The Write Time and the Write Place - Some Lucky Folks Get This Every Night

It is natural to be envious of someone else who has something that you do not have. I would like to say that I am above or beyond that, but I am human just like every single one of you reading this post right now. I live in the outer regions of Milwaukee and I could walk to the "suburbs" if I really wanted to. But I am surrounded by concrete, buildings, stores, gas stations, man made green spaces and other city objects. Here in Wisconsin I do have the ability to easily venture into an area that is "untouched" by human hands that maintains a true and natural beauty. Every now and then I try and escape into nature and go camping for a weekend or take a moment to walk out in the park. But even when I do allow myself to take that chance, it only lasts for a moment, a few hours or a few days. It certainly doesn't repeat itself on a daily basis. That is why I was so incredibly jealous (and very upset that I would have to leave this place and go back to my real life) when I spent some time at a Random's house when I was in South Carolina.

This night was a total surprise to me and even though I'm pretty good at improvisation, I couldn't help but act a a little lost while hanging at a stranger's house. I guess they weren't really strangers because they were friends with my brother James and his wife Melissa, but these people were so Southern that I felt like Yankees like us weren't allowed to set foot on this hallowed ground. But (SPOILER ALERT), the North won the war. Sure, the South may rise again, but not on my watch M'nfer. No offense of course to the ones who are true Southerners who still believe. But it's not going to happen pal. But we can still be friends, right? I hope so, because I really like hanging out down here. To be honest, I've been spreading lies just now. Tim and Kristy did unleash some real Southern hospitality upon us and they graciously welcomed us into their home. After I settled in and checked my inhibitions at the door, I was able to enjoy the good company, good food and great surroundings that this night gave us. 

Even though it sounds like I am being a real son of a bitch for making fun of our hosts and rehashing facts from the Civil War, I really did enjoy my evening here. After all, I got free eats, dinner and a show AND I got to hang out with my entire family. What more can you want in life? This was magical and I didn't even have to deceive you in any way. But I still wish that I was in a position to have this in my backyard. I don't even have a backyard (it belongs to my neighbors downstairs - I just rent this place).  So I appreciated every moment of being here. I did not take this for granted. I understood that I was given an opportunity to experience a different way of living, if even for a brief amount of time. I'm not there. I doubt that I will ever be. But I feel like if I keep on trying, I might be able to get close. There are a lot of lakes in Wisconsin. If I am fortunate to grow old and be able to retire, I'd like to get a cabin on the lake. I would love to wake up every morning with this kind of view in my backyard. I would love to sit out on the dock and just stare out into the nature surrounding me. To play guitar and be inspired by the earth, wind and water. To sit back and listen to the sounds that present themselves on a daily basis. To just be and let it all happen. I'm not there. I don't know if I will ever be. But I do know, that for a few hours on a Sunday night in South Carolina, I got a glimpse of what it could be like. And it was amazing.

 - pookon -

www.pookon.com
https://twitter.com/pookondotcom
https://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeIceman

Reck Family Christmas Letter 2014

Good day Sirs and Madams. Scott A. Reck, Esquire here. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes. I come bearing gifts! Well, actually it’s the 2014 Reck Family Christmas Letter. You can consider it a gift from my family to yours. They made me do this. Well, actually they asked kindly and used the magic word please. I just couldn't say no. I’m not here to break hearts. So once again I am offering up my services. For the greater good I suppose. But I do get paid in compliments and free eats. They know how to play the game - keep the talent happy.

Kris started off 2014 with the best gift ever - UWM waived a math class and she got to join James, Jenny and I as UWM Graduates. Her degree is in Education. In March we threw her a rocking graduation party and celebrated her hard work and dedication. A lot of you were there, but let me once again thank you for the role you play in her life and always helping her to achieve her goals. She truly has been enjoying time off from studying. There is a sign on the refrigerator that says, “Hmmm, another day has gone by and I still haven’t used algebra!” No truer words have been written! (Editor’s note – she does use math. She handed me an outline and said, “Feel free to edit, add or subtract to what I wrote”. Don’t let her fool you. Math is a part of her life).

