This morning I woke up and sensing I had made a terrible mistake I checked Facebook ---- I had made a terrible mistake.  My friend Zach McNabney died this morning. He was in his forties – and I am blanking on what year he was born – he was younger than I am – but his birthday is the day before mine – so while I always knew when to wish him happy birthday, I’m pretty sure I ask him every year how old he was.  I’m not good with remembering ages – he was about 45…………..too damn young. 

Zach had been fighting cancer for over three years – he never once lost his positive attitude – at least not in public – he had one helluva game face.  He was like a pesky younger brother to me. He’s one of those people that I’ve always known. In our recent adult lives I saw him at work a lot – he would come in and test drive everything – I mean that literally – everything.  Zach was one of about two customers who I allowed to be a “Help Yourself” customer.  He knew the drill – he would come in, we would chitchat a little, he would tell me all about my used car inventory and then he would be off to the key closet to grab keys and a plate and go for a test drive.

 Zach and I talked about a lot more in my old store – we talked about life, the community – I’m going to take a little credit for getting him involved with the Crisis Nursery – we talked about golf – we were half of an unstoppable scramble team that played in the Crisis Nursery golf outing.  Zach was our anchor on that team – well he and his brother from another mother, Scott Grumish would argue who was the anchor – they bickered like old ladies out there – but we had a lot of fun and we won it several times. Zach was also the men’s coach at Parkland College.

We talked about his marriage that ended, we talked about his two daughters who were the light of his life, we talked about his new love Jame – and it was in the dealership that I met her the very first time – I knew she was the one – he knew it on the first date I think – at least that’s what he told me – I am more skeptical – but he was right! She was and is a fiery, happy, full of life person – just like Zach – so I knew she could stand toe to toe with him! I had the privilege of attending their beautiful wedding – I mean literally beautiful in every way.  True love does not come along often – it came to these two.

But it was taken away too soon – not the love – that will always be there, but the chance to experience all that life has to offer together. Zach got sick about the time he met Jame and she has been a rock. 

I found out Friday that Zach was in hospice care. I messaged him and I messaged Jame to say that I would stay out of the way and let all of his working friends come by over the weekend – but I would be by on Monday – Zach died this morning.

My point is this – do not put things off.  Do not say “oh I can do that tomorrow”. Fight to do all you can every day.  Reach out to a friend or family member every day and tell them you are thinking about them. Don’t wait because it’s hard, or you’re tired, or you’d rather sit on the couch – there might not be a tomorrow. I don’t know how many times I will be reminded of how short life can be………..but Mike, Michael, Scott, Scott, Danny, Irena, so many have reminded me of this – why doesn’t that lesson sink in with us??

If you are alive and healthy – get out there and live life today – don’t complain – just live. Do something useful, do something meaningful, just get off your asses and do something!

Zach is one more person that set an example for me on how to live life – he did it with strength, bravery, humor, laughter, love and a lot of test drives.

Rest in peace my friend.

Love,

The Gym Bytch