I don't even know how to begin blogging about this coherently.
Sunday evening, The Scotsman and I were finishing dinner when I got a phone call from my Dad. Immediately I knew something was up, because we had just seen my parents on Friday (yeah, that's right, I said "we." He met my parents) and there was no way they would be calling me so soon unless something was wrong. My dad informed me that the day before, Mrs. Carmany had send out a blast email asking for prayers for Mr. Carmany, who had been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer a month ago and was currently suffering from a bad infection/pneumonia from his first round of chemo.
A few words about The Carmanys. Their daughter, Erin, is my oldest friend in the world. I've known her since the womb. Their house was my second home. Mrs. Carmany is my second Mom. Mr. Carmany is my second Dad. We would go on vacations with them, Mr. Carmany and my dad ran a Boy Scout troop together, and he was my Explorer Post leader.
On Sunday morning, not even 24-hours after Mrs. Carmany sent that blast email, Mr. Carmany passed away. This is why my father was calling me, and the news hit me so hard I actually became slightly light-headed and had to bend over and put my head between my knees. I couldn't believe it – still can't. Some people are just fixtures; you always expect them to be there. Add on to that how fast this rat-bastard of a disease took him, the entire thing feels incomprehensible.
I immediately hung up the phone with my dad and quickly called Erin and left her a message telling her that I loved her and to call me. When she called me back 20 minutes later, we sobbed together and I cursed geography and life for putting me so far away from her. I wished, more than anything, that I was with her and holding her hand through this. When she mentioned going home to stay for the night so her mom wouldn't have to be alone, my tears began again at the thought of Mrs. Carmany all by herself, losing her partner after 40 years of marriage. I can't imagine Mrs. Carmany without Mr. Carmany, the duo they formed, Paul & Trudy.
Look, I know you didn't know him. And it's sort of impossible for me to explain how much of my childhood and life he affected. He leaves behind a loving wife, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. He influenced countless young people through the Boy Scouts, Explorer Post, and Order of the Arrow. He was one of those people that's genuinely great to be around: hospitable, fun, kind, honorable. And yet, you too easily take them for granted because they aren't showy about the way they go about it. I'm glad I had Mr. Carmany in my life. He was a wonderful gentleman who loved the people around him and left us all too soon. And I couldn't not write about this and take a moment to remember him.
Sunday evening, The Scotsman and I were finishing dinner when I got a phone call from my Dad. Immediately I knew something was up, because we had just seen my parents on Friday (yeah, that's right, I said "we." He met my parents) and there was no way they would be calling me so soon unless something was wrong. My dad informed me that the day before, Mrs. Carmany had send out a blast email asking for prayers for Mr. Carmany, who had been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer a month ago and was currently suffering from a bad infection/pneumonia from his first round of chemo.
A few words about The Carmanys. Their daughter, Erin, is my oldest friend in the world. I've known her since the womb. Their house was my second home. Mrs. Carmany is my second Mom. Mr. Carmany is my second Dad. We would go on vacations with them, Mr. Carmany and my dad ran a Boy Scout troop together, and he was my Explorer Post leader.
On Sunday morning, not even 24-hours after Mrs. Carmany sent that blast email, Mr. Carmany passed away. This is why my father was calling me, and the news hit me so hard I actually became slightly light-headed and had to bend over and put my head between my knees. I couldn't believe it – still can't. Some people are just fixtures; you always expect them to be there. Add on to that how fast this rat-bastard of a disease took him, the entire thing feels incomprehensible.
I immediately hung up the phone with my dad and quickly called Erin and left her a message telling her that I loved her and to call me. When she called me back 20 minutes later, we sobbed together and I cursed geography and life for putting me so far away from her. I wished, more than anything, that I was with her and holding her hand through this. When she mentioned going home to stay for the night so her mom wouldn't have to be alone, my tears began again at the thought of Mrs. Carmany all by herself, losing her partner after 40 years of marriage. I can't imagine Mrs. Carmany without Mr. Carmany, the duo they formed, Paul & Trudy.
Look, I know you didn't know him. And it's sort of impossible for me to explain how much of my childhood and life he affected. He leaves behind a loving wife, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. He influenced countless young people through the Boy Scouts, Explorer Post, and Order of the Arrow. He was one of those people that's genuinely great to be around: hospitable, fun, kind, honorable. And yet, you too easily take them for granted because they aren't showy about the way they go about it. I'm glad I had Mr. Carmany in my life. He was a wonderful gentleman who loved the people around him and left us all too soon. And I couldn't not write about this and take a moment to remember him.
Labels: Appreciation
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