers and shrubs. We have met many new people here and are grateful to have so many great friends in both of our hometowns. We have enjoyed the many visits from friends and family this year, and cherish the time we spent together. Come back soon! James is going on 12 years with Home Depot, and is still the Contractor Sales Manager at a store in Columbia. Melissa made a hard decision to leave School Resource, (teaching D.A.R.E to elementary kids), and became the first female officer ever on the Drug Suppression Team for the Columbia Police Department. She recently found out that she will be able to do both in 2013, becoming the first South Carolina officer to teach D.A.R.E. in a home school setting.
After 3 years of marriage, we are finally going on a honeymoon! Our friends are getting married in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in late May, and we are very excited to have this opportunity. We received good news in June that Tucker was hearworm-free, and drastically more healthy than when we adopted him last November. Tucker and Baya (as we say, our children) immediately grew into an inseparable pair, and bring us much joy. They often come to dinner with us- in Columbia, any restaurant with a patio normally allows you to bring dogs. We miss all of you in Wisconsin (and other parts of the US) very much, and look forward to seeing you soon. If you ever find yourself in or near South Carolina, reach out to us- we'd love to see you!
Scott enjoyed his time living with his roommates Kris and Gracie and loved the perks of living at home (free rent, free food and good company). But all good things must come to end and it was time for this 31-year old to start acting his age. In September, Scott moved into a 1-bedroom place on 85th and Capital so he is still in the neighborhood to help Mom out by mowing the lawn, setting up the Christmas decorations and shoveling the snow that will eventually come this Winter. Scott just had his 5-year anniversary at Mark Travel and completed his 11th season at Miller Park. He is thankful to have some stability in these uncertain economic times. Some sadness hit his life in August when his 8-year-old cat Coach Gordon Bombay died from unknown causes. But with every ending comes a new beginning and he adopted a new cat, 2-year-old Major Korben Dallas, who keeps his life interesting by messing around with everything and thundering around the apartment. In his free time Scott works on his multitude of websites including (but not limited to) Pookon.com, TimReck.com and BackAlleyBurners.blogspot.com while continuing to play guitar, sing and live all day, every day, Raging for Timmy.
And speaking of Rage for Timmy we held a concert in August featuring music performed by his friends and family that included many of his former bandmates. It was a night of great times and great memories and all of the bands played songs that Timmy wrote or were from his favorite artists. We'd like to thank all of the bands that played and all of the people who attended for sharing in this celebration of his life. Thanks to your generosity we were able to donate over $700 to Why Hunger, a charity started by Harry Chapin, who was one of Timmy's biggest influences. We plan on making this an annual event so keep your calendars open for a Saturday in early August. When we finalize the date we will let you know as soon as possible. We hope you can join us for this important tribute to Timmy's life! For videos from the Rage for Timmy Concert in 2012 or the Tim Reck Memorial Concert in 2011, head on over to TimReck.com.
Jenny Reck here. What can I say about myself this year… Well, I’m just a million dollars short of being a millionaire. I’m still happily living on the East Side with my cat Higgins. It’s so nice being down here, within walking distance from the lakefront, and with plenty of activities going on to keep me entertained. Which is good, because I spent half the year being a Stay-at-home-Mom; well you know, minus the kids part. Thankfully, I was recently hired at a small firm, Gramann Reporting (a court reporting firm), as a ‘Productions Specialist’. I can honestly say that since graduating from UWM in May of 2008, this is the first job that I’ve actually enjoyed. So far, so good! Day after day I am still heartbroken and missing my best friend Timmy, but I’ve figured out that the best way to live my life to the fullest is to stay as positive as I can, to remember the good times, and celebrate his life each and every day, just as he would all want us to do. I couldn’t be where I am now without the love and support of my family and friends, which I am forever grateful for. Bring it on, 2013!!!
Finally, it’s mom’s turn. I won’t sugarcoat my portion of the letter, as 2012 has been a difficult year for me. Trying to balance my job, school, and grief has been a challenge. I miss Tim so much, and the grief journey is hard. I do try to live life to the fullest (thanks, JennyReck), but the ultimate heartbreak is to lose a child. That being said, there were some highpoints to the year. Eddie and I visited James and Melissa last January, and also took a side trip to Savannah. It is a fascinating city, and so full of history. There are many beautifully designed parks and squares, and we put a lot of miles on our feet! Our 23rd annual trip to Afterglow Lake Resort with my brothers Rick and Greg, and their families, is always so much fun. Singing around the campfire, (not much guitar playing for me, as I broke a bone in my hand in early July), playing games, swimming and relaxing in a tranquil setting does a lot to ease one’s mind. The Rage for Timmy Concert was the brainchild of Scott and Jenny, and it was a fantastic event. So many wonderful people gave up their time and talent to honor my boy!
We are missing one more person around our holiday table this year, as my wonderful mom went home to Jesus on November 9th. Her last three years were such a struggle, and we are happy that she is at peace. Dad showed us such love and commitment by being with her every single day. So, I close this letter by being thankful for the Trifecta in my life: Faith, Family and Friends. Thank you to every single one of you for the love and compassion that you have given to me and mine. May you and yours enjoy a blessed holiday season!
With Love from the Reck Family -
Kris, James, Melissa, Scott, Jenny, Gracie, Baya, Tucker, Higgins and Major Korben Dalls
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