I Just needed a hug from my brother Tomorrow marks the 13 "Anniversary" since my brother Kelly's death (murder/suicide??) It has taken me years to deal with the hole in my soul created by the loss of my brother. What I have realized is that the empty spot is there to remind me I hurt so bad because I loved so deep. Kelly Lock "Kel" and I were just one year apart chronologically but growing up it felt to me like we were from different planets. What I liked he hated and vice-verse. I was the outgoing entertaining clown and he was the angry quiet serious one. It was a rare day that went by when we did not fight and a rare week when he did not beat me up. Kelly's anger and violence shielded him from pain and anxiety he felt from being severely learning disabled with dyslexia that went undiagnosed in his childhood. ( My parents sent him to many schools but they never picked up on it and he was simply labeled "Not Trying". Kelly was sandwiched between my beautiful brilliant older sister Kim and his wise cracking incredibly verbal little brother.(Me) Kelly never got the chance to be the baby as I followed so closely behind him. My personality was as big as my mouth and I sucked up attention like a baby vampire. When our father became ill and passed away less than a year before Kelly's own death our relationship changed. We found ourselves loving, appreciating, and being proud of our differences. Kelly once told friends the difference between my brother and me is "you piss me off and I'll kick your ass. You piss my brother off enough and he will kick your ass too but then he will sue you for making him kick your ass". Kelly was the best and the worst of me he loved people without question and would share his last dollar with you even if he didn't know where his next dollar would come from. My brother valued family above all and would take in any distant relation that needed help no matter what it cost him personally or financially. Kelly never lost the ability to be childlike in his enthusiasm and when he laughed it was from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet and he could be heard for blocks. My nephew Justin has his laugh and when I hear him it is bittersweet I can close my eyes and it feels as though my brother is right there with me again. when I open them I see my beloved nephew and his face beaming with the same light and fire that burned in Kelly's heart and I want to laugh and cry simultaneously. My brothers other side was anger and rage sometimes so intense that looking into his eyes I couldn't recognize him. I can only speculate at the cause of this rage but it was real frightening and he tried to control it at times with alcohol and drugs. The moment he regained control he worked so hard to prove to those around him how sorry he was and how much he loved them. These contradictions made my brother that flawed amazing person that was loved by all. Kelly's memorial had more attendance than a United States Senator who had a memorial at the same mortuary earlier in the year. The crowd was so large that they had to pipe the service into the parking lot for overflow. My sister and I later commented that we would be lucky if our family and the pets showed up for us. (Both of us proud and a little jealous that he had touched so many lives.) Kelly you beat me, banged my head on the concrete, gave me stitches in my lip, called me every filthy word you knew and some you made up or just got wrong but I know you loved me deeper than maybe anyone has in my life, You adored your children, your nieces and nephews, animals of all kinds, you worshipped our mother (as we all do) you blindly loved our father when he was cruel and disapproving to you. My heart is so incomplete without you yet somehow bigger for having had you in my life. I cherish every laugh, cry and head bang. My fondest memory and I am crying as I type it. Our father was dieing and Kelly loved him so much that it physically hurt him to be in the hospital room. It was about 2:30 AM I was staying all night and looked up and there was Kelly standing in the doorway and not in the room. "Kelly" I asked "what are you doing it is the middle of the night you work tomorrow?" With tears in his eyes he said "I just needed a hug from my brother"

I Love the United States of America

     I have spent the last few months watching and wondering when Patriotism and love of country became such a divisive subject.
     I grew up with staunch Democrats for grandparents who always voted Republican. My Father was a conservative Republican and my mother a Liberal Democrat. What I remember most during political arguments "and there were many always loud and heated", was that the good of the Nation came first, followed by the character and qualifications of the candidate not the political party they represented.
     We now seem to have chosen Political Party over Country and all anyone has to do is use buzz words such as conservative, liberal, left,religious right, pro choice or immigrant and depending on our "Party Affiliation" our ears our minds and our hearts immediately close. We mentally file people in the "Us and Them" file drawers and then we close the drawer on meaningful dialog or even conversation.
     I classify myself as a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. I believe that both political parties now only serve their own self interest or that of the highest bidder.

