Until I See You Again

Seventeen. That's how many years I've been fortunate and blessed enough to know the Krueger family.  For seven I've had the same last name.   For three I've been raising one.   If there's one thing I know about being a Krueger, it's the love for family that trumps all.  Anthony Krueger was no exception.  He lit up with family around.  He loved kids.  He was the "fun Uncle."  Every family has one.  Our family will now be in short supply and it's a loss that's hitting hard.

Tony, as he liked to be called, exhibited all the defining qualities of a Krueger:

• Caring & Generous. He'd give you the shirt off his back and it wouldn't matter if you were a stranger, his neighbor, a friend or family member.  I once witnessed him pay for an entire order of groceries for a complete stranger who's card was declined.
• Charming & Charismatic. He knew the value of opening doors and buying flowers.  That same charm and charisma helped him build an impressive business network.  His name carried weight.
• Mechanical. He was a jack of all trades. There wasn't a single thing he couldn't take apart and rebuild. He passed this on to his sons who I've watched tinker since they were toddlers.
• Busy body.  The man couldn't sit still. He used that energy to be productive, both at home and at work.  I could get tired just watching him. 
• Work ethic. The man owned his own businesses and knew the value of sweat equity.  He wasn't all high tech. He carried around a chewed up pen and a pad of paper and was boss man, customer service, and worker all in one.
• Gracious host. He loved to be surrounded by friends and family.  The more the merrier and like a typical Krueger he always made sure there was enough food and refreshments to go around. 
• Fun.  Tony knew how to have fun. As I said earlier, he was the fun uncle. Whether it be boating, going to the board walk, or simply wrestling with his sons and nephews he made sure it was fun. Even a trip to a diner for breakfast became a laughable affair.
• The "Go Big or Go Home" mentality.  No matter what he got involved in, he was 110%.  He also loved buying in bulk, especially Clorox products for which we all teased him.
• Insomniac. I joke using that term but like many of his siblings, he was up at the crack of dawn and rarely went to bed before midnight.  Many a vacation was spent talking into the wee hours of the morning reminiscing over stories like that time he drank a bottle of syrup or when he got lost boating with Tweds while using navigation.

I could go on and on about you Tony, but I'lI close saying this: I'm going to miss your raspy voice and nonchalant attitude.  I'm going to miss your negotiating skills as to why we should stay by you versus Aunt Linda, etc.  I'm going to miss fighting over the check at restaurants and hearing you say "get outta here" like you were straight out of Brooklyn.  And I'm going to miss that smile that gave away when you were up to no good.  You were larger than life and you knew it.  Heaven gained an incredible man. 

Until I see you again,

Christy

Furry Friday: In Remembrance

It's been a week since we said goodbye to Riley. It's taken me a week to gain my composure and to collect my thoughts.  Riley was taken from us all too soon following an emergency splenectomy. The surgery went fine. A clot claimed our little guy the following morning.  The staff at the Capital District Animal Emergency Clinic did all they could and we were well aware of the risks,  including blood clots. We just clung to the hope that he would be the minority who defied the odds.  Our spunky bearded boy.

They say everything happens for a reason. I truly believed that when we adopted Riley.  We only had him a few short weeks before the passing of my father-in-law and if it weren't for Riley, I'm quite sure my husband would never have emerged from the depression that followed. 

Riley was a lover and a fighter. He loved nothing more than snuggling on the couch or between the pillows on the bed.  He was mellow like that which suited me just fine. Those who know me know I like to lounge around on the weekends and he provided great company.  Everyone loved Riley. He didnt believe he was a dog and he firmly believed your sole purpose in life was to provide him a lap to lay in and perpetual belly rubs. True to his breed though, he made few friends of the canine sort so we were a one dog household.  

Riley was a good dog. He never stole any of the baby's toys, he didn't ever exhibit food aggression and would frequently allow Jayson or my sisters to hand feed him his entire bowl of kibble.  I was always nervous about how Riley would accept a new baby in the house, but he accepted it just fine. I was also nervous how he'd be once Jayson was up and walking on his level, but again he put my fears at ease. He would follow Jayson all over the house. It didn't hurt that Jayson frequently had snacks and Riley was never one to turn down food.

It goes without saying we will miss our first son terribly.  I used to joke that he was the best child I could have because he didn't give me stretch marks and I didn't have to endure hours of labor.  Well, despite being spared stretch marks and labor pains I am enduring the pain of his loss and even though the grief will subside,  it will long outlast any labor pain I'll ever experience.

In closing, I'll leave you with a quote from Walter Anderson: "Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself."  I choose to rise from the pain and remember just how full of life Riley was and how much joy he brought to mine. 

I'll love you always and forever.  RIP Riley Chance Krueger. "If love could have save you, you would have lived forever."