Today the headlines announced the sad news of Lance Newman's untimely death.
The words look so strange as I type them; after all, he can't be gone, can he?Is it really true? Though it was several years ago, I still remember the first time Lance called me for a grooming appointment.
How could I forget that calm, lilting voice on the other end of the line?I had heard that voice so many times over the airwaves; I knew right away who was calling.
A colleague of his at the radio station had recommended me.
Could he possibly make an appointment for his "little" dog, Zoey?It was very clear from the beginning that Lance was a true animal lover, and his dogs were family.
I distinctly remember smiling as I hung up the phone that day, thinking what a nice man he must be.
When the appointment day arrived I was looking forward to meeting the face that went along with the voice.
He was exactly as I had pictured, solid and tall with a pleasant face and easy manner.
I felt as though I were meeting an old friend; I liked him instantly.
After the introductions were made, he returned to his pickup to retrieve Zoey for her haircut.
She was a curious mixture of canine ingredients; Basset Hound/German Shepherd was my crossbreed guess, with a bit of Cocker mixed in perhaps.
In any case, she was not a "little" dog by any means.
But nonetheless Lance carried her through my front door effortlessly, hoping to soothe her fears for her first grooming with me.
We both decided that it would be easier for her (and probably Lance too) if he could place her in her suite where she would rest until her bath that day.
And so a ritual was born.
Over the years that followed, I groomed Zoey every other month like clockwork.
Lance did not book the appointments ahead, but would call when it was getting close to the time.
And every single phone call would start that same way.
"Hi...
this is Lance...
"I could have had a hundred clients named Lance, but I would have always known it was him; that phrase, and the musical way he made it sound with his cashmere voice.
The routine was the always the same.
The yellow pickup would pull up in front, Lance would go to the passenger side and take Zoey up in his arms, and in they would come.
And, close behind would be Emma, Zoey's sidekick.
Not a small dog either, Emma would follow Lance inside, all the way to the back, where he would deposit Zoey in her same spot and say his good-byes.
Off they would go, Lance and Emma, out the door to wait for my call.
And each time he came to drop Zoey off, I noticed that I was smiling after he left.
His positive, laid-back attitude was infectious.
This was our ritual, and I looked forward to it each time he would come.
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to get to know Lance better.
He was such an open, friendly person to be around.
Each time I spoke with him, we would catch up on what was new.
He was always open to share about his situation, what was new in his life and what he had been up to.
But even more so, he was always genuinely interested in what had been happening with me as well.
He was always aware of any publicity or activity that we had recently been involved in.
He was the first one to always notice any changes or improvements, no matter how minor.
Out in public, we would always stop and chat for a while.
It was always so good to see him.
He was a client, but a friend too.
Someone very special.
But now, suddenly, I am once again abruptly reminded of the fragility of life.
How quickly special spirits can pass through our lives, teaching us by their actions.
Lance touched many peoples' lives, I'm sure of it.
He had a gentle demeanor about him that made people feel at ease and comfortable.
He made people smile and appreciate life a bit more.
I just can't believe he is gone so soon.
Of course we aren't usually given the opportunity to say goodbye, making the realization even more difficult.
It is hard to believe that I won't see him anymore, coming in with Zoey in his arms and Emma in tow.
It just doesn't seem real.
I think I will be waiting for a very long time to hear that kind voice on the other end of the phone,"Hi...
this is Lance...
"