My favorite memory of Carl was when he ended up in the emergency room due to an accident. He was in the bed and sent me off with some cash to buy some Chinese take out. Then, we casually ate our dinner out of the boxes and watched Toddlers and Tiaras in the curtained off private “room” in the hospital like it was the most natural thing in the world, laughing and having a great time.
Carl was one of my roommates last year. He had a background in finance and was once a small business loan officer at a bank. Some months ago, he wasn’t returning my phone calls. I called his family on the East Coast to find out that he had unexpectedly passed away just two weeks before. They had already been to Wisconsin and taken care of his affairs and were back home already. *sigh*
For WeatherVane Creamery, Carl was always eager and excited to do anything that he could to help out. He helped me with the financials and gave me feedback on the original business plan. He even endorsed me and the plan on my indiegogo video. Besides that, he also went a little outside his comfort zone and did some voiceovers with me for the video and he also helped me set up a public cheese tasting, greeting everyone and representing for WeatherVane.
I met Carl’s mother, Anna, during the references portion of the roommate screening. For whatever reason, she and I hit it off over the phone. And it was Anna who first suggested that I consider adding grilled cheese to WeatherVane’s offerings.
Most importantly, who Carl was/is for me is openness, generosity, and love. He was so insightful and I often think of his life lessons as I learn my own. All he ever wanted to do was give. And I miss him. In fact, I sometimes don’t even believe that he is gone. He was in my life ever so briefly but made such a tremendous impact. I am grateful to have known him, to have shared joys with him, and to have been there for him when he needed my support and vice versa.
I miss you, Carl.
