Remembering A Friend

 

Raol in my High School Freshman Yearbook

Recently, my long-time friend Raol Kloss passed away. Even though we drifted apart during the last decade, his loss hit me hard. So I took some time to look back at all we had shared, and remember all he meant to me.

 

 

 

 

We met during our first year of High School. 1979 was an exciting year for young science fiction fans. The new Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was airing on TV, the long awaited 'Star Trek The Motion Picture' would arrive in December, and the second Star Wars movie--'The Empire Strikes Back'—would be released before the end of our Freshman year. Raol and I always found plenty to discuss, as magazines like Starlog were growing popular, and our friends gathered us into their Dungeons & Dragons fold. 

 

 

 

 

Throughout our four years of High School, we shared all we learned about the Sci-Fi movies, TV shows, and comics we loved. We loaned each other books and audio cassettes-- such as the Star Wars radio show—saw movies, and attended science fiction conventions together. As he lived much closer to the campus than I did, we often ended up at his house after school, to chat, read, or listen to TV or movie soundtracks.

 

 

From my Freshman High School Yearbook

 

I remember once, during our Freshman year, glancing over at him when class ended. His thoughts seemed far away. "You okay?" I asked. 

 

His eyes slowly focused on me. "Just reliving 'Star Trek The Motion Picture'" he told me.

 

That was my friend Raol.

 

Dragon Dave