Karen Means and a happy memory

We learned this week that our old friend, guardian of the teens and former employee, Karen Means, who has battled a recurrent brain tumor, has passed away.  Karen worked for us while her husband, Doug, finished school.  She was one of the steady, positive, cheerful rocks of our office for several years and it broke our hearts when Doug and she moved to Georgia for his opportunity at a coaching career.  Their life in Georgia has been good.  They have 2 children, Doug has a good teaching and coaching job and she was working.  About 5 years ago she was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  With surgery, chemo or radiation, she thought she had won.  She lived 3 healthy years +/- when it reared its’ ugly head again, with a vengeance.  With Doug at her side, she did everything she possibly could to live.  The tumor proved to be a more resilient combatant and took her life. 

Our hearts break for Doug, their children, her parents and brother and everyone who ever knew her.  Our memories of an adorable young woman, starting her life with a new husband remain fresh in our minds.  One of my favorite memories happened after Karen and Doug had stayed with Ashley and Andrew while we were on a trip to a meeting.  When they graciously agreed to stay at our house, the kids were thrilled that they were there because they were young, fun and very much cooler than anyone else that we had brought in to stay.

Having “babysitters” was extremely un-cool!  We attempted to get them to understand the importance of older people in the house while we weren’t there, but until Doug and Karen, the kids complained.  Doug worked part time at a Quick-Stop sort of place, where they sold gasoline, some food and snacks.  Karen, as I said, worked full time in the accounting department of our clinic.

Lucky and Bo

I know Andrew and Ashley have many more stories than I do about their residence while we were away, but one of the funniest stories that I can recall has to do with our dog Bo.

Karen and Doug were regular visitors and didn’t seem bothered by either of the dogs.  I’m sure they had experienced the escape artist and his pal Lucky behaving badly, but they were too nice to report any incidents.  We had been away for a meeting (4 or 5 days), everything ran smoothly both while we were gone and upon our return.  A few days after, Lucky came in the house and was hot from the sun.  She plopped down on the floor in her trademark “Lucky” position, legs out behind her and I said “oh, are you a hot dog?”  Hearing these words, Bo came running down the hall, rounding the corner, he slid into the wall, bounced off, slid into my legs and stopped in a perfect “sit” position.  Lucky hopped up and came straight to my feet and sat.  

Whoa, what did I just say?

I didn’t know what has happened, but with the eager looks and perfect sit, I give them a treat.

The next day at the office, I tell Karen about the dogs, Bo’s glide into the wall and then into me and the two ending in a perfect sit.  She said, “Oh, that’s because Doug always brings hot dogs to them when he comes home from work.”  They know the words “hot dog” very well.  News to me…