She uses her new found time taking her dog Gracie for walks, learning new music, spending time with her family and watching prime time TV. Because of how busy she was, she claims that she didn’t even know these TV programs existed even though they have been around for the past gazillion years. (Editor’s note – there’s that math talk again. Does she love it or what?) She is still teaching music at five (5!) schools for K4 thru 4th grade and also has one middle school choir. At the time this went to press, she had just finished directing the second of five (5!) Christmas concerts. She absolutely loves her job. The smiles she sees on the children’s faces and the joy in their voices is such a gift. Of course the students can be challenging (I’d like to think James, Jenny, Timmy and I prepared her for dealing with anything – you’re welcome), but the rewards are great. She gets so many hugs! And not from strangers! One of the best things that many students have said to her is that “music is so much fun!” She feels blessed. And who wouldn’t be with this family?

James is still working for Krones Inc. (U.S. Headquarters in Franklin, WI) as a Service Technician traveling the country installing and servicing high-speed packaging and labeling equipment for bottling. His job is 100% travel and he has gained a new perspective for how people in different regions of the country act and live. While on the road, he likes to send me Fun Facts of the Day (that he comes across in his travels). One of the benefits of traveling for business is that it has allowed him to visit family in Phoenix (Aunt Linda and cousins Troy + Tyler), Palm Springs (Uncle Gary + Aunt Cari) and friends in Ohio (The Mueller’s - Dan, Gretchen, Jack and Mason). The frequent flyer miles have allowed him and his wife Melissa to travel to Wisconsin on several occasions. They were also able to join us up at Afterglow this summer and we Recked cabin #2 with fun and happiness.

Melissa just completed her first year with the National Safety Council, South Carolina Chapter. She is the Training and Development Coordinator and is responsible for the Alive at 25 Program, driver instruction and training. This program is mandatory for students to receive a driving permit and is taught at 115 SC high schools. She coordinates and trains police officers that are instructors for the program and she also teaches drivers education and gives road tests for driver licensing. Having been a police officer, Melissa enjoys and appreciates her new role because it allows her to be on the proactive side of the law rather than the reactive.

Their two weimaraner dogs Baya (5 yrs old) and Tucker (6-8 yrs old) are the sweetest pair of home (w)reckers. Imagine a hurricane with sad puppy dog eyes that just wants to be your best friend. That’s Tucker. He has eaten and broken out of the front window, ate the couch, ate the kennel used to restrain him in, knocked a crockpot off the counter and shared a feast with Baya, broke through the laundry room bi-fold doors to get to the garbage, sullied the carpets which had to be ripped out... and the list goes on. But they act like perfect little angels when their parents are home. They tried to blame it on the dog, but still haven’t realized that doesn’t work.

When James does make it home to Columbia, SC for the weekend, he enjoys his time with Melissa and their friends. They have created the group “Lake Murray Packer Backers”, which is registered as an official Green Bay Packers Bar on Packers Everywhere (a site that helps Packers fans around the country find other Packers fans for games). They have even converted some “enemy fans” as they gather every week at Schooner’s. May 29, 2015 will be their 5 year Wedding anniversary, and they are celebrating it early at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cancun, Mexico in January. They are going to see the Luke Bryan “Crash My Playa” Tour. And yes, the flights were covered by frequent flyer miles. And no, the hotel was not booked with Funjet Vacations. (Thanks pal).

The ever elusive Sasquatch is still at large. I'll put that out there right away so you don't ask me any more questions about it. I thought that I found him last month, but it turns out I was just looking at myself in the mirror at 3am. "No Shave November" was very unkind to me. Not finding him is my biggest regret in 2014. If that's the worst thing that happened to me, then I suppose it was a pretty good year. I'm still at the Mark Travel Corporation (parent company of Funjet Vacations) as a Product Build Research Specialist. I recently celebrated my 7th anniversary with the company and the last year has flown by real fast as I've learned so many new things while dealing with the daily challenges of the travel industry. Just another day at the office.