I think now is probably a good time to state what I believe.

1) I believe the United States is the greatest county ever founded.

2) I believe our strength came from our diversity but our diversity had the common goal of creating a Nation dedicated to freedom justice and prosperity through hard work.

3) I believe in legal immigration to all who want to become Americans. They should join our melting pot, not because they want to change the menu entirely, but because they desire to add to the nutritional value, and maybe a hint of new cultural spice to keep our "Great American Soup" the daily meal that sustains our work ethic, our moral compass,  and our historical drive to be the best.

4) I believe that Public Office should not be a career but a duty we happily and solemnly serve to the best of our ability as a small payment we make not to preserve our own freedom, but as a debt we owe to our Forefathers and to our children, and as a thank you and a promise to leave all the Americans that are to follow a strong Nation that will provide them freedom, the opportunity, and maybe the most important of all, the inspiration to become exceptional.

I am not a great American. I am not an exceptional American. I may not be a particularly good American but I take this opportunity to Pledge "My Life, My fortune, and My sacred Honor" not only to her defense but in daily maintenance of her Honor, her Compassion, her Innovation, her Work ethic and her Justice.
So without hesitation my decedents and all future citizens can even more proudly proclaim "I am an American and I Love the United States of America.

"I just needed a hug from my brother"

Yesterday Marked the 12 "Anniversary" since my brother Kelly's death (murder/suicide??) It has taken me years to deal with the hole in my soul created by the loss of my brother. What I have realized is that the empty spot is there to remind me I hurt so bad because I loved so deep.

Kelly Lock "Kel" and I were just one year apart chronologically but growing up it felt to me like we were from different planets. What I liked he hated and vice-verse. I was the outgoing entertaining clown and he was the angry quiet serious one. It was a rare day that went by when we did not fight and a rare week when he did not beat me up. Kelly's anger and violence shielded him from pain and anxiety he felt from being severely learning disabled with dyslexia that went undiagnosed in his childhood. ( My parents sent him to many schools but they never picked up on it and he was simply labeled "Not Trying". Kelly was sandwiched between my beautiful brilliant older sister Kim and his wise cracking incredibly verbal little brother.(Me) Kelly never got the chance to be the baby as I followed so closely behind him. My personality was as big as my mouth and I sucked up attention like a baby vampire.

When our father became ill and passed away less than a year before Kelly's own death our relationship changed. We found ourselves loving, appreciating, and being proud of our differences. Kelly once told friends the difference between my brother and me is "you piss me off and I'll kick your ass. You piss my brother off enough and he will kick your ass too but then he will sue you for making him kick your ass".

Kelly was the best and the worst of me he loved people without question and would share his last dollar with you even if he didn't know where his next dollar would come from. My brother valued family above all and would take in any distant relation that needed help no matter what it cost him personally or financially. Kelly never lost the ability to be childlike in his enthusiasm and when he laughed it was from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet and he could be heard for blocks. My nephew Justin has his laugh and when I hear him it is bittersweet I can close my eyes and it feels as though my brother is right there with me again. when I open them I see my beloved nephew and his face beaming with the same light and fire that burned in Kelly's heart and I want to laugh and cry simultaneously.

My brothers other side was anger and rage sometimes so intense that looking into his eyes I couldn't recognize him. I can only speculate at the cause of this rage but it was real frightening and he tried to control it at times with alcohol and drugs. The moment he regained control he worked so hard to prove to those around him how sorry he was and how much he loved them. These contradictions made my brother that flawed amazing person that was loved by all. Kelly's memorial had more attendance than a United States Senator who had a memorial at the same mortuary earlier in the year. The crowd was so large that they had to pipe the service into the parking lot for overflow. My sister and I later commented that we would be lucky if our family and the pets showed up for us. (Both of us proud and a little jealous that he had touched so many lives.)

