In Memory of Scott Robert King

Two years ago today, I was woken up by a phone call bringing terrible news.  I thought that, surely, this was just a twisted dream, and that I would wake up and everything would be back to normal.  The reality, however, was that So Chas had just lost another of our own.  I spent that entire day sitting in my parents' basement in a sort of daze.  I don't think I spoke more than a few words.  I didn't cope particularly well - I drank a lot of beer that day (and week) and ended up passing out in my Ugg boots on three different nights that week. I wasn't alone, of course.  His family, friends, and the entire community of South Charleston (and people from cities around the country) mourned the loss of a bright, loving young man.

News spread quickly, so I knew that I had to call Mike.  Mike and Scott had been best friends since we were about four years old, so I didn't want him to hear about this tragedy on Facebook.  Mike, his family, and two of his friends from TN (who had spent some time with Scott in recent years) headed up from TN the next day.  Scott's family was extraordinarily kind and open to his friends, and I was touched that they welcomed me into his grandmother's home soon after to pay my respects.  Surprisingly, we were even able to have a couple of laughs during that visit.  One was when Mike tried introducing himself to Curtis, Scott's "little" brother, who had grown up so much that Mike didn't recognize him at first. We also laughed, and one of Scott's other best friends, Justin, gave Scott's mom a hard time over some hilarious pictures everyone was looking through of Scott when he was young. Some of the outfits he was wearing were priceless! And it is in this way that I want to remember Scott today - by looking back on all of the ways he made me laugh during our roughly 18 years of friendship.

Scott and I went to school together from Kindergarten on.  I had a crush on him pretty much throughout my entire childhood.  I laugh now thinking of playing "MASH" with my girlfriends, usually Sara Musgrave.  Come on! You remember that game.  You would list a certain number of boys, a certain number of car choices, etc., draw some random swirly circle to determine some arbitrary number, and then use that number to somehow figure out who you were going to marry, what car you would drive, how many kids you would have, etc.  Clearly, my memory of the details and my ability to explain them coherently have faded with time, but one thing I remember clear as day is that I ALWAYS put Scott's name down, ha. I would always secretly (or probably not-so-secretly) hope that I would land on his name.  I get such a kick out of it, looking back now, because throughout our teenage and adult years we were always just strictly friends.

Scott was another member of the original King Cobra Kickers little league soccer team.  We played soccer together all of the way through Jr. High, and I am pretty sure he was rocking the pineapple haircut that entire time.  I get a lot of laughs looking back at old pictures and ALL of those boys had the pineapple haircut! Ha.  During most of the years that we played soccer together, I was the only girl on the team.  I always knew that he had my back, and I appreciated how supportive he always was.

For those who didn't have the pleasure of knowing him for several years, Scott was lanky until sometime during his college-age years, then he was "buff"!  In more recent years, I mostly only spent time with Scott over the summers when I was back home in So. Chas.  Another memory of him that always makes me laugh is of a night one summer when I was in undergrad that he came over to watch TV and hang out with me and Sara.  Here he is, this big macho-looking guy, and he rolls into my basement with a big bottle of Arbor Mist Blackberry-flavored wine.  That was a funny sight. We also had a great trip to TN together in the summer of 2006.  Mike got married that summer, and Scott rode down with Jason and I for the reception.  We had SUCH a blast and made some memories on that trip.  We joked and laughed about some of the stories from that trip up until just a couple of months before he passed away.  I am thankful to have had those times with him.

I could go on forever with stories about times spent with Scott - there were so many.  Maybe I selfishly wrote this post to cheer myself up during this week of the year, which is now so difficult for so many of us. But I also wanted to post some funny/silly stories and memories in the hopes that all of his loved ones who are missing him today (and everyday for that matter) will smile and do the same.  I pray often for and everyday think of his family, his boys/brothers, and the girls with whom he always remained close.  Much like Shawn, Scott was a loyal friend, a loving and funny person, and I'm sure an amazing brother & family member.  I miss him, and I think of him often, as I'm sure so many of us do. I can only imagine what kind of trouble he and Shawn are getting into up there, but I'm sure that, when it is my time to join them, they'll welcome me with open arms.

Think of him today and everyday and remember the ways in which he touched your life. Think of all of the times he made you laugh, smile, and remember him that way.

We miss you, Scotty-too-hotty.