From April to September (and sadly not October) I was back at Miller Park for my 13th year working for The Milwaukee Brewers (well Sportservice) as an In-Seat Waitstaff on the Club Level. I was able to make it down to Phoenix in March and got to see Brewers Spring Training for the first time since 2009. After a disappointing 2013 season, this only added to my excitement for 2014. And although things didn't go as exactly as planned (and I have the playoff tickets they mailed me to rub it in), I still went to about 25 games and helped (along with my cousins) to make The Sombrero a popular and fashionable accessory for your head.

My cat Major Korben Dallas and I still reside near 85th and Capital. Although we may never find Sasquatch, we still go on plenty of adventures that don’t leave the house. He has a lively imagination and whisks us away on incredible journeys. So we aren't giving up hope. But we are expanding our horizons. Don't be surprised to find out in 2015 that we have gone looking for the Chupacabra, the Loch Ness Monster, Rhinelander's Hodag, the Lost City of Atlantis or to search for the truth behind the disappearance of the colonists of Roanoke, VA.

Jenny Reck still works at Gramann Reporting in downtown Milwaukee. She has been there for 2 years as a Production Specialist. She enjoys her lunch breaks in the summer walking around downtown and hanging with the Bronze Fonz. Ayyyy!! She still lives on the Eastside around Oakland and Locust. She digs music and is always down for a free show. Luckily Cathedral Square (home to Jazz in the Park on Thursdays) is one of many places with something going on. If you play your cards right in this town, you can always find a good deal. You know the phrase “If it's free, it's for me?” That's wrong. It should be, “If it's free, it's for Jenny.”

But that doesn't mean she won't pay to see something she loves. I have never met anyone who was so dedicated to a band. Most people don't even know what it is to be a fan. You know? To truly love some silly little piece of music or some band so much that it hurts... With her it is Umphrey's McGee. She went to Madison in the fall to see Umphrey's 1999th and 2000th show (which was her 88th and 89th show). I finally saw them for the first time at Summerfest, and I promise you that they live up to her hype. I can say from experience that you will never quite understand it until you see it for yourself. She spends the majority of her free time raging with her boyfriend Brandon, her brother Scotty (that’s me!) and the most eclectic cast of randoms ever assembled. These characters have learned to speak Jenny Reck and help make sure that her life exists in a delicate balance.

It’s been a whole lot of the same while also being different for the Recks in 2014. We miss Timmy dearly, especially at this time of year (Timmy loved Christmas and upheld all of the holiday traditions). He’s always on our minds and in our hearts. We will once again be putting together a Rage for Timmy Concert in late Summer 2015, so pencil that in your schedule (ideally we would do it on Saturday, August 22). Keep that in mind if you want to perform some songs or help out in any way. More details will follow when we can lock down the date. While you have the calendar open, pencil in June 20th for the 39th Annual Reck Family Christmas Party. Why celebrate Christmas only once a year?!?

I leave you with a song Kris wrote entitled “Dragonfly”. She decided the best way to pay tribute to Timmy is through song. She was inspired by a poem about dragonflies and her connection with God gave her the strength to try her hand at songwriting. Timmy would be so proud of her. I won’t say any more about it here. Some things need no explanation. Check out the video below.

Happy Holidays! With love from The Reck Family,

Kris, James, Melissa, Scott, Jenny

Gracie, Tucker, Baya & Major Korben Dallas

 - pookon -

www.pookon.com
https://twitter.com/pookondotcom
https://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeIceman

Reck Family Christmas Letter 2013

2013 was a major transition, as Melissa and James both accepted new jobs. After 12 years with Home Depot, James took a position with Krones Inc as a Labeler Technician. The job requires 100% travel and much time away from home, but the offer was too good to pass up. 

Melissa left the Columbia Police Department after 5 years of service to become the Training and Development Coordinator for the National Safety Council, South Carolina Chapter. Her responsibilities include the Alive at 25 program and driver education program. Their canine kids, Baya and Tucker, have been more mischievous than ever - telling their parents they need a new couch, windows, walls, carpet………. Who knew a couch and window frames tasted so good?!

In May, they celebrated their 3 year anniversary in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for their friends’ destination wedding. They enjoyed having many friends and family visit them in South Carolina this year, and hope more are able to visit soon!

