Today, I find myself thousands of miles away from home trying to make sense of a senseless act. After a nearly two year hiatus from the blog-scene, I have returned. Unfortunately it is not the way that I wanted nor intended to restart my blogging career.
Yesterday I received word that one of my college classmates, Kevin Kless, was brutally beaten by three men in Old City and left on the street for dead. Unreal.
Nevertheless, I think it is only fitting to remember a man who made so many people smile and laugh. Today for the first time, Kevin has never made so many people cry. The emotions that he stirs within me today are not able to be translated into words. One second I can recall his infamous "Indian-in-the-cupboard" halloween costume and all I can do is laugh. I look at the friends with money you-tube video where he does his token "white-boy" dance in his suit and I can't catch my breath because I'm laughing so hard.
In the next moment, there is a rush of sadness, emptiness and grief because he is no longer with us.
Kevin, you were a great person. I first met you in my freshman dorm, Johnson Hall. I can remember going to Frat parties and drinking in the dorms with you. I can remember all those Saturday mornings, laying in my small twin bed, my ears ringing with a splitting headache and a terrible hangover. You would show up in our doorway to recount your latest adventures from the previous night. I could always count on you to have the most epic of stories and you would always make me laugh.
Kevin would give you the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet. A lot of people say these things about others but this was especially true with Kevin. You could count on him for anything. If Kevin gave you his word, it was as good as gold.
In the next moment, there is a rush of sadness, emptiness and grief because he is no longer with us.
Kevin, you were a great person. I first met you in my freshman dorm, Johnson Hall. I can remember going to Frat parties and drinking in the dorms with you. I can remember all those Saturday mornings, laying in my small twin bed, my ears ringing with a splitting headache and a terrible hangover. You would show up in our doorway to recount your latest adventures from the previous night. I could always count on you to have the most epic of stories and you would always make me laugh.
Kevin would give you the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet. A lot of people say these things about others but this was especially true with Kevin. You could count on him for anything. If Kevin gave you his word, it was as good as gold.
As the years went on, we moved out of the dorms and pushed farther into the neighborhoods surrounding campus and into our own apartments and houses. I took up a criminal justice major and saw less and less of Kevin. However, Kevin was always someone that I kept in touch with. We weren't very close friends, but nonetheless I counted him as one of my comrades. He was more than just an acquaintance, he was someone who you could not talk to for months and strike up a conversation like you were best of friends.
I have to be honest, on my most recent trip home...I talked about meeting up with you but never got the chance. It's strange but I have to admit that I almost knew I wasn't going to see you again... I had this uneasy feeling, like I needed to see you, I wanted to see you. Now I'll have to wait a little while longer until the next time we hang out.
Most people would say that wherever the party was, Kevin was there. However I and most everyone else know that:
I have to be honest, on my most recent trip home...I talked about meeting up with you but never got the chance. It's strange but I have to admit that I almost knew I wasn't going to see you again... I had this uneasy feeling, like I needed to see you, I wanted to see you. Now I'll have to wait a little while longer until the next time we hang out.
Most people would say that wherever the party was, Kevin was there. However I and most everyone else know that:
"Wherever Kevin was...that's where the party was."
Kevin was a young man, full of energy and such a zest for life and it is truly tragic the way that he was taken from us. With each passing hour, I find it harder and harder to rationalize the events that have taken place.
Kevin was a young man, full of energy and such a zest for life and it is truly tragic the way that he was taken from us. With each passing hour, I find it harder and harder to rationalize the events that have taken place.
On a more personal little known note, Kevin would always refer to me as:
"J-Bone, my protege."
We would be out in the city or at a party talking to a group of attractive young ladies, he would flash that Kless smile and introduce me, "Ladies, this is my protege, J-Bone." I can not recall exactly when or how this came about but now I find it to be more true than ever. At the time I thought you called me your protege because I had so much to learn from you about girls, school and having fun. But know looking back, being your protege has taken on a whole new meaning. All along you were setting me up, tutoring me and showing me lessons on how to live life to the fullest. You were teaching me how to be a truly good person. How to make people smile, laugh, and now cry.
Kevin, I will always be your protege.
I will always look up to you and remember how you lived your life. And one day, when my time finally comes, I know you'll meet me at the gates and have thousands of epic stories on what I've missed out on while spending my time down here on earth. My only hope between now and then is that I may only be so lucky to touch just as many peoples lives.
You will most certainly be missed.
"J-Bone, my protege."
We would be out in the city or at a party talking to a group of attractive young ladies, he would flash that Kless smile and introduce me, "Ladies, this is my protege, J-Bone." I can not recall exactly when or how this came about but now I find it to be more true than ever. At the time I thought you called me your protege because I had so much to learn from you about girls, school and having fun. But know looking back, being your protege has taken on a whole new meaning. All along you were setting me up, tutoring me and showing me lessons on how to live life to the fullest. You were teaching me how to be a truly good person. How to make people smile, laugh, and now cry.
Kevin, I will always be your protege.
I will always look up to you and remember how you lived your life. And one day, when my time finally comes, I know you'll meet me at the gates and have thousands of epic stories on what I've missed out on while spending my time down here on earth. My only hope between now and then is that I may only be so lucky to touch just as many peoples lives.
You will most certainly be missed.
Sincerely,
Your Protege, now and forever...
J-Bone
J-Bone
