Monday, March 15, 2010

Mac Sisson

A week ago today, a very close friend of mine died suddenly of a heart attack. He was only 62.
I knew Mac Sisson through the pageant world. He was the director of the Miss Teen Arkansas pageant. I still remember the first night I met him. He introduced himself to me after I had won my first pageant....a prelim that would take me to MTA. Mom and I couldn't get over how nice he was. The next year, I won Miss Teen Arkansas and had no idea how incredibly close Mac and I would become.
I spent nearly every weekend that year with Mac. He'd travel with me to appearances all across Arkansas. We would talk on the phone during the week days almost every day. Sometimes for just 5 minutes, sometimes we'd talk for hours. I could tell Mac anything....and I mean anything. He very quickly became a best friend, a father figure, a mentor and someone I loved so so much. When I gave up my crown I was so sad. Anyone who's been around the pageant world would tell you I was probably more sad than any MTA to date to let go of that title. It wasn't about the crown or missing the appearances or the attention. It was because I knew I wouldn't get to see Mac every weekend anymore. I SOBBED during my luncheon speech when I talked about Mac and the incredibly close relationship we had formed that year. Like I said in my speech when I started talking about Mac 'Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same.' That's how I feel about Mac Sisson.
I have so many great memories with Mac. Too many to even count. I wanted to post a bunch of pictures of us but when I was home this weekend I realized there's way too many to choose from. There's actually pictures around my parents house of me and Mac. I not only love him but my family grew extremely close to him as well.
Mom and I were talking about him on the way to his visitation and she said that he was always so sweet even when he was giving me constructive criticism. He just couldn't be mean! There's not one person who couldn't like Mac Sisson.
Mac taught me so many things that I'll carry with me through life but one thing in particular really stands out to me. Mac was so keen on thank you notes. He always stressed how important it was for me to write them and boy I did a lot of it my year as MTA. At the time I didn't think much of it but it's carried with me throughout my life. I am now like Mac Sisson and have become a person who loves to write a thank you note! When I was getting my wedding gifts, I got the gift and immediately sat down and wrote a thank you note. Mom and I have both bought wedding gifts for people and many times have not received a thank you note. It's so rude! Mac taught be the importance of thank you notes and the importance of writing them immediately. I enjoy that characteristic and appreciate him teaching me that.
I miss him. I can still feel his hug and hear his laugh. I'll miss the way his eyes light up when he see's me. He was my person I called to kill time on a long road trip. I'll miss not having him to keep me company on the road anymore. It will be so strange to go to a pageant and not see him there. I'll miss his Christmas cards. The last time I saw Mac was at my wedding. He came early so he could sneak in and talk to me before anyone else could. That didn't surprise me at all. That was a special moment for me and it seems even more special now to know that was my last time with him.
At the funeral many people came up to me and said 'I thought about you almost immediately when I heard he had died.' So many people were there on Thursday for Mac and that made me so happy. The funeral was funny and it was sad. My heart aches for his family. His wife, Donna, told me the last thing she said to him was 'I love you' and to make sure that's always the last thing I say to my husband because she's so happy that's the last thing she said to hers. He was...is...an amazing man with an amazing family. As I said to Donna and his daughter, Stephanie, I love him so much. I love him so much. My heart will always have a special place for Mac. I feel so lucky that I was able to know him as well as I do. He is without a doubt in heaven walking with the Lord. I love you Mac! Can't wait to see you again.

No comments:

Post a Comment