Monday, June 04, 2007
THE APA STATE MEET.....
Saturday was a very sentimental day for me. Becky and I drove to Rolla for the PowerLifting Meet I talked about last Friday and we arrived to a room full of lifters and their families. Rocky’s coach had asked us to bring Rocky’s travel bag because it was just the way he had packed it for that meet. Rocky had hoped to go and since he couldn’t, Rodney (coach) asked us to bring his gear.
Of course the team from our gym knew about Rocky but the guys from around the different States represented, didn’t. We arrived after they were told and were met with their condolences and “Rocky stories” …….it seemed everyone had great respect and pride in him as a lifter because they knew what he had worked through each time to be there. He had a powerful influence on all of them.
We arrived about 20 minutes before the competition began (11:00am) and stayed until it was over around 6:30pm. We were given special seats and sat glued to the proceedings…..Rocky’s sister and husband came shortly after we did but left after three hours since they had to drive back to St. Louis. Rocky’s son and family came later but with small children, they went to a relative’s home while Michael came back and stayed with us until the meet was over.
Each time someone would break a personal best record or win the overall lift, they would come by and tell us “it was for Rocky.” Those guys pulled their hearts out to outdo themselves and to make Rocky proud. He would have been. The Rockenbach family and Rocky’s Memorial Fund supplied the Grand Champion Awards. Shirts made by Rocky’s daughter, Holly, were also a hit with quite a few orders. The black shirts with the striking orange star and RockStar, RockSolid printing gained a lot of attention.
Only the ones who belong and/or attend a PowerLifting Meet know what a close-knit bunch they are. Very nice mannered, they cheer for each other, help each other and look out for each other. They have transferred their respect of Rocky to our family and we were well taken care of.
I know Rocky was there, Saturday, for I saw his determination and humility on every face of the ones competing. We are never really gone when we die. We are in every heart who remembers us and in every achievement fueled by our impact on others.
Rocky lives on…………
Until tomorrow, I am,
Essentially Esther
Of course the team from our gym knew about Rocky but the guys from around the different States represented, didn’t. We arrived after they were told and were met with their condolences and “Rocky stories” …….it seemed everyone had great respect and pride in him as a lifter because they knew what he had worked through each time to be there. He had a powerful influence on all of them.
We arrived about 20 minutes before the competition began (11:00am) and stayed until it was over around 6:30pm. We were given special seats and sat glued to the proceedings…..Rocky’s sister and husband came shortly after we did but left after three hours since they had to drive back to St. Louis. Rocky’s son and family came later but with small children, they went to a relative’s home while Michael came back and stayed with us until the meet was over.
Each time someone would break a personal best record or win the overall lift, they would come by and tell us “it was for Rocky.” Those guys pulled their hearts out to outdo themselves and to make Rocky proud. He would have been. The Rockenbach family and Rocky’s Memorial Fund supplied the Grand Champion Awards. Shirts made by Rocky’s daughter, Holly, were also a hit with quite a few orders. The black shirts with the striking orange star and RockStar, RockSolid printing gained a lot of attention.
Only the ones who belong and/or attend a PowerLifting Meet know what a close-knit bunch they are. Very nice mannered, they cheer for each other, help each other and look out for each other. They have transferred their respect of Rocky to our family and we were well taken care of.
I know Rocky was there, Saturday, for I saw his determination and humility on every face of the ones competing. We are never really gone when we die. We are in every heart who remembers us and in every achievement fueled by our impact on others.
Rocky lives on…………
Until tomorrow, I am,
Essentially Esther
