The passing of KCquer was something that shook through us all, but out of it came the joining of many us together. Myself, Greg, Jorge, BigDog and JT flew and drove into Kansas City to attend KCs services. We had dinner on Thursday night with a few other brothers and then headed to the service Friday morning.. we stayed for the service and headed off to meet up with our teams at the local competitions.
When we arrived on Thursday night, we were greeted by Jeff-In_KC and HoDeDo(andy) at our hotel. Andy wife Kim(and kids molly and _____). We had a few drinks and our first toast to KCquer at the hotel, then headed out to KcQuers favorite BBQ joint(jacks?? I think. BigDog, help me out).. While at the restaurant we were met up by Dustin(DoorBuster). had a good BBQ dinner... IMO, I had the best time cause I had a partner for the evening when Andy’s little girl(molly?) and I shared some brisket and chicken.. those little girls are gifts to be cherished, cause before ya know it, they will be heartbreakers.
After dinner we headed back to the hotel.. the bar was closed at 10 so we stopped to pick up a couple 12 packs while we waited for Jorge to come in from Texas.
Sidebar: while driving on a side road, Greg let an air biscuit loose out the window and it killed a skunk, which as its last defiant move, fired back at us into the car.. we spent the rest of the trip to the hotel gagging for air.... does anyone know that minivans don’t have back windows that open?? I do.. I was trapped back there with a 50/50 mix of methane and skunkane.. I found an old sock under bigdogs front seat and used that as an air filter over my face.... it was much more tolerable.
back on topic..
We sat in the parking lot waiting for Jorge and watched Dustin get drunk before heading off to bed.. Jorge did the ultra cool thing, and rented another minivan to drive form the airport.. I guess he thought he may get a chance to escort the Missouri girls high school soccer team to practice.
Friday was the service in the morning. I was fine till I got inside.. then it took a few trips back outside to regroup. The service was really nice, especially the way the family included us in the celebration of his life.. pictures from our bashes, at mine and Gregs houses, his BBQ stuff out on the table with a bottle of show me sauce.. Jeanne took my hand and brought be around the back of the urn…. She was showing me that she had our flames placed on the back... It was such and honor to know that we were as much a part of KCs life as he was of ours… and for the family to allow us to be part of his celebration. I can never thank them enough for that.
After service, we headed to Blue springs to meet up with Jeff and dustbuster(Dustin)... We met up with Mokanmeats and Rod(KCPellethead)..stayed for a beer and headed out to Columbia and the bass pro cook-off.
Sidebar: This was the first visit to small town middle America for this city kid.. I think I got a sinus infection from all the fresh air.. BigDog spotted “main street” from 1000 yards when all I saw was a few missing trees. Culture shock for me ….. all I was saying.. is ‘what do u do when u need chit’….. answer..” this is all the chit you need.. “ damn, our smallest strip mall is bigger than main street Drexel.... Conclusion.. this is why you mofos are all so calm when I am totally freaked out….. and also why I want to move outta this godforsaken rat race called lawnguyisland…. Anyway, moving right along..
Arrival at bass pro, we're greeted by Bellybros and teamQ. I have met the bellybros several times, so that was somewhat of the usual hello.. accompanied by our shared grief over KC… But meeting MrKick and Spicewine, Sweet T and Chip(chick-n-pig) … that was really something special….. years of sharing of good times, bad times, laughs and tears culminated at that moment.. I truly felt as if I was at a family reunion.. under the circumstances,(well, for me I’m sure) emotions were on our shirtsleeves and that made all the handshakes tighter and the hugs longer.. What we have here in this group is something unique. I felt more at home with all these people, than I do when visiting my own family and blood out of state… No matter how difficult the morning was, spending the day seeing the contests, and all the Brethren reinforced that were are more than just and “internet forum”.. family is the only word that comes to mind..
Enuf with the mush…. All I can say is the MoFos know how to party!!! Holy Chit.. what goes on there I have never had at a NY area contest.. (maybe cause I wasn’t cooking ?) the constant flow of people flying thru those tents.. the dancing in the road in front of the band.. the camaraderie and Holy chit.. the food!!! Man, sweet T’s hash brown casserole shut down at least 2 major arteries, but I kept going back.. I stopped when I started getting winded, and Jay made some armadillo eggs that negated the need for more fiber in my diet…. I made the prime rib, and I also left a brisket in the cooker just as a surprise for them in the morning.. .. it looked like a cow pie when I left at midnight.
The highlight/lowlight….KCquers moment of silence.. it was awesome..
John(bellybro) asked the band for the moment of silence, and they requested we write something down. After a brief attempt we decided to do it ourselves.. but I knew there was no way I would make it thru it and John stepped right up... and did our group proud as spice held the chimney to the heavens as it burned.. the place fell silent and you can hear a pin drop.. the short video clip does not do it justice… the impact of those moments I will remember forever as so many people bowed their head in memory of our brother. I stood still for a while as our teams passed the cabo and toasted KC… One of us.. came and snapped me out of the funk… I think it was john again.. and he yelled GROUP HUG!!!! We gathered around in a large circle and had our last words.. and then went back to the party..
The rest of the night was filled with good food, drink and friendships…. We sent him off in style, with class and with the love of so many, that I know hes Ok with it… and just to let us know he was watching… he woke up our teams saturday morning so they can go out and kick some ass this weekend and bring home the iron.. Grand Champs, Reserve Grand champs and walks.. KC our Brother… we love ya man.. thanks for the party!!!
heres alink to the phot gallery of KCS bash.
