I wrote a little about my friend Scott in “If Your Obit and/or Headstone Had a Hashtag, What Would It Be?“. Or, I mentioned him at least. The fact that I haven’t been able to write about his death.
But it’s been weighing on my mind. I want to acknowledge his passing. I just haven’t really known how.
Sure, I could just write that he died. That I miss him. That I think about his quirky views and shenanigans just about every day and miss our chats. That there’s a hole, even though I didn’t know him super well or all that long.
I only knew him two years, but it’s not the length of time that you know someone that leaves the mark, is it? A random encounter with a stranger that lasts mere minutes, or maybe even seconds, can alter the course of your life –either good or bad– forever, can’t it?
Scott was great for my self-esteem. He’s the one who said, “You’ve got that certain something. You could easily have your own radio show too –and should.”
He’s the reason I had a show for a short time. I’d thought about doing it years before that, but that’s all I did. Contemplate it.
Scott was all, “Yeah. That’s not good enough. Get your rear in gear and make it happen. Enough of this hemming and hawing shit.”
He’s the reason I got my sixth Chicken Soup for the Soul acceptance. For “Just Ask” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone: 101 Stories about Trying New Things, Overcoming Fears, and Broadening Your World.
Unlike me, who is crap at keeping in touch with people with a call, he’d check in at least once a month, if not once a week. It just depended on whether he was really excited about an upcoming guest or topic for his show, the Fearless Ghosthunter, or if there was some kind of paranormal or HAuNTcon news he wanted to be sure I knew about.
The conversation was always different, but certain topics always seemed to repeat:
- Scam callers and ways he wanted to deal with them –or had tried. (He cranked an IRS impersonator. That was a riot!)
- Food that would turn your poo different colors.
- Aliens and his desire never to be probed.
This time of year was shortly after after I’d met him and right around the time my show launched on ParaMania Radio. We spoke a lot back then. With Easter stuff coming out, especially Peeps, I can’t help but think of him.
Peeps make me think of several people. I know some who love them. I know others who detest them. I can’t remember which camp Scott fell into, but I’m sure he brought them up as a color changing feces food.
But I’m not sure. It’s one of those questions I wish I could ask him. All I know is whatever he’d said, it made me laugh. More than anything it’s the memory of humor he left me with.
Which is why when another friend shared a photo on my Haunt Jaunts Hangout Facebook group, Scott once again came to mind. It was of a spaceship beaming up two cows for National Alien Abduction Day.
But it was the comment she left with it that cracked me up and made me think of Scott: “Time for your annual anal probe.”
OMG he would’ve loved that. So I shared it to his timeline.
Scott, I wish I’d returned what turned out to be your last call to me. You were, as usual, cracking up about some topic you were excited to delve into on your show.
I love that you had the passion you did, and the enthusiasm. I Messengered Paul Chadwick yesterday to see if he’d heard the news about you. Here’s what he said:
Am very sad to hear that because he was a very nice guy and very polite to me nobody honestly told me anything about this. Even though I never met him I feel a great loss and will dearly miss him. To be honest I came close with the same thing. I don’t know what to say other than feel sad
He even said prayers for me when I was going through so much pain with the same thing
That was Scott. If he knew you and liked you, he made you feel like one of the family. With him, you knew he had your back.
He wasn’t afraid to call bullshit, and he loved a good debate. But he had a huge heart.
Heart. Ironically, it was a massive heart attack that claimed him.
Which is heartbreaking.
Scott, above all I’ll always remember your kind and generous heart. I know I’m not the only one still trying to grapple with the reality that you’re gone. You touched so many.
Poor Sue is hanging tough, as tough as anyone could after being dealt such a blow, but her heart is crushed. How could it not be? But she’s once again showing just what a tough cookie she is. She both inspires and humbles me.
And did you see the wicked amazing tattoo that Chris Davis got in your honor? Holy cow! I thought that was such a cool and clever tribute to you –and a testament to just how deeply you touched souls. See P.S. below…
You, sir, may be gone, but you are most definitely not forgotten. You’re written on the hearts of all who knew and loved you.
I hope you’re resting easy wherever you are –and I hope you’ve got your answers to the many “probing” questions you had about life, death, and the Great Beyond.
Blessings on your life.
P.S. So I shared this with Sue, because I figured since I mentioned her I didn’t want her to think I was talking behind her back. It wasn’t Chris Davis’s tattoo I was admiring after all. It was Sue’s!!!!! Good grief. I hope she laughs about it, and you are too. It’s a wicked cool tat though. No matter who’s wearing it.