When I lived in Chicago, Charlie lived in the condo underneath mine. Over the years we grew to become good friends. He was gay and found a partner in Kiyo about 7 years ago and together they were happy. Charlie had previously been married & has three children and 2 grandchildren. Charlie & Kiyo were at my wedding 2 years ago, he hadn't yet seen my daughter, Molly. I was going to call & ask him (again) to come visit so he & Kiyo could meet her, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. I regret that!
I loved him. He had a huge heart and a great sense of humor - we belly-laughed well together. He turned 52 in April. He died suddenly, unexpectedly, out of the blue, and I don't even know why, yet. My Mom is going to the wake today to express my condolences and find out more. I'm so sad I can't fly back to Chicago to be there. My heart if breaking today. I can't stop crying yet.
Charlie was an interior painter, he painted a flower garden complete with bird houses on a friend's kitchen walls. He mostly worked on million dollar mansions with people who would buy things like $3,000 bedspreads - he'd laugh and say, isn't this pretty. While he lived in a tiny condo and drove an old truck. He'd match the color of the flowers and then he'd paint a mural where they'd just expected a few flowers, he was always creative and generous like that and painted as the spirit led him. Of course, the owners might be wondering what would take him so long... he'd spend weeks painting a room because he wanted to get it just right. He wasn't the guy to call if you wanted your room painted in a hurry.
He helped me redecorate my entire condo, retiled my bathroom floor, helped me repaint my kitchen cabinets, and when I put that condo up for sale, loaned me some of his furniture to make each space look "just right". I'd feed his cat and get his mail when he'd go away, and look after his daughter & granddaughter when they moved in & he moved out just because "that silly girl can't afford to live anywhere else right now". For years I stored a huge dresser of his in my hallway, just 'cause it fit better in my place than his. Many New Year's Eves we'd meet up for a drink & a Happy New Year's drunken hug & a kiss. I helped him glue on huge fake nails to go with his drag queen costume one Halloween - we laughed till we cried as he practiced walking in high heels. But, he never talked about "being gay" - it was just who he was, it just wasn't an issue.
He had some eye problems, he had eye surgery to replace a cornea and was going to have they other eye done, too. I don't know yet why he died, I wonder if it was a complication from his eye disease?
He was always running late... I told him more than once that he'd be late for his own funeral. The funeral is tomorrow, I bet he'll be late!
You are in God's hands now, my dear friend. Some day we'll meet up in Heaven & laugh a good belly laugh together!
I loved him. He had a huge heart and a great sense of humor - we belly-laughed well together. He turned 52 in April. He died suddenly, unexpectedly, out of the blue, and I don't even know why, yet. My Mom is going to the wake today to express my condolences and find out more. I'm so sad I can't fly back to Chicago to be there. My heart if breaking today. I can't stop crying yet.
Charlie was an interior painter, he painted a flower garden complete with bird houses on a friend's kitchen walls. He mostly worked on million dollar mansions with people who would buy things like $3,000 bedspreads - he'd laugh and say, isn't this pretty. While he lived in a tiny condo and drove an old truck. He'd match the color of the flowers and then he'd paint a mural where they'd just expected a few flowers, he was always creative and generous like that and painted as the spirit led him. Of course, the owners might be wondering what would take him so long... he'd spend weeks painting a room because he wanted to get it just right. He wasn't the guy to call if you wanted your room painted in a hurry.
He helped me redecorate my entire condo, retiled my bathroom floor, helped me repaint my kitchen cabinets, and when I put that condo up for sale, loaned me some of his furniture to make each space look "just right". I'd feed his cat and get his mail when he'd go away, and look after his daughter & granddaughter when they moved in & he moved out just because "that silly girl can't afford to live anywhere else right now". For years I stored a huge dresser of his in my hallway, just 'cause it fit better in my place than his. Many New Year's Eves we'd meet up for a drink & a Happy New Year's drunken hug & a kiss. I helped him glue on huge fake nails to go with his drag queen costume one Halloween - we laughed till we cried as he practiced walking in high heels. But, he never talked about "being gay" - it was just who he was, it just wasn't an issue.
He had some eye problems, he had eye surgery to replace a cornea and was going to have they other eye done, too. I don't know yet why he died, I wonder if it was a complication from his eye disease?
He was always running late... I told him more than once that he'd be late for his own funeral. The funeral is tomorrow, I bet he'll be late!
You are in God's hands now, my dear friend. Some day we'll meet up in Heaven & laugh a good belly laugh together!
