Today, I am reminded of Scott, perhaps for a reason...perhaps by Scott himself.  I was only an occasional online chat friend of Scott's.  It was he who stayed in touch with me, looking me up online on occasion.
   During those moments, we would have long conversations about what was going on in our lives.  He knew I was going through a long period of depression & was always upbeat & supportive.  Although he had mentioned his previous health problem, he never dwelled on it.  I know now that during some of those conversations we had, he was probably ill.  But that didn't stop him from trying to make me feel better each time we chatted.  I wish I had saved those conversations, if only to be reminded & encouraged.
   I was in awe of Scott, actually.  He told me of many of his interests & accomplishments, not to brag in any way, but to let me know that even through the darkest of times, great heights can be achieved in our lives.  He was living proof of that.
   I never was lucky enough to meet Scott in person.  He kept telling me that he was going to drive down to have lunch one day or at least have me meet him midway to have lunch & chat in person.  He knew how much I enjoyed eating at Chinese buffets, so he would throw it out as bait to try to convince me to meet for lunch.  Sadly, we never got around to that lunch.
   I think that we would have been the best of friends, if we'd had the chance to meet in person.  I like to think that one day, our souls will meet...and remember...and I can say hello again to my friend. 

Scott passed from this life on Friday, October 15, 2004, at 5:06 P.M. 

On Monday of that week, Scott was sleeping and I was sitting in his hospital room, reading. I looked up as I saw his right arm lift and his fingers climb a make-believe ladder into the air. He kept repeating, "I've got to get ahead of him. I've got to get ahead of him." I asked, "You've got to get ahead of whom?" His response was, "Van Cliburn." (Van Cliburn had honored our country by winning the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958. Since Scott had been a piano student from age 7-17 and had won several piano competitions at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, MD, I thought that he might be referring to the piano virtuoso when he said, "Van Cliburn.")

I asked him, "Where are you?" When he didn't answer, I suggested, "Are you climbing the ladder to Heaven?" He responded affirmatively. I then asked, "Where are you in line?" Scott replied, "I'm 466 in line but I've got to get ahead of him." I asked what day this was and he responded that it was Friday. At that point, Parkland Hospital staff came in to take another x-ray and we never resumed the conversation.

That Friday, all during the day, physicians, nurses, tech staff, and Chaplin Duncan came to say good-bye to him and to offer prayers for him. I was told that everyone in the hospital who had come in contact with Scott had found him stalwart and brave. He was referred to as a hero many times that day. 

When Scott passed, someone realized that the number 466 could be 4:00 o'clock. Then add 60 minutes and you get 5:00 o'clock with 6 minutes left over. So 466 becomes 5:06 (when he passed) and it also was on a Friday. G-d bless Scott, wherever he is, and also bless those who love and remember him.

... and this is a tribute to those of you who still are pro-active in remembering one terrific human being--SCOTT DAVID GARRISON! You are honoring his memory, his life, and your life with him. As for me, there isn't an hour that goes by, that I don't think of him. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss our conversations; that I don't miss hugging him; that I don't miss our trips and fun together.
I try to cherish those good memories I have of him, and you know, they don't dim. I loved his sense of humor, his sense of irony. I loved his sharp mind and his search for a real, a lasting education. Maybe our education begins at the end of our lives. I wish for Scott an everlasting peace and happiness, both of which he did not have in good measure on this earth, in his time. And I wish for you all a rich and happy life.--Cindy (Scott's Mom)

"I was so sad to hear about Scott. He was a Positive Spirit in a Negative environment for me at Merrill Lynch.  His passing touched me a special way. I read his biography and was very impressed with his positive attitude all the way through to the end. I loved that he finally got that DEGREE! He has inspired me to finish my education plans."

Holiday Letter and Updates in 2004
Editor: Cindy Towsner

Scott David Garrison Passes Away

Just last year my holiday letter had a headline that read, "Scott's a Winner Over Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma" but this year that was not to be the case.  On October 15th, my beloved son passed away.  Yes, he had fought it successfully and we all thought he was "home free" but the Lord had other plans for his soul, spirit, energy... whatever name you have for what makes each of us an individual.

I've tried to look at the "cup half-full" or as my friend, Wally Amos, states, the "cup overflowing" and I can't describe how difficult that is.  The Lord gave me Scott for 37 wonderful years and that's what I'll try to remember.

For those of you who didn't have the joy of knowing Scott, he was a treasure.  Just as a much-loved song lingers in time and space and stays in your heart for as long as you live, Scott will be with those of us who loved him for as long as we live.

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This year's holiday newsletter is dedicated to my son, Scott.  His favorite color was purple; favorite smell, leather; favorite flower, gladiola; favorite flavor, butterscotch.  He loved all breeds of dogs; loved to read (began reading when he was 1 1/2 years old); kept in touch with friends; was loyal and desired the same of those to whom he gave his loyalty.  His joy of living and his ascetic humor will be remembered and talked about for as long as we remember him... and remember him, we will. - Cindy

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Wishing you and those you love happy, healthy, carefree holidays with a large measure of those wishes to carry you all through 2005!

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts about my dearest son, Scott. Since his passing, I've tried to think of the cup half full, not half empty. So for the present, I thank G-d for the 37 years I was able to enjoy life with him. And no one can take those wonderful, blessed, enriching memories from me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very angry that he was taken from our world so soon. Memories cannot replace the treasure that was Scott. He was real and I miss that reality very much. I miss our serious and humorous discussions, hugging him while telling him I loved him, laughing uproariously with him as he upbraided foibles of life, traveling with him and seeing places through his eyes, planning with him and talking about his plans, celebrating his successes and bemoaning his falls.

Even as he approached the end of his life, he was still able to amaze me with his attitudes of calm and humility. I listened quietly while he thanked nurses who tended him (Rhonda, Marta, Jeminina, among others), ambulance drivers who drove him to radiation therapy (Melanie, Chad, Mark, among others), physicians who prescribed additional medications and tried to make his cancer less painful (Dr. Jain, Dr. Ware, Dr. Tovar, among others).

I will miss Scott for the rest of my life as I'm sure you all will miss him. Please know that I appreciate reading about your wonderful experiences and memories of him. They will be placed in my final album about him. G-d bless.

Cindy Towsner