For the 32^nd consecutive year, Scott has failed in his attempt to find Sasquatch. But that hasn’t dampened his spirits at all. In order to fund his endeavors he works full time at the Mark Travel Corporation and recently got a promotion to the Product Build Research Team. He would tell you what he does, but it might be easier to find Sasquatch than to find an explanation for how he spends 40 hours of the week. All that he knows is that he gets paid, and that money goes directly towards new field and research equipment in the ongoing search for one of nature’s most elusive beasts. 

This next year will be his 13^th year working at Miller Park and he wouldn’t trade that job for anything, not even a map to the Sasquatch’s secret cave. The Milwaukee Brewers occupy most of his free time (even in the offseason) but when he’s not talking baseball he’s planning expeditions with his sidekick and assistant, Major Korben Dallas (his cat). Their lair of operations is around 85^th and Capital, so it’s a quick shot over to The Mothership (Mom’s House) for some free eats when their food budget has to be allocated towards night vision goggles and infrared video equipment. 

Scott recently bought his first “new” car, a 2005 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Sure, a convertible may not be practical in the state of Wisconsin or for tracking down Sasquatches, but he’s never been a practical guy. If you have any tip for finding Sasquatch (or for finding him a wife crazy enough to put up with these shenanigans), make sure to contact him. You can find him on the internet when he’s not patrolling the Pacific Northwest. Your assistance is appreciated!

While Jenny is not out hunting Sasquatch, she does like to hang out with Scotty and supports him in his ventures to do so. She also enjoys hanging out at the Mothership, and misses her family who reside in the South. With each passing year, she gets a little bit older, a little bit wiser…. She is still working downtown on Plankinton above Rock Bottom at a small firm. Although not her dream job, it pays the bills and she likes her work environment. She likes to keep in mind that you've got to appreciate what you can get. She also still lives on the east side of Milwaukee, so close to the happenings that go on in the summer/fall, especially since most of the festivals and such are close and free, and who doesn't like free? 

The beginning of this year was a tough one, as her cat Higgins — who was only two and a half — unexpectedly died. He had a blockage in his intestines, and had surgeries that they hoped would heal him. It was very sad, and she is a little lonelier. She was definitely so grateful and surprised of how much she got support from so many friends and family for her loss of her kitty — even non-cat lovers!! She is also glad for the continuous comfort and support from everyone for the loss of Timmy. This year she has made it her goal to have a positive outlook on life, to keep going forward, to grow, have fun, and see the beauty in the world! Keep on keepin’ on! She likes to think that the glass is ¾ full. Happy Holidays everyone!

2013 has really flown by for me, and has brought many changes to my life. (Someday there will be a Lifetime Movie about me…) I am now teaching K4 - 4th grade music at five (yes 5!) Lutheran schools. It has been a challenge, but I really do love my job. Where else can you work and get free hugs all the time? My relationship with Eddie is over, but I’m happy to say that my faith, family and friends (my trifecta of values) remain intact. I survived my Algebra class in spring (through tears and countless hours of tutoring from friends), and did get an “A”. I am 3 credits short of graduation, and it has to be a math class. As of this writing, I do not know what class it is going to be. Two of them are only offered during the day during spring semester, and Intermediate Algebra would surely give me a nervous breakdown! I am in the process of figuring it out, but will graduate sometime in 2014! What a journey this year has been!

My positive highlights of the year include visiting James, Melissa and “granddogs” in Columbia; spending time with Scott and Jenny (they put up my tree and the outside lights—what a blessing! Scott shovels snow for me and Jenny will help with cleaning—I am so lucky!); singing with Unplugged/Reindeer Pause (thanks to Pat, Maureen, Shayne, Tom and Brian!); spending time at Afterglow with my brothers and families, and my good friends there; Saturday night suppers with my dad; singing with the “Messengers of Joy” at St. Catherine Parish; receiving a letter from Tim’s liver recipient and a postcard from his heart recipient; and a very special highlight: Celebrating the life of our Timmy, at the second annual “Rage for Tim” concert. A very special thank you goes out to everyone who attended, performed, brought snacks, helped to set up/clean up, and donated over $700 to WhyHunger. It makes me so happy to hear stories about my boy, and to hear his music performed by other people. To see the video from this event, or hear Tim’s music, go to www.timreck.com. Scott also has copies of the new CD, “Color in This World”, if you did not get one at the concert. You may contact Scott (info on website) or me for your copy.

