After Rex passed away and he was put to rest I had to try to go on with my own life. I had a new job and I need to succeed at it. Never mind that my job was Customer Service at Macy's. You definitely can't do good customer service while your blubbering all the time. Deep in my heart though, I felt there were just too many loose ends left to Rex's life. I also knew that I had the most information about his past. I made it my goal to find Rex's Family and especially his son. I could not let them go through the rest of their lives wondering if and when he would come back or where he was.
Now I am really good at a few things, and procrastination in one of my specialities. It took me a long time to actually sit down and look at his papers that I had taken from his house. Finally one day I was looking through them and found his official court papers from his name change. There in front of me was his real name and his parents names. After some more detective work, I found his parents address and phone number. Now this was about 3 years after he had passed away...I told you I procrastinate. Now I had no phone at this time in my life so I started writing them a letter which took about six months to write. I mean how do you tell a stranger that their son is dead...it was a difficult process. It sat ready to be sent for many more months.
It had been years since Rex had died. One night I decided to go to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, the closest one was in Hollywood. The first time I had been there since we cleaned out Rex's house. I was distracted the whole time and left in the middle of the meeting. Driving home I was in tears begging for Rex to let me know he was OK. I decided I had to find the supportive letter that Rex had written to me while I was in the Eating Disorder Clinic, I had not been able to find it. As soon as I got to my home I went straight to a letter holder that I had searched many times before...and there it was. It said everything I needed it to say and ended with "Love Forever, Your Friend...Rex" I knew then it was time to send the letter, and I did.
A few month later my doorbell rang, I answered the door and there were two police officers standings there. I actually recognized one of them from the "COPS" TV show. They asked me if I knew a Rex King and had I sent a letter to someone. I told them yes and explained the letter a bit. They told me that Rex's Mother wanted me to call her collect. I immediately went to the payphone (remember those..lol) I called her and she was very receptive to me. Her son was a police officer and she was not sure if I was hoaxing them so that's why they called the Police in Florida. We spoke for over an hour. It was rewarding for both of us. When I finally got my own phone I kept in touch with her.
Now, while letting his parents have some closure was one of my goal, I really wanted to contact Rex's son Christian to let him know how much Rex hoped for a reunion one day and how much he loved him. Rex's mother did have some contact with Chris, but was hesitant to have me connect with him. I understood and felt if it's meant to happen, it would.
When my Nana passed away, I made the trip up to New Jersey. I brought some of Rex's papers knowing that I might get to meet his family in NYC. After the funeral, I called his Mother and we arraigned for them to come to my house one day. It was sort of awkward with mourners stopping by but I happily got to meet his Mother, Father, Brother, Sister and Nephew. I got to give them some of his belongings and pictures. A few months later I got a Valentines Card from his mom...It said" Chris is ready to talk to you!" I was so excited! She gave me his number. I was planning another trip to NJ, so I packed Rex's prized possessions...a number of Dragons statues that he loved and collected.
When I got to NJ, I called him and he and his bride of a few months arranged to meet me at my parents. Through all of this, I had hoped I was doing the right thing. When I laid eyes on Chris, there was no doubt that he was Rex's son. He was a very handsome 21 y/o young man. He was also a Police Officer. As we were talking, I gave Chris the Dragons, He made a strange face and we continued talking. I notices a tattoo sticking out of Chris's t-shirt, I asked what it was, he smiled and showed me a huge Dragon tattoo. It was then that I realized that Rex had been with his son all along. I was at peace. I had done all I could to finish things for Rex.
The one thing that Rex would have loved is the Internet. When I first logged on, I decided that he would surf along in spirit with me..thus my email name...Rick3rex. He was my teacher and friend in every sense of the words. He lives on in me and now in this blog. Thank you all for letting me write about him.
Be open, Be honest and Be Superb!
R
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