LIFE IS A PARADOX... a fun story and a sad story within 48 hours

These last 7 days would definitely fit the category of a paradox.

Two very different stories took place within 48 hours of each other.

THE FUN STORY:

While I was in LA, I met Jay Leno.  How fun!  

Anthony from the LA Fluevog store said "Hey Karen if you want to see Jay Leno go outside.  He's filming across from our store."

And yep, there he was.  

Karen:  "grab the camera!  I want a picture of Leno."

Anthony gets the camera and I'm outside leaning against our store, watching Leno interview people.  His assistant walked over and asked if we worked at Fluevog and then asked if we would be willing to be interviewed.

Gulp...

So I dove in.  "Sure. why not!"

BIG MISTAKE!

Had major foot IN mouth disease.  Definitely a KAREN MOMENT!  uggg.. 

I even had to sing a christmas carol... horribly bad!! haha

While Leno remained outside, we held our staff meeting.  And every so often I'd look out the window, pull my scarf to hide my face and remember stuff I said...

The interview lasted only 2 minutes... they are the longest two minutes of haunting memory ever!!!!

Anthony was sure they'd keep me in their final cut... he said they always leave the 'dorky' parts in for the show....  gee thanks.  haha

So here I am for the next 4 nights... cringing at the thought that millions of people would be watching...  but... phewf phewf phewf... turns out... I didn't make the final cut.  They showed the Jay Walking segment on Tuesday night and I wasn't on it.  You have NO IDEA how relieved I am!!

Anyhooooo... here are some pics.   IT WAS FANTASTIC TO MEET JAY LENO!  

THE SAD STORY:

So meeting Leno was on Thursday night, December 4th, 2008.

36 hours later....  Saturday morning, December 6th around 9:00am...I was at LAX getting ready to fly back to Vancouver.  I received a phone call from one of our sales clerks at the Seattle store.

Our dear friend and Seattle colleague, Shawn Milasich, was rushed to ICU in critical condition.  (he had some on going health problems).  Throughout the day I stayed in close contact with the Seattle team.  And at 9pm saturday evening, i received a phone call from Leah, the assistant manager, weeping on the phone... Shawn had passed on.

I was in a public place when I received the final call.  I was in complete shock.  This can't be!

No one saw this coming.  Such sad news...

There's been much grieving taking place within the Fluevog community.  

Shawn was dearly loved by so many.

This Saturday the family is having a memorial service at 1pm at Gaffney's Funeral Home in Tacoma.  And after the memorial, the Fluevog community will be having a remembrance time at the Seattle store.

We are putting up a Christmas tree in the Seattle store in memory of Shawn.  If you would like to come by the store and bring a small ornament with you....we'd love that.  A symbol... as we celebrate a man we all love and respect and will greatly miss.

It's been a hard and sad few days.  I drove down to Seattle on Monday to spend time with the team; listen to their stories and their hearts; and to just be with them as they process and grieve the loss of their close friend.

Let me tell you some amazing qualities of Shawn that I so dearly valued.

SHAWN MILASICH

1.  Shawn is witty.  So funny.  He could make me laugh; he made us all laugh.  He'd come out with this one liners and catch us all by surprise.  Straight faced, with a twinkle in his eye.

2.  Shawn is so loving.  I remember doing an exercise with the Seattle team when I met them for the first time.  And on Shawn's sheet, his page had Love, Loving, Caring mentioned several times.  Yes.  Of course it did.  That is so Shawn... loving and caring.

3.  Shawn loved community.  He would mention often that Fluevog was his family.  

4.  Shawn is a servant.  He would serve so so much.  All the time!  The team would have to force him to take lunch breaks, to sit down, to slow down... he was always quick to help, to give.  Shawn had high standards in his work ethics.  And he was one of our top sales clerks in the entire company.

5.  Shawn is kind and warm.  I always felt so accepted and welcomed.  He wanted people to feel comfortable and at home.  

6.  Shawn is a story teller.  What a hoot!  He had such great stories!  He was a fantastic conversationalist.  A great listener.  Engaging.  

7.  Shawn was classy.  He always looked great.  And he had SO MANY fluevogs!!  Probably over 100...

8.  Shawn was real.  It was amazing to watch the Seattle team work together.  They were so transparent with each other.  They loved each other both in words and action.  Shawn was very committed to his team.  And they had a loving, honest relationship together.

9.  Shawn was amazing with people.  The Fluevog customers LOVED him.  He treated them royally.  He received fan mail regularly.  Each person he served felt so valuable and well taken care of.  Of course they did.. because that is so Shawn.

10.  Shawn Milasich.  a/k/a Mo.  .....the friendly giant.  A friend to many.

WE WILL MISS YOU SHAWN....

(SHAWN AND LEAH)