Dear Double Take

Friday, December 23, 2011

Dear Double Take Family,

I know I hugged and thanked each of you Thursday, but I wanted to send you a special note from me to somehow put into words how grateful I am.

A little over nine years ago, I answered a mailing to come check out Double Take as a new salon opportunity for my career.  I honestly was just thinking of my career and what was best for my family and our life style.  Never... not in a million years... did I think I would be part of such an amazing group of people.  Working here for almost a decade, I have seen many stylists or receptionists go (and thrilled to have some of them come back :), but I really do believe this group is the most beautiful, giving and thoughtful we have EVER had.

When little Nate got sick in May of '08 at four months old, Double Take pooled their resources and donated to help with our medical expenses.  I was unbelievably touched back then and honored to be a part of an incredible family here.  Becky has always taken good care of me, words cannot express how much I love that woman.  I will spend a lifetime giving all that I can back to her.  That does not take away from the rest of you.  For all that you have done and continue to do as wonderful friends and co-workers, I HONOR YOU!  I can't get over this feeling of unworthiness.  You all did this for US, for me... I don't understand what we did right to deserve your charity and kindness.  God has blessed me with an amazing family at home.  And, I have always felt that all of you are my family at work, and that my clients are part of my family as well.  How on earth did I get so lucky to have so many wonderful people surround me in all aspects of my life?  I really don't want to take away from what you've done for us, but in all modesty, I'm sure there was many more deserving families that are struggling more than us.  BUT, that's all because of this unworthiness feeling.  I have so much gratitude and love for you, and I thank you with all that I am.

I hope you know how much this will help us with what we are trying to do to prepare for our future with Nate.  You have taken a burden off our shoulders, and are making this process so much less stressful and so much more enjoyable!  I have wondered how we were going to make this happen without going into debt, and you have answered our prayers.  I promise that we will make everybit of this gift do what it was meant to do, and with every board and every nail, it will have my Double Take family attached to it.  This would not be possible without you.

Thursday was a dream... I still can't believe what you did.  And amazed at how well it was pulled together and that fact that I never had one inkling of a clue.  Either you hid it very well, or I was completely oblivious. Maybe a bit of both.

Maybe, in time I will be able to REALLY show my gratitude and to single out each one of you and honor you.  At this point I know the key players, but I am sure that there are so many more of you that did something extra special to make all this possible.  I hope to find out who you are and hug you until you pop.

For all that you did, for all that you are... I appreciate you.  You are my family and I am blessed to have each of you in my life and I will never, ever, EVER forget what you've done for us.

I love you.

-Carolyn

Weather Guesser Guy

Yesterday, our local morning meteorologist was missing from the morning show.  So, of course, I checked Face book and came to find out Mr. Don Harmon was dead.  At the time, nothing was being posted about what happened.  Apparently, news DID get out that he had committed suicide.  But, the family didn't want news getting out to other members of the family, particularly Don's father, through the social media.

It's amazing to me, when something like this happens, that people are so fascinated by the details surrounding the situation.  I'm not saying I'm not one of them.  It's human nature to be curious.  Although, what bothered me about this yesterday, was the rumors I heard.  Whether truth or not, it seems everyone grasps on to the first thing they hear and then relays it to others.  Is it because people are needing closure?  Is it because if people don't understand something they make up their own conclusions?

This is a bit unrelated, but when little Lisa Irwin went missing, this sort of thing happened as well. That bothered me too.  No one knows what happened exactly, but yet everyone had something to say.  Who are WE to judge?  And who are WE to spread our opinions regarding a situation that we don't have any business being in the middle of?  The truth will NEVER be ours to judge.

Don Harmon struggled with depression... that came STRAIGHT from his family.  However, everyone seems to want to know WHY?  Did something happen to make him depressed?  Was he struggling with an addiction?  Had he ALWAYS been fighting depression?  Again, WE the public do not know this.  Yet we hear a rumor and then we feed off it.  This poor family now has to live outside the gossip bubble... with ear plugs.  If they listen to the rumors, they wish they hadn't.  If they don't listen, they never have a chance to set any record straight.

I watched a short video of the morning show talking about the tragedy of Don's worldly departure.  I cried my eyes out.  I felt like I was reliving the tragedy of my friends suicide 8 years ago.  I pray that Don's friends and family make it through the grief train and can look back without tears or regret years from now.  I still have much regret for what happened with Jessica and I don't wish that on anyone.  I know many people have had to deal with a loved one "taking their own life".  I remember pondering on that particular quote and being somewhat angry.  They didn't take their OWN life.  They took their loved one's lives and threw it in the garbage disposal.  I know, that mentally they didn't see that. But that's what they did.  When someone gets cancer and dies, their family can be mad at the cancer or maybe they're mad at God.  If someone dies in a tragic car accident, they channel their anger at the other driver or the car itself, or maybe they're mad at God.  If someone is maliciously murdered, their family is angry at the murderer... or maybe... they're mad at God.

When someone kills themselves... who are you mad at?

Exactly.

And then.... who else do you blame?

Exactly.


It really IS out of our control.

I will pray for Don's friends and family and I will not listen to rumors about it.  I choose to be on the family's side.

Good bye "weather guesser guy"...