When we arrived on Thursday night, we were greeted by Jeff-In_KC and HoDeDo(andy) at our hotel. Andy wife Kim(and kids molly and _____). We had a few drinks and our first toast to KCquer at the hotel, then headed out to KcQuers favorite BBQ joint(jacks?? I think. BigDog, help me out).. While at the restaurant we were met up by Dustin(DoorBuster). had a good BBQ dinner... IMO, I had the best time cause I had a partner for the evening when Andy’s little girl(molly?) and I shared some brisket and chicken.. those little girls are gifts to be cherished, cause before ya know it, they will be heartbreakers.
After dinner we headed back to the hotel.. the bar was closed at 10 so we stopped to pick up a couple 12 packs while we waited for Jorge to come in from Texas.
Sidebar: while driving on a side road, Greg let an air biscuit loose out the window and it killed a skunk, which as its last defiant move, fired back at us into the car.. we spent the rest of the trip to the hotel gagging for air.... does anyone know that minivans don’t have back windows that open?? I do.. I was trapped back there with a 50/50 mix of methane and skunkane.. I found an old sock under bigdogs front seat and used that as an air filter over my face.... it was much more tolerable.
back on topic..
We sat in the parking lot waiting for Jorge and watched Dustin get drunk before heading off to bed.. Jorge did the ultra cool thing, and rented another minivan to drive form the airport.. I guess he thought he may get a chance to escort the Missouri girls high school soccer team to practice.
Friday was the service in the morning. I was fine till I got inside.. then it took a few trips back outside to regroup. The service was really nice, especially the way the family included us in the celebration of his life.. pictures from our bashes, at mine and Gregs houses, his BBQ stuff out on the table with a bottle of show me sauce.. Jeanne took my hand and brought be around the back of the urn…. She was showing me that she had our flames placed on the back... It was such and honor to know that we were as much a part of KCs life as he was of ours… and for the family to allow us to be part of his celebration. I can never thank them enough for that.
After service, we headed to Blue springs to meet up with Jeff and dustbuster(Dustin)... We met up with Mokanmeats and Rod(KCPellethead)..stayed for a beer and headed out to Columbia and the bass pro cook-off.
Sidebar: This was the first visit to small town middle America for this city kid.. I think I got a sinus infection from all the fresh air.. BigDog spotted “main street” from 1000 yards when all I saw was a few missing trees. Culture shock for me ….. all I was saying.. is ‘what do u do when u need chit’….. answer..” this is all the chit you need.. “ damn, our smallest strip mall is bigger than main street Drexel.... Conclusion.. this is why you mofos are all so calm when I am totally freaked out….. and also why I want to move outta this godforsaken rat race called lawnguyisland…. Anyway, moving right along..
Arrival at bass pro, we're greeted by Bellybros and teamQ. I have met the bellybros several times, so that was somewhat of the usual hello.. accompanied by our shared grief over KC… But meeting MrKick and Spicewine, Sweet T and Chip(chick-n-pig) … that was really something special….. years of sharing of good times, bad times, laughs and tears culminated at that moment.. I truly felt as if I was at a family reunion.. under the circumstances,(well, for me I’m sure) emotions were on our shirtsleeves and that made all the handshakes tighter and the hugs longer.. What we have here in this group is something unique. I felt more at home with all these people, than I do when visiting my own family and blood out of state… No matter how difficult the morning was, spending the day seeing the contests, and all the Brethren reinforced that were are more than just and “internet forum”.. family is the only word that comes to mind..
Enuf with the mush…. All I can say is the MoFos know how to party!!! Holy Chit.. what goes on there I have never had at a NY area contest.. (maybe cause I wasn’t cooking ?) the constant flow of people flying thru those tents.. the dancing in the road in front of the band.. the camaraderie and Holy chit.. the food!!! Man, sweet T’s hash brown casserole shut down at least 2 major arteries, but I kept going back.. I stopped when I started getting winded, and Jay made some armadillo eggs that negated the need for more fiber in my diet…. I made the prime rib, and I also left a brisket in the cooker just as a surprise for them in the morning.. .. it looked like a cow pie when I left at midnight.
The highlight/lowlight….KCquers moment of silence.. it was awesome..
John(bellybro) asked the band for the moment of silence, and they requested we write something down. After a brief attempt we decided to do it ourselves.. but I knew there was no way I would make it thru it and John stepped right up... and did our group proud as spice held the chimney to the heavens as it burned.. the place fell silent and you can hear a pin drop.. the short video clip does not do it justice… the impact of those moments I will remember forever as so many people bowed their head in memory of our brother. I stood still for a while as our teams passed the cabo and toasted KC… One of us.. came and snapped me out of the funk… I think it was john again.. and he yelled GROUP HUG!!!! We gathered around in a large circle and had our last words.. and then went back to the party..
The rest of the night was filled with good food, drink and friendships…. We sent him off in style, with class and with the love of so many, that I know hes Ok with it… and just to let us know he was watching… he woke up our teams saturday morning so they can go out and kick some ass this weekend and bring home the iron.. Grand Champs, Reserve Grand champs and walks.. KC our Brother… we love ya man.. thanks for the party!!!
heres alink to the phot gallery of KCS bash.
) So I'm sure everyone did KC proud. It's great to see the teams SMOKE ON!!!
