I've had a hard time thinking of what to say exactly. Then I couldn't seem to stop.
Adam made a big impact on my life.
I always expected that we would see each other one day and reminisce. I got that idea from Adam actually.
Adam and I lived and worked together for almost 5 years. We met all kinds of people and made some friends. We had adventures, traversed Atlanta and the surrounding areas, and places beyond. We only navigated using verbal directions from the customers and paper maps in a book. On each ride to our destination the stero was turned up. Every kind of music played through the speakers on CD and/or the radio, and we always sang along.
I met Adam Wayland Garrett when I was 19 and he was 20 in Greensboro, NC. He had recently left Clay Center, Kansas and was working with a group of kids selling magazines to get to where his dad was in Kennesaw, GA.
I was in my dorm room at Greensboro College. I had propped the door open for some fresh air. I heard a couple guys down the hall doing this magazine sales pitch and I went to close the door.
Then this foot shoots forward keeping me from shutting my door. That foot forever changed my life. I still sometimes wonder what course my life would have taken if it hadn't been for his foot.
I explained I didn't have any money so it was pointless to give me the sales pitch. He was already talking though and we flirted and somewhere along the way he's all, "wow you're beautiful."
I still wasn't 100% falling for it but the flirting continued and I invited him inside. Then he totally blew me away when we're sitting on my couch.
While I'm talking a mile a minute without warning Adam kisses me on the lips. Then leans back and goes, "feels good right?!"
I couldn't believe this guy. I think that was the moment I really fell for Adam. It's still one of those moments where I remember all the little details.
So he visited me, I visited him, I drove his dad crazy because I called too much. I remember when I visited once seeing a note to Adam from his dad in big letters, "PLEASE CALL STEPHANIE!!!" Oh my goodness I was too much!
It wasn't perfect and probably not what we should have done.
Still I had some great times with Adam.
I kept thinking about all the memories I could share but a few keep coming to mind.
Adam could take a car completely apart and build it back up from the ground up .
I think his brother David was skilled with cars like this as well. The first apartment I lived in with Adam and his dad had a room devoted entirely to car and boat parts.
A talent Adam had was taking measurements just by eyeing something. I saw him on a regular basis cut perfectly fitting boards for decks or tongue-in-groove board for a ceiling on an outside porch without using measuring tape. It was too frequent to not be something outstanding.
Then he did something that really shocked me.
At a wedding we attended in Florida the dress I brought had a tear or stain on it that I wasn't aware of when packing.
We had less than an hour to go shopping for something to replace my outfit before the wedding. Adam decided to get involved in the shopping process. He scrutinized me up and down, made me do a twirl,
(I remember being equally cynical, furious and embarrassed) I was seriously rolling my eyes. I'm thinking we'll never find anything in time.
Adam was totally set on the challenge.
So he goes into the racks and not even a minute in he hands me a dress. Just one dress.
A dress I would never have picked up and it fit perfectly.
How in the heck?
I mean it was impressive.
Adam could drive well.
I remember him driving on the highway really fast with skill. Easily flowing around other cars in traffic.
It may sound insignificant but observed from someone who grew up at the beach the veritable "end of the road" where the highway isn't part of everyday life.
Anyway, once Kennesaw was being hit by ice and snow. People were still trying to get home from work like Adam and me.
I remember we were close to home and left, right, and center down the road there were all types of vehicles sliding and spinning out on the ice and snow.
Adam drove easily on the icy roads telling me about growing up in Cleveland, OH. He was going on about how this little bit of powder wasn't real snow. Being who he was , a particular car that was stuck from a spin out caught his eye. Despite being tired and cold he slowed and asked if these people needed help.
I remember that moment being surprised. I mean he'd been going on about being cold and tired, he had been picking on a few people that we'd seen spin not being able to drive, but he saw something that I didn't see.
It was a mom and a couple kids and she said someone was on the way.
Still ya know what he did?
As it was getting dark he pulled over and parked next to them. He parked so as to provide an extra barrier from the road as well as someone to wait until help arrived.
Just one of those moments that Adam surprised me.
In the same vein, and you might find this strange. I always admired how in neighborhoods Adam slowed down to a roll and turned down or turned off his stero. I once said something like, "why are you going so slow the house is right up there?"
He said something like "there's no need to rush because you're where you're supposed to be so take a moment and get your mind focused. You have to be respectful to the people in there homes and look out for kids and pets." He wasn't just like this on jobs though he was always slow and respectful when he went into a neighborhood.
Adam if you read this I hope you can laugh now too.
Once in our apartment he was brushing his teeth while "in the buff".
Our cat was up on the sink and the next thing ya know I hear every cuss word in the book and Spike the cat comes flying out the bathroom (landing on his feet of course.)
I was concerned at first , then realized what had happened. Needless to say Adam was not amused! I could not stop laughing!
Adam always had a love/hate relationship with Spike the cat. Spike did ruin two pair of Adam's sneakers as well.
Regardless of all that Adam was great with animals. He loved his pets, even Spike.
I have a lot more memories of the times Adam and I spent together.
I cannot imagine that Adam is not in the world. I wish that I had gotten to know the person he had become.
I know he will be missed.
"And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday"
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