In 2000, Matt Schneider set Joanna McFarland and I up on a blind friend date with Michelle Desmond and Carrie. I wouldn’t have believed at the time that my life would be forever changed, but it was… so much for the better.
What’s given me comfort since Carrie’s passing is that she lived a great life, she took full advantage of the time she had and she taught us all lessons through her example which we will carry forward. We will be the ripple effect that she left behind.
Carrie was incredibly successful in her career AND she prioritized her personal life. I’ve had the joy of partying on many islands and boats with Carrie from the Big Island of Hawaii where our dear friend Michelle was married … to Governors Island right here where we sipped champagne and replaced polo divots… from a boat in St. Thomas where Carrie had to convince the Captain not to leave me behind snorkeling much too far away… to a boat off of Costa Rica during a trip that Carrie and Dale planned. Raccoon in the house, Gecko in the cookies – we had some wild times and the wildlife, and our driver, wanted to join us. Carrie taught me to take ALL of my vacation, travel, see the world, do it right and bring back stories. Her and Dale’s story of the Turkish bath brings me to tears of laughter every time that it’s told.
Carrie shared a deep love for the water whether swimming out beyond the break or diving to the depths. Some of my most memorable times scuba diving have been spent with her and Dale. She’s so graceful under the water, swimming through reefs and finding unique fish or calmly replacing and clearing her mask after a Manta Ray couldn’t resist getting too close to her and knocking it off. Carrie and Dale were an incredible team diving together, checking in with each other and venturing off when there was safe fun to be had.
Carrie invested in all her relationships whether it was spending time with family or supporting her girlfriends through our trials and our celebrations or falling for that golf instructor, going back for extra lessons and building a life together. Carrie and Dale’s marriage is one that I’ve always wanted to emulate: affectionate, fun and rock solid. And over the years, they have been a true family to so many of us.
So, Carrie will be with me every time I stamp my passport, dive to the depths of the ocean or build a family of friends. And, she will similarly live on through all of you.