Rudy... (no, not the Notre Dame guy)...

Y'know, just when I think I'm dealing with things okay, I get hit with a sucker punch to the flippin' solar plexis that another person that I knew passed away. Rudy was a deacon at my dad's church and he was one of my dad's very best friends. For most of their adult lives, these two were always great friends. My dad was godfather to a couple of Rudy's kids. I got to know him through my dad's church and later in life, they worked together in prison ministry by going to an area prison to minister to the guys in there, dad and Rudy and a couple of other guys. They had mass in there on Saturdays. Anyway, it really hit home for me when I was losing my dad back in '05... Rudy was there every step of the way and was so instrumental in helping prepare my family for saying goodbye to my dad... He was awesome. He even got the (retired) Bishop come and say mass at my dad's funeral. Even though I wasn't catholic anymore, it still meant so much to me that Rudy was able to do that. When we buried my dad, the prisoners had made a crucifix out of string and gave it to my dad. We buried him with it. Rudy had asked the men at the prison to make more of those string crucifixes, one for each of his kids. We all got together for dinner and Rudy came and blessed them and presented them to each of us. I still wear mine to this very day. I don't ever take it off. It reminds me of my dad, and now it also reminds me of Rudy. Of course it always reminds me of God and that yes, He DID die for us... all of us, not just some of us. Regardless of our relationship (or lack thereof) with Him, He did give His life for our transgressions. I went to visitation and when I looked at Rudy, he looked at peace. He buried his wife a year earlier, almost to the day. He felt empty without her. They're together again. With my mom and dad. And if I know Rudy and my dad, they're cutting up like kids and my mom and Rudy's wife are just rolling their eyes like they used to when they got together here on earth. When I first learned he had passed, my eyes were moist and I felt that same sense of loss when I lost my dad. It reminded me of that. But in the midst of the tears, I simply said "thank you Rudy". That's what I will remember him for. He was always a funny screwball type. Kind of like me... Him and my dad would get just crazy and howl with laughter for hours. That and what he did for my dad at the end. I will never forget him... Thank you Rudy. I know you're enjoying paradise. Say hi to my folks for me and tell them I love them. And again, Thank YOU Rudy...