Kelly you beat me, banged my head on the concrete, gave me stitches in my lip, called me every filthy word you knew and some you made up or just got wrong but I know you loved me deeper than maybe anyone has in my life, You adored your children, your nieces and nephews, animals of all kinds, you worshipped our mother (as we all do) you blindly loved our father when he was cruel and disapproving to you.

My heart is so incomplete without you yet somehow bigger for having had you in my life. I cherish every laugh, cry and head bang. My fondest memory and I am crying as I type it. Our father was dieing and Kelly loved him so much that it physically hurt him to be in the hospital room. It was about 2:30 AM I was staying all night and looked up and there was Kelly standing in the doorway and not in the room. "Kelly" I asked "what are you doing it is the middle of the night you work tomorrow?" With tears in his eyes he said "I just needed a hug from my brother"

Religion: The Forgotten Denominations

OK so I got a few comments that I might have left out some of the Major Religions or "I might not have been fair" which translates into I did not offend everyone so let me add to my list.

Penicostals how could I forget them? Shouting dancing pue jumping, speaking in tongues and women with lots of make up and large hats...... Really not all that different from Gay Pride week in Downtown Denver. But both are great fun to watch and anyone that is so happy they throw themselves on the floor and writhe around is OK by me....So in my religion every 4th Tuesday will be the Big Hat Speaking in tongues Tuesday Service.

Jehovah Witness, love these guys except the whole watch tower thing. They really need to get better editors "Boring"! The Jehovah witness is the most optimistic of all religions first they believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven now that is an exclusive club but here is the really optimistic part none of them living today are that 144,000 and unless one of that 144,000 falls away they have no shot. So they are flying stand  by to Heaven now if you ever done that it is a major leap of faith. They also save a ton of money on Birthdays and Holiday gift giving not to mention windows. Think about it folks Kingdom Halls have no windows and no paid clergy thrift and efficiency. Just a thought maybe they should run for office? Wait they are not allowed.... another thing I admire them for. From this day forward in my religion the no window thing is in so no one sees what we got going on inside (Especially on big had speaking in tongues Tuesday). We will not pay our clergy and only I will get Birthday presents. I know what your thinking not fair but again my religion my rules. Christmas totally in though love the decorations and the music and cookies so feel free to spread goodwill cheer and presents to all you love.

Atheists not sue what to do about you guys while I want my religion to be very inclusive not sure what you people will be bringing to the party but we can take it before the judges Oprah, Kathy Griffin, Simon and Paula Dean to see if your voted in our out because as the PO BI I am far to important to deal with the little stuff.

Thinking it over maybe Oprah not such a good panel judge choice watched part of the show last night after work and haven't seen it in years.. Is it just me or has she gotten a little self important , over confident, and not all that funny anymore. I admit could be my mood but when did she get so to quote my Grandmother "uppity" Now here is the really scary part I probably will get more hate mail for that comment than on dishing all the other religions....Not surprising though she does have more followers than the Catholics and Mormons...

NEWS ALERT: JUDGE JUDY BEAT OPRAH IN RATINGS! I may have to watch and see if we want her on my panel...........OK just watched. love her but what a Biatch! Did I use that correctly? Going to have to veto judge Judy way too bossy. So we have a slot on the panel open I am taking nominations. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Stay tuned for today's rant; Parenting

Todays Winning Rant is: Religion (Sure to get me hate mail)

To begin with I consider myself a spiritual person. I would love to be so certain that my way of believing is the alpha and the omega. News Flash I have studied many different religions in some depth and I have to say there seems to be some good points in all of them. So my thought process is I will take the good ideas from all of them and create my own.

Catholics God love the Catholics for so many reasons. No birth control so you can keep making more little catholics sheer genius. Who doesn't love the efficiency of the Sunday service. Walk in, kneel, stand, sit, kneel, sit, stand, sit, kneel , sit, stand, eat a cookie go home. This all happens in 50 minutes so the next service can start on time.

Mormons now there is a smart group of people. you keep a living  prophet around so the church can change when it needs to for "Financial " oops I mean spiritual reasons. You steel the no birth control thing from the catholics you make them sign tithing agreements to keep the funds coming in. You build satellite temples all over so you can do more marriages so you make more Mormons and the circle goes on and on until you take over the world. It is sort of Donny and Marie meets Pinky and The Brain

Lutherans, Catholic light all the pageantry but only half the guilt.

