Ode to My Stepdad, Tyler Jones

In memoriam of my stepdad, Brian D. Kutzler, who passed away on November 4th, 2019, at the age of 66.

He loved NASCAR, wrestling, Coca-Cola, and rock & roll.

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Children and Youth certainly came for your youth

The trials and triathlons, they had run our family through

Those bedfellows of adverse childhood experiences

Such were the worst experiences, of our lives.

You worked so hard to get us out

Overcoming your mental health issues

Becoming a sober man

Needing to soar in such a crushing atmosphere.

Oh, how you came through!

On nimbus clouds made of cigarette smoke

Like Goku, here to save Sean and I

From the fostering care of strangers.

Going to court to get us back

Showing a judge you had made changes

You were transformed

You were good enough for them, now.

Taking piss tests at SASSI

Always, quite a bit sassy

Drinking Coca-Cola, out the same old bottle

Rimmed with dirt, depression, and darkness.

Drinking down the Klonopins, Wellbutrins, with icy cold Coke

That medication cocktail

After all those years sober

You were almost yourself.

You went out like Elvis

Heart attack, alone in your bathroom

Sean and I didn’t believe it

The living never do.

I know you believed in God

You deserve to be up there

Smoking cigarettes and drinking clean Coca-Colas

With the dead rock and rollers.

You legend.