Thank You For the Community

I had a coworker who convinced me to head out on a random Wednesday night to the Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Lincoln for karaoke. I never knew how much a midweek night out would matter to me, but it was just what I needed.

People would filter in and out, but over the course of the next six years, I would head out nearly every week for karaoke night, forming a solid group of friends in the process. Then, one of my friends in that group started dating a guy in another group that also frequented karaoke, and soon enough, our groups would merge. Many of the people in that group are people who make up my main group of friends to this day.

We would bounce around between the different bars across Lincoln. One of those bars was Ramo’s Bar & Grill, where karaoke was hosted by this guy, Mike, and his wife, Gee. Mike was the kind of guy who would remember you after a few songs, which was impressive given the number of people who came through those events. He was also more than eager to find your song, no matter how obscure or non-mainstream it might be. I was certainly one to test those limits.

Mike’s nights were always a good time. I’m thankful for the way they bridged people together and gave us a break from the rest of our lives. I got the sad news that Mike passed away today. I hope he fully knew just how much his services mattered. My thoughts are with his family and friends who now mourn him. The memories he helped create will not be forgotten.