As I finish writing this, I am reflecting on the joy I saw on the faces of the children at Christmas Concert #2 this evening—December 12 (three more to go next week!) Their joy in singing about the Lord is contagious, and made me feel so grateful that I get to be a part of it! May all of you feel that same joy during this blessed Christmas season! Thank you for your gift of friendship!

With Love from the Reck Family - 

Kris, James, Melissa, Scott, Jenny, Gracie, Baya, Tucker and Major Korben Dalls

Reck Family Christmas Letter 2012

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

 - pookon - 

www.pookon.com

gmail: pookondotcom@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/MilwaukeeIceman
https://twitter.com/pookondotcom

Reck Family Christmas Letter 2011

My Mom sends out the annual Christmas letter to her family and friends and normally I don't share it with the world. But this year I wrote it and naturally it is mostly about Timmy. Since we can't mail a copy to everyone I decided that it was easiest to put it on here and share it with everyone on Facebook. So here you go. I have decided to quote a couple of songs in this year's Christmas letter. Click below to play them.

 I am thankful for you friends for giving me all that I have. I am thankful for everything, and everything you gave me. – “Friend” by Tim Reck, from his album 42 Days (2002)
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As you can all imagine, 2011 was a very difficult and life changing year for our family. Tim’s sudden death in April left us all with a huge hole in our hearts and a lot of unanswerable questions. This last year has been spent mostly dealing with the physical, psychological and emotional loss of the youngest member of our family. But the holiday season is once again upon us, which is the traditional time of year to send out our annual Reck Family Christmas Letter. While it would be far easier (trust me) to skip writing the letter this year, we decided to remain true to our traditions. Timmy was the keeper of traditions in this family, but it wouldn’t be right to stop the Reck Family traditions that I know you have come to look forward to. So without further ado, my name is Scott Reck and this is the Christmas Letter. 
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Losing a family member is a very sad thing and I could go on for hours about how much our lives have changed. How much time do you have? But seriously I don’t want to dwell on the negatives because we have seen so many positives this past year that deserve mention. In this season of giving thanks, we want to say a huge thank you to you – our family and friends who have helped us through this tragedy. Whether it was a hug, a phone call, a small gift out of nowhere, money to help with the funeral costs, letters of love and encouragement or a free meal; we have appreciated everything you have done for us. Our support system is the only reason we are able to start healing and continue on through this journey we call life. So thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We can’t say it enough. But this process will be ongoing for the rest of our lives, so keep those hugs and free eats coming, ok?

Right now Kris is happy to be done with another semester of school at UWM. Only a few more years until she graduates with a degree in Educational Studies with an emphasis on Early Childhood. And she is also looking forward to Christmas break and some time off from the kids at Sherman Park Preschool. Don’t get me wrong, she loves her job as evident by the fact that she has been there for 28 years, but when you deal with 3 year olds and the messes they create on a daily basis, you’d need a vacation too. Kris still lives in Milwaukee with her dog Gracie and graciously opens up her home (and refrigerator) to all of her children, even the ones who technically don’t belong to her. Aside from teaching, going to school, studying, writing papers, helping those less fortunate, singing at St. Catherine’s and being the greatest Mother in the world, she still finds time for everyone who needs it. I don’t know how she does it. Her strength throughout this past year is inspiring. She’s incredible, and I know I speak for everyone when I say we are all lucky to have her in our lives.

d
James and his wife Melissa have been living in Columbia, South Carolina for almost 3 years. This past May they celebrated their 1 year wedding anniversary. This summer they bought a beautiful house in Columbia. I have been there personally and have inspected it inside and out, and I am proud to say that it is a wonderful place to raise their dogs. Yep, that plural was intentional. They have a 2 year old female Weimaraner named Baya and in October they adopted a 4 year old male Weimaraner which they named Tucker. James still works for Home Depot as a Contractor Services Manager and Melissa works for the Columbia Police Department and at several schools teaching the D.A.R.E. program. They enjoy taking the dogs to the dog park hoping to burn off some of the boundless energy the dogs have (but it doesn’t work) and going to the local pub Schooner’s to watch the Green Bay Packers games. They love living in South Carolina where the average winter temperature is 46 degrees, but they still look forward to coming back home to Wisconsin every chance they get.

