Zachary

We were at the Vet's office on Thursday afternoon in September of 2004. I was in the car waiting for Alex to come out. I can't remember if we were picking up Honey after a grooming or an appointment. I saw Zach come up from the lower parking lot, and we waved at each other.

Friday night...I heard sirens, lots and lots of sirens...I recalled thinking that something horrible must be happening. It must've been around midnight when I heard them.

My mother, annoyed as usual at the phone call, said that Alan was on the telephone. He sounded frantic and upset. He said Zach had been in an accident and they were at the hospital. Evidently, Elizabeth Ann must've called Alex on his cell phone and said for us not to come to the hospital. That her mother didn't want us there.

Alex and I went to the hospital and the ER people directed us to a little room. Alan said "He's gone."

Zach was showing his friends his new gun. A hand gun. According to the story his sister Elizabeth Ann told Zach he shouldn't be playing with a gun, what if it was loaded.

Zach supposedly said, "If it was loaded I couldn't do this." He held it to his head and pulled the trigger. It was loaded.

Later, Alan said that there was just this tiny little hole on the side of Zach's head...and he just looked like he was sleeping.

Zach's mother and I had been friends forever...since we were little girls and I would visit my grandmother when we came from California to Georgia in the summers. High School and college. We were thrilled we both had little boys the same year.

Zach and Alex had been friends since they were in preschool. Alex was 5 months older than Zach.

When we moved to Nevada, the boys kept in touch with email and phone calls. The first thing Alex wanted to do when we came back for visits was to go see Zach.

Alex had moved back to Georgia in May of 2004. He and Zach didn't see each other as much as they had in the past. Alex was working, and Zach was still trying to find his place in the world. They had several months together, and Alex says he believes that is why he came back to Georgia.

Alex did not go over to the house that night, and I am so thankful for that.

I just didn't want to let this day pass without remembering him.

Zachary Alan Carter
July 1985 - September 25, 2004
He was 19 years old.

I love you Zach and we miss you still.

September 24, 1970

On September 24, 1970 my Dad was killed in an automobile accident.

He was 43 years old.

In Memory Cecil Clinton Sheriff Sund
July 13, 1927 - September 24, 1970

Cutest Dog Competition

Alex's Dreams...Slowly Coming True

Alexander

Last Spring he performed with the Atlanta Opera in a production of The Flying Dutchman as a supernumerary dancer. All that ballet and dance training from ages 4 to 12 helped him get the small part. He was thrilled and I've never seen him so committed, so happy.

After I came back from New York, he said he wanted to audition for the Opera Chorus. He had fallen in love with opera. He took voice lessons for a little over a month and learned an aria in German and two other pieces. He doesn't speak German, he took French in High School and he had never had singing lessons...the last time I remember him singing was in 5th grade as chorus was part of the special courses rotation. Am I gushing? He learned an aria in German in one month!

When he was 12 I took him to New York for a theatre week. Yep, I was one of those parents that took children out of school for special trips. We saw The Barber of Seville opening night at The Met. I thought it would be a good introduction to opera because it is a comedy and has many silly and fun moments. We also saw an off-Broadway production called When Pigs Fly and Les Miserables. It took 12 years for the opera to kick in.

Fast forward through a lot of hot messes with my only child over the years...

Alex will have his first singing role with the Atlanta Opera in their production of Orfeo ed Eurydice. He will be singing in Italian, and is busy learning the music. He does not sight-read so he is doing this all by ear.

He studied dance from 4 through 12 and danced in many ballets during those years, he has studied Suzuki violin, played the trumpet and has had several small extra parts in movies being shot in Atlanta, so he is not totally unfamiliar with performing. The role also calls for him to dance (again, thanks mom for making me take ballet) so he will be well tested for this performance.

He continues to work at the chocolate store, and he is a great help to me as I continue to care for my sister and my mom.

Again, I have never seen him so happy, so focused so committed.

Leaving Today

Start spreading the news, Im leaving today
I want to be a part of it - New York, New York
These vagabond shoes
are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it - New York, New York

I wanna wake up in a city, that doesnt sleep
And find Im king of the hill - top of the heap

These little town blues, are melting away
Ill make a brand new start of it - in old New York
If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere
Its up to you - New York, New York

New York, New York
I want to wake up in a city, that never sleeps
And find Im a number one top of the list, king of the hill
A - number one

These little town blues, are melting away
Im gonna make a brand new start of it - in old New York
And if I can make it there, Im gonna make it anywhere

It up to you - New York New York

It didn't take her long to start...

My last night at the job was last Thursday. I got home around 7:00 am Friday morning. I've been slowly attacking all the tasks that have been "undone" since late last November when I started the job.

Well, it didn't take her long to start in on me. My attitude is bad...I have a tone...it goes on and on...

Evidently, Alex left his shampoo and conditioner in the bath tub, along with some of his hair. His hair is below his shoulders and will remain so until the opera is over. She asked where he was and if he planned on coming back. I responded to where he currently is and then she started on about his hair...didn't he know if it goes down the drain - the drain will be clogged...drain cleaner costs money...why does he do that...yadda yadda yadda.

So, I went upstairs, picked up the shampoo and conditioner and placed them in the shower caddy and then retrieved the hair and threw it away...walked back downstairs and announced that I had picked all the things up...and then the hate spewed over...where does this come from? What is the real source? Why am I always on the receiving end?

She went on and on about how hard she works around here, and what all she has to do...I'm sure she believes that...the truth is, she doesn't do anything to speak of...and we don't expect her to do anything...we don't want her to do anything...I've always been in charge of cleaning - inside and out for as long as I can remember...and I'm trying to catch up as quickly as I can...but you know what...it won't make any difference. She will still find things to complain about and attack us...its sad...really sad...when she started in again, I felt those old feelings...but somehow I was able to fend off what usually ensues when she starts...I don't want to go back there...I somehow must resist those feelings and inclinations...I so have to get out of here...this walking on egg shell business is hard work...it sucks out your soul and leaves you gasping for breath...for life...

It will hit you when you least expect it...

I am desperately in need of things...things like body lotion and shampoo and assorted things like that. I was in the process of placing an online order when the ship to: box popped up...and the name was Cheryl's (Sister Golden Hair). It completely caught me off guard. She and I had been exchanging presents or "pressies" as Cheryl called them for about 10 years...I suddenly felt so empty knowing that she was not here...and that I would never again be able to send her a little "pressie"...

It will hit you when you least expect it...