A Eulogy for Rick. –
We were friends since I was old enough to cross Washington Street! One block away at Franklin and 8th, There was Rick. We did lot of learning and growing together – season after season, birthday after birthday.
We were kids. We knew everyone on the whole block, all the way around, and they knew us. It was a time when everyone knew their neighbors, and looked out for them, and their kids!
You learned to ride a bike before I did, and then one day with great patience, you and your brother Steve, let me try your bike. It fit much better than the one I had with, (ugh! Those awful training wheels.) So I got on your bike and tried it…It went great, then Bam! I ran into the side of Lois Lane Beauty Parlor, then turned around and came back, then Bam!...into the side of my dad’s studio. Thanks for showing me then, how to steer and use the brakes, a lesson I learned and still use to this day.
On our bikes, once I got a different one, we would patrol the alleys of our blocks, behind The Old bakery, and Pells Shoe repair, behind the auto parts place…and around to Pippel Patterson Printing Company. All the great gravel driveways…filled with big puddles to ride though! Occasionally scouring those alleys for pop bottles to cash in at Casemier’s 5 cents each, to spend at on candy or caps, for our Fanner 50 cap guns. Whether we were cops or robbers or spies, we were the best.
Of course our parents conspired to get us walkie talkies one Christmas, from Ken at Key TV. How surprised I was to hear you calling me as soon as I opened that gift. “come in Doug, come in Doug, where have you been I’ve been up since 7” (maybe earlier – you loved Christmas)
You also loved Ice cream, and Rays burgers and fries (glad Ray’s is still there) and even as kids going to Warbers Dairy for the ice cream cones. I remember often your dad would take a bunch of us to the beach – and he would sit in the car and read, while we played on the swings.
We played trucks in the dirt – went to Central school (on non school days and summer) to drive our toy trucks and cars along the wall. And that one winter morning, we stood side by side watching our school be consumed by massive flames. Some say that was every kids’ dream, but not for this guy. I cant drive by and show my kids or grandkids where I went to elementary school. Or even explain what a beautiful old building it was. Sure I have the picture stuck on one of its bricks, but how much better If it still stood.
That was the beginning of change – we went to different places for school the next year, did not see each other as often, Then came 6th grade and off to a new Junior High in 7th. Since you were a year behind me in school – schools changed, friends changed, times changed, we changed. Our worlds got bigger as we could cross any street in town, and beyond.
And I moved out – following God’s call on my life to follow where He leads and to call others to follow Jesus.
Glad you invited me to your wedding, even though I did not know the story of how you two met, I knew you were in love.
Thanks too for connecting some years ago to go out for breakfast with John, and sorry we could not get together again, the last time we tried a few months back. Schedules and all that. But thanks for trying dear friend. And thanks for being my friend.
Your Friend – Doug Bretschneider