Remember when I said Kris opened her house to everyone? I meant it in a big way. I took a few years off of writing this letter to “find myself” through meditation (I am an artist) but now I’m back. Things kind of got turned upside down when I lost my best friend and June’s Blanket band member, so I moved back home so I could sort it all out. My Roommate accepted me and my cat Coach Gordon Bombay with open arms, and although she probably regrets it now, we’ve had some good times living together. I still work at Mark Travel Corporation, so keep me employed by booking your next trip through Funjet Vacations. This past summer was my 10th year at Miller Park and what a year it was. Thankfully the NL Central Division Champion Milwaukee Brewers were able to provide a fun and exciting distraction, but they fell a little bit short of reaching the World Series. Oh well, there’s always next year. I promised Timmy that I’d get better at guitar, and jamming with friends has become my new hobby when I’m not tirelessly working on my websites Pookon.com, TimReck.com or adding all sorts of Tim’s music, pictures and videos to The Reck Room page on Facebook. There’s always something going on in my life and I’d like to personally thank all of my friends and family who have helped to keep me busy.

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Jenny is still living on Milwaukee’s Eastside with her cat Higgins. Up until recently she had been working at a Life Insurance firm but she has since been laid off. The economy sometimes hits pretty hard at home, so if you know anyone looking for a dedicated, hard working and intelligent person please let her know. She is ready and willing to fill out an application and interview. Jenny continues to follow her favorite band Umphrey’s McGee and goes to their concerts every time they are around, be it in Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Minneapolis and even Denver, Colorado. Music is a very important part of Jenny’s life, and it is something that has and will continue to bond her with Timmy. Her diligence to share his talent and legacy with others is admirable. Jenny has been instrumental in the healing process because she possesses many of the qualities that I loved most about Timmy, and she has become the person I go to when I need someone. She’s the Garth to my Wayne.

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I’d like to think that there is a heaven and that Timmy is up there with God and all the Angels jamming in the Heavenly Band. Timmy loved music and history. Think of all the cool people he gets to meet. One day he could be talking about the Civil War with Abraham Lincoln and the next day he could be trading solos with Jimi Hendrix. Plus he gets to finally meet one of his idols and musical inspirations - Harry Chapin. Timmy is missed by friends and family alike and we will never forget about his inability to take a “nice” picture without a goofy look on his face, watching him play guitar and drums and marveling at his talent and falling for his engaging personality. There are so many things in life that will continue to remind us of him, and I hope you carry some of those things with you. That way he’s always with us. Things will never be the same, but the memories and the impact he had on our lives will never go away. If you have yet to get a copy of any of his 6 CDs please contact us or head over to TimReck.com to listen online. We are thankful that he left behind his music for us to listen to so we can always hear his voice.
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In this holiday season please remember those less fortunate and give whatever you can. I am pleased to report that Timmy was an organ donor, and we recently received word from the Wisconsin Donor Network that the people who now have his heart, lungs, kidneys and liver are all doing well and thanks to Timmy, they are able to spend this Christmas Season with their families. There’s comfort in knowing some good was able to come out of this tragic loss. We have also seen the kindness and generosity of others and it is nothing short of amazing. God bless you all, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. From my family to yours – Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

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The Reck Family

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It seems like I've been here before, I can't remember when. But I have this funny feeling that we'll all be together again. No straight lines make up my life, and all my roads have bends. There's no clear-cut beginnings, and so far no dead-ends.- “Circle” by Harry Chapin, from his album Sniper and Other Love Songs (1972)
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