Episcopalians, If the catholics are coke the Episcopalians are Pepsi both sodas are good with enchiladas and allot of people like the taste. The Episcopalians do let the Priests marry I think we can all agree wise choice. Although if the Catholics allowed priest to marry would it be to each other?

Judaism makes the most sense to me and lets face it, worth converting just for the food the extra holidays off. I also like the day of atonement you get all the benefits of 52 confessions over with in one day plus you might even take off a pound or two in the act. A win win as far as I can see. It was the first religion so the Guilt progression goes something like this. The Jews invented the Guilt. The Catholics perfected it. The Mormons are trying to organize it into a team sport.

Buddhists. I am for any religion that has a happy fat guy in comfortable clothes leading them. When was the last time the Buddhist started any S__T . Not an endorsement Just an observation.

Hindus??? Cows, women with multiple arms and jewels on the fore heads......... What the hell, like the clothes and Tandoori chicken so I am in.

Muslims now please don't put a hit out on me.....hmmmmmm. Got it! There is the perfect hook, you kill anyone who does not believe the way you do. Quick efficient and sure to keep the faithful in line, and the unfaithful scared into being faithful.

So my Religion will go something like this. We take all kinds because we want the large numbers. We will even accept the Gays but they have to have children. (We will let them figure out the logistics on that one) (Big party once a year naked dancing, turkey baster problem solved.) We will have confession but you will be critiqued on your confession by Kathy Griffin, Oprah, Simon, and Paula Dean. Hey it's my religion I can have who I want as my panel. then your congregation will vote you off or let you go on until next week. Our services will be held on Tuesdays because that seems to be the night I have the least going on. We will follow most Jewish dietary rituals that means good take out from a Chinese restaurant and deli that deliver in less than an hour is mandatory. Weddings will  be encouraged (and we already have the Gays to cater and decorate) but... our panel will grade and score the weddings like Dancing with the Stars and if your cumulative score is less than 17 your marriage will not be validated and you forfeit all your gifts to the church. One member of the panel will accompany newlyweds on the honeymoon and if it is not entertaining the couple is declared single when they get home and the wedding night video will be played on Americas Funniest Home Videos.

My Religion (to be named later) is a work in progress so feel free to voice your comments, suggestions, or concerns but as the supreme PO BI that's Pope and Rabi I reserve the right to have you killed if at anytime I am unhappy with your comments. If I did not list your religion please send me a comment and I will add it and the appropriate offensive comments to my list.

Tribute To a Denver Legend

G. William Oakley Now Appearing in an Unlimited Engagement in The Great Beyond

I started to write Bill Oakley now appearing in Heaven but upon reflection knew that Bill would consider that audience too limiting. He wanted everyone entertained, not just the chosen few in Heaven.(Besides the ones in Heaven might not order drinks or laugh hard enough at the really good bits)

I came to Denver the spring before my 21st Birthday. I was young, and being from Albuquerque I thought Denver was the big City. I took a job at the Opera House as a banquet server because I was not old enough to serve in the Lounge yet. My first memories of Bill were of a larger than life, funny, scary, driven and frankly crazy at times character. I did not know if he liked me or hated me for most of my first few months there. Working in the Opera House was truly "the best of times and the worst of times" I would feel the entire range of emotions from pure happiness to despair and every other emotion in between and that was all before the Guests arrived for the "Real" show. I must have liked the roller coaster because I accepted the Job as Dining Room Manager.

I think it was another famous George "George Bernard Shaw" who said the director was little g "god". In Bill Oakleys' universe you were rarely allowed 7 days to create anything and the one day of rest was rehearsal for the other 6. I treasure each and every moment of that time. Peoples frailties, flaws, and short comings are far too easy to point out, while the real genius and hidden talents sometimes slip by unnoticed and under appreciated. Bill had more than his share of everything more talent, more personality, more flaws and yet most everyone who met him or worked for him remembers him vividly. I think Bill would not care as much if you loved him, or if you hated him, but if you would never forget Him. I quickly learned that in Bill's Universe the only unforgivable sin was to not be yourself. Putting on the public show was what we were all about, but in private and behind the scenes the personalities and cast of characters were far more entertaining and interesting. It took pure Genius to assemble the Bizarre yet loveable cast of misfits that was the Opera House.

