On the 4th day before Christmas...

On this the 4th day before Christmas, I have thought about how blessed Scott was to have such good friends in his life. Thus they have been in our lives as well and the whole family has been blessed through their friendship. Scott had the kind of friends that look past imperfections and personality quirks and see the intent and potential.  We saw what makes someone a true friend through many instances.

One trait that makes a person a true friend is when they let you go on about your interests and help foster those desires even when they do not have the same level of enthusiasm.  As a diversion to his pain and anxiety, Scott in the last months was preoccupied with BBQ equipment.  Not your average backyard BBQ but those that were used commercially and custom built by welders.  He would scour the internet for the latest and greatest available and then he would go to Craig's list to see the deals that could be made.  He used reams of paper and color ink printing out his finds.  When he found something worthy, he would call his friend John Hayes and talk shop with him.  Scott had a vision of pulling this thing around to car shows and the like and start feeding the masses.  He even thought about doing missionary work through his BBQ, by giving them meat and a Book of Mormon.  "BBQ Brothers"  was one of his prospective names and there was to be matching aprons and a lot of other accessories.

John was a patient listener for Scott because I could not hear one more thing about a BBQ.  John let Scott go on about his fantasy and even encouraged his dreams.  Scott called John when he finally found the one he could afford.  The problem was that the object of his desire was in San Diego.  Scott was ready to take off and pick it up, driving alone and with no physical ability to load it and get it home, luckily John rescued us all.  He volunteered to go pick up the BBQ trailer in California when he was there visiting his family.   The trailer arrived safely to John's home. I point out here that I had to remind  Scott that the Home Owner's here would have something to say about his parking it in front  of our house even if he did want to get a bunch of meat and cook it and then just start giving it to any neighbor who walked by.  John lives in Waddell surrounded by land, so like a great friend he offered to park it at his place. Scott was there to John's within days to see his baby.  He took pictures of it and showed those pictures around like a proud father.  He had great plans with the trailer and John and I am grateful that he died still a BBQ brother and grateful to John for allowing him that joy and hope.

Another trait of a great friend, is that they can see you at your worst and still think you are worth their efforts.  As a family, we will always be indebted to Scott Halverson for his critical and calming help in the hospital.  As previously mentioned, Scott took off from his work to help fight the legal and other battles in carrying out our Scott's desires.  With so many Scotts, I will refer to my Scott as Harman here.  Harman did not look like himself.  He did not speak.  He was hooked up to everything and quite frankly it smelled in his room but that did not stop Scott from visiting and talking with Harman.  Scott was there through that whole horrible Nov. 13th day.  He was there when they pulled out the breathing tube and when Harman drew his last breath.  Scott was a friend to the end, even when the end was so ugly.  Thank you Scott for being Harman's friend and an example of  real charity to so many.

There is yet another Scott  that must be mentioned here as well, Scott Maloney. Scott came to the hospital  several times to see Harman and even came just  moments after Scott passed. He and his wife, Aselin, are responsible for granting one of Harman's last wishes.  Harman always wanted to have the bagpipes played at his funeral.  Well, Harman may have had a wee bit of the Scottish ancestry in his blood to warrant such a display but this is Arizona.  The task was overwhelming to locate a bagpiper to play the day after Thanksgiving.  Aselin and Scott took that quest on and delivered a beautiful last tribute to my Scott with the bagpiper playing "Praise to the Man"(It is a traditional Scottish tune) and "Amazing Grace".  My Scott may not have had his dream fulfilled about singing the National Anthem in Yankee Stadium but he did have a bagpiper (a very young one I might add) play at his gravesite thanks to good friends.

Truly Hayden, HeartLee and myself have been benefactors to the friendships that Scott had with so many solid and caring people.  Their example of friendship will be our standard to replicate in our lives.