I dont even know where to start. Ive never written anything like this and im not a great writer by any stretch of the imagination. I dont have the way with words that Jake had, but i feel as though i need to just write a little something about the man. So forgive me for the lack of a clear train of though or easy readibility in what follows, because im just gonna write what comes to me...
Ive known Jake for about 6-7 years id say, but it feels as if ive known him since we were knee-high to a grasshopper. Thats just how the man was though. From the moment you met him, you felt as though you'd known him your whole life. He had this welcoming, comforting way about him. And you were drawn to him like a moth to light, thanks to his unmeasurable amount of charisma. You could talk with him about anything, and HE could talk to anyone, about anything. And it wasnt just talk. He genuinely cared about what you were saying, and listened intently to you. It reminds me of a line from a movie (its slipping my mind right now, but its a pretty famous movie. Fight Club maybe, im not sure). It was like he was really listening "...instead of just waiting for his turn to talk". Im pretty sure it was because of his caring personality as well as his relentless thirst for knowledge. The guy just never stopped learning.
Once Jake took interest in something, he dove headfirst into it and learned everything he possibly could about the subject. He would scour the internet, talk to people, join message boards, and even hit up the library. (Who does that anymore?) He would read every possible bit of information about his new interest until he himself was an encyclopedia of knowledge regarding that subject. I saw it happen first hand many times. For example, when i got him into cigar smoking a few years ago. I took a few smokes up to his place one time cause we were just gonna sit around and relax on a Friday with no plans of really doing anything. So we grabbed a few beers and sat out in the courtyard of his apartments. It turned out to be the perfect hobby for Jake. Work had been pestering him at the time and he could use a bit of time to himself to just relax and unwind. It was/is my contention that nothing is more relaxing that sitting outside with a nice smoke and a drink, to unwind. He agreed and was instantly hooked on cigars. Within that first week, Jake knew more about cigars than i did, and id been smoking for years already at that point. I remember him asking me specific questions about a certain kind of wrapper on a cigar and i was baffled. I had no answers for him. All i could do from that point on was recommend cigars that i liked, for him to try.
Jake was just always like that. He was the same way with graffiti, guns, as well as religion, and eventually scuba diving. Jake himself wasnt really "religious" but he knew more ABOUT religion that anyone i know. It just interested him, so he had to know everything there was to know. And he damn near did.
Jake was also, by far, the best story-teller ive ever known. As you blog readers well know, if youve been around for a while, he had quite a way with words. Even translated through text, he could tell a story like no one else. But you sit down with a beer and just vibe with him, hear a couple of his endless stories, and hed have you in stiches. And rarely could he tell one story without being reminded of another one and goin off on a tangent with that story as well. By the end of it all your face and stomach muscles would be hurting from all the laughing. It was just always a good time when you were around him. You didnt even have to DO anything to have fun with Jake. Some of my most memorable moments came when we were sitting around being lazy on a Saturday night, drinking a couple beers and having a cigar.
On the other side of that coin though, when you partied with the man, you PARTIED. When it was time to get down and party, Jake went hard. You werent stopping that train. The bar by his old apartment called The Corner was the setting for many nights of drunken karaoke, dancing, chatting with old ladies (they always loved him too), getting in fights, and throwing up. Sometimes getting kicked out by the employees even. But it was never personal, everyone that worked there loved him, it was moreso they had to keep order. Hell, we used to order pizzas and have them delivered to the bar (from the pizza joint that was literally a 5 minute walk away no less. We'd have it delivered.) We'd go to McDonalds and get a bag full of cheeseburgers and bring it back to the bar and stuff our faces. Of course the bar had a kitchen and menu of its own, but we didnt always want what they had to order. But did they ever take offense to it? of course not, they loved Jake. He just got away with stuff like that, cause really, who could be mad at Jake?
I feel like i could go on and on, and tell a lot of stories. But nobody could tell a Jake story like Jake could, so i dont even want to try.
The bottom line is, we lost a hell of a person this past March 6th. Hell of a friend, confidant, brother, son, mentor, story-teller, party animal, artist...the list goes on. He was a man of many talents. And the world will never get to enjoy those talents again. We had him for a short time, too short, but he was the best, every step of the way.
We celebrated his life with a hell of a party this last Tuesday though. Im certain he'd be proud that we did it right, the way he would have wanted it done.
We'll miss you Jake. Im confident ill see again one day though. Untill then...ill just think of all the great pissing contests we had...
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