I believe my second year at the Opera House I was made Operations Manager I have no idea what that job title was but if Bill said I could do the Job I was willing. I began to watch how everything fit together by Bill adding bits,props and people to the Recipe (much like him teaching me how to make Shrimp Etouffe with no list of ingredients or amounts it cam out delicious but I have no idea how it got there). Bill ran his business and created his shows with all of his own ingredients his talent for knowing what is funny, his temper, ( like it or not those temper outbursts supplied the fire that reduced the show recipe to fast, funny and efficient) and his amazing ability to recognize and nurture talent coupled with his inexhaustible hunger for knowledge and trivia kept the show current and fresh.

To begin my third mixed and absurd metaphor ( I am using them because Bill appreciated my bizarre sense of humor and I think he might enjoy my stretching to create and link them). Our Ring or Family Circle which like Frodo Baggin's ring was made of the purest Gold but forged in the "Fires of Hell" it was perfectly imperfect.The "ring" had just the right amounts of talent,drive,ego,determination,fire and shine. It was also designed with a significant amount of flaws to keep the Drama alive and the internal show interesting. You can not have a good show without a backstage Drama. The years have past and many of us have went on to other triumphs, other success, and even other Dreams all together. I hope that whomever reads this will take a moment to consider that none of us would be the people we are today without Bill Oakley and our time together at The Opera House. Bill created his own universe His universe nurtured, molded  and strengthened all of us into the people we are today. Later our Family seemed to Divide into two separate rings and many of my Opera House Family began to reduce "Our Precious Family Ring" to Us and Them. Whom you were depended on where you were sitting at the time. This has been a painful separation of our family and in my humble assessment a very unnecessary one. Bill created his Universe. (As any good Director does)  Bill's Universe created The Opera House. Bill's Opera House provided the Forge, Fire and Mold that "Cast" (pun intended) our Family Ring. (See Bill I finally got all the metaphors linked although the recipe one in the middle needs some work before its ready to go) That Ring was Bill's gift to us all. I can only speak for myself I will treasure and keep that Ring close to my heart. I will never allow it to be tarnished or redesigned into something else it was and is Perfect just the way he created it. My feelings for Bill and Rayda and the Family they so unselfishly gave me is like that Ring infinite, precious and an unending circle of feelings and memories. "History becomes, Myth and myth becomes Legend' Bill always knew he would become a legend. He just assumed it would be for "Knowing what is Funny" not for "jewelry design." “Bill If I work Hard and Touch half as many lives as you did I hope you will hire me again for the "Great Beyond Show" because I never want to miss a Laugh. I also fully expect to be given notes on how I could have made this bit work better. I look forward to them.”

Rayda I have watched admired and loved you always. I am so in awe of the strength, stamina and grace you have always shown. I am thankful for Bill and all that he created but also know without any doubt that there would be no Opera House without Bill Oakley but there would have been no Bill Oakley without Rayda. Thank you so much for helping create and protect that Family Ring. The Ring that Bill and Rayda gave us is safe and in New wonderful hands as we try and pass on the love, talent, work ethic, and fun to others, Our Family Ring will continue to grow.

Bill Oakley Thank you so much for the Laugher, the tears, the frustrations, the tantrums, the stress, the drama, the fun, the directing, and the teaching. It was a great Show! I would gladly see it all over again except this kid you hired all those years ago now has Grandchildren and I am determined to give them as great a show as you gave all of us. "Break a Leg"  as you take "The Bill Oakley Show" on indefinite tour of the Great Beyond. If your reviews up there are half of what they were down here you will run forever . (like CATS only your show is Good!)

take with you my laughs, my love, and my respect

Kory Lock