FknBucky

It’s Sunday. It’s a gorgeous day outside and I’m blessed to be living in San Diego. My plan for today was to wake up, watch some TV/read my book, and then lay by the pool for the afternoon working on my tan. Yep I’d say that is one heck of a productive day. I was shocked to see a friend calling me this morning who I love as a brother. This friend never calls me as he isn’t a chatty on the phone kind of guy. I was instantly worried that something was wrong. I answered and was told the news no one ever wants to hear.

His father passed away this morning. I could hear the pain in his voice, but I didn’t need to hear anything. I’ve known him for over 20 years and I know the amount of love and respect he has for his father. I don’t need to hear or see him to know the pain and loss he is feeling right now. My heart is breaking with him right now so I’m doing what I know how. Pouring my feelings into the keystrokes and letting my heart guide the words that I type out. My physical body is in San Diego, CA, but once again my spirit, thoughts, and prayers are in Iowa with a brother that I know is in pain.

I knew his father and to say I have a great deal of respect for him is an extreme understatement. He was amazingly hard working, caring, and raised 6 kids that all turned out darn well. Well if you take Jeremy out of the equation…. I’m kidding of course although this isn’t a laughing matter. It is never easy to experience the loss of someone so great, someone so special and the leader of our family. As we all grow older it is something that we all will experience, but no matter how many times one goes through it, it is never easy. The only way to avoid it would be to seclude yourself in a box for your lifetime never getting close to anyone. This would be a million times sadder than losing someone close. For to feel grief we must first enjoy someone so much that it hurts when they are gone. Its those moments of joy and laughter that we must remember and not the unfair fact that sooner or later God brings all of his children home.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing the Monat family for a very long time. Scott and I moved to Traer at the same time, both of us starting at a new school in 8th grade. We must have been a sight standing there looking around completely lost only to realize that we were the best looking guys in the whole school. How lucky for that small town of Traer to get both of us at the same time?? Yep 1991 was a very lucky year for that small town in the middle of Iowa. The Monat Family moved into town, and the McKinley family got one more bigger. Yes I reread that last sentence and I”m good with it.

They say that ones children is a true testament of their character and I can buy into that. If you have crappy kids then there is a chance you could have done somethings better. It is easy to point fingers when things go wrong, the government, the laws, the weather, the fact that you’re more worried about being friends with your children instead of being their parent. I can go on and on about some of the atrocities I see when it comes to parenting in the USA today, but that isn’t what I’m after with this particular blog. Instead I’d like to celebrate a man that did it right. Extremely right and in my humble opinion we are all better off because of it. Not only should we celebrate Jim Monat’s life, but we should all study it, learn from him, and certainly give the respect that is very clearly due.

I may have mentioned already that Scott and I have been friends for a very long time and even though I’m thousands of miles away, we don’t talk daily on the phone like a couple teenage girls, and the years go by without seeing one another; I can safely say we will be friends for the rest of our lives. When good people come into your life it is important to recognize them, hold on to them, and always appreciate them. We have been through a lot as friends and there comes a day when you realize that friendship isn’t a good enough word. You’ve become brothers that would do anything for one another no questions asked. I’m blessed to have multiple of these friends that I consider brothers. It doesn’t happen overnight and to have a friend such as this you must be one yourself. It is a two way street.

I have stories about Jim and things that happened growing up, but those are mine and I don’t want to share them today. Instead I want people to understand the great amount of respect I have for him. For to know his family is to love his family. Three boy and three girls made for a very busy household. I know all of the Monat kids, but I’m closest with Scott and in 2nd place comes Jeremy if it is a competition. Jeremy is younger so I pick on him a lot. Its fun and he likes it. Just ask him. You’ll have to because he doesn’t talk to me for some reason. I swear he likes the teasing though… Hmmmm maybe, nah he likes it.

To raise 6 kids during these times in the USA is not an easy task and to raise 6 wonderful children that are all productive members of society is leaving behind a legacy that anyone can be extremely proud of. If you didn’t get a chance to know Jim Monat then I’m very sorry as you definitely missed out on knowing someone that would have made you better just because. It is rare to find people like him in this world and I’d know because I’ve traveled all over the world and met tens of thousands of people.

So do yourself a favor and get to know the Monat kids as they are a direct reflection of Jim himself. Ask Scott to borrow money and tell him Bucky sent you. Ha ha ha. He is going to love that one. The world is a crazy place and I can say with certainty that God works in mysterious way. Taking this great man to be with him in heaven so early seems unfair and it certainly is when you look at it from the human side of things. We can never know what God’s plan is, but he has one and I’m not one to question it. I simply thank him for allowing me to know people like Jim and thank him for giving me the wisdom to appreciate them while I have the chance to.

Life is short. We all know that and if somehow you don’t know that yet, you had better learn real quick. Take the time, make the time, do whatever you can to let those close to you know that you love them. You don’t need a million dollars to say “I love you”, “I respect you”, “I’m a better person because I know you”. No these words are free and yet they can make the person hearing them feel like a million dollars. Don’t waste days feeling upset about this or that. You only get one life and sometimes sooner than later it can be over. Today is the day to say I’m sorry, to say I forgive you, to say I thank the Lord above I have you.
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Much respect and love to the Monat family. They lost their leader of the pack today and he was a great one. The type of leader that is respected because he earns it. We are all better people by knowing you and by knowing the great kids that you raised. Thank you Jim Monat for being that leader and for raising kids that I’m proud to call brothers.

Fknbucky