Carla Lea Close, born May 5, 1952, bid farewell to this earthly planet on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.
Carla’s husband, Neal, her children Jenna and Peter, and her stepson Jesse, have found quite an emptiness in her departure. We find ourselves holding on to the many lessons we learned from her in her nearly 70 years. Among them:
Underwear is entirely optional. Leaving the house without cleaning your stovetop is most certainly not.
Dinner doesn’t need to be fancy, it just needs to taste good. It should be eaten at a table. And, served with a side of fruit. Or salad. Or both.
Carry a large purse. It should contain at minimum a nail file, Kleenex, and a peanut-butter sandwich. Bonus points if you found the large purse at a thrift store. You might find a shirt you like while you’re there. In regards to wardrobe, be wary of items of clothing that cost more than $2.99.
It is scientifically impossible to over-apply hand lotion.
Pull weeds. Dust corners. Pay attention to details. More importantly, pay attention to people. Remember the name of your neighbor’s second-cousin’s-nephew. Notice when the checker at the grocery store gets a haircut. Then, tell them it looks nice. “Thank you” is an end punctuation mark.
Contrary to popular opinion, swearing doesn’t make you seem less intelligent. Provided you’ve also incorporated words like perspicacious and nainsook into your vernacular. It’s best to win every game of Scrabble you ever play. Read.
Plant a garden. Get a dog. Walk the beach.
Make a to-do list and check the items off. Complaining won’t make the list any shorter. A positive outlook just might. Organization most certainly will. And, that paper you’re looking for, it’s in the freezer.
There is no legitimate technological replacement for a paper calendar. Hang it in a place of prominence. Never forget a birthday. On the subject of birthdays: There is no celebration too large nor an indulgence too extravagant. Just make sure you write that thank-you note.
Listen to children. Even if they are too small to be understood. Talk to children. Explain it to them in a way that will help them to understand. Be clear with your own children that their sheer existence on this planet makes you proud. This will remind them that knowing where you come from is more important than being certain about where you’re headed.
Be aware of what you feel and be willing to say it out loud. Especially if the words are a compliment. Most especially if the words are, “I love you.”
If you walked into Carla’s life she’d welcome you with a hug, share with you what she had, and send you off with an “I love you.” She made a practice of putting others before herself. In this love, Carla is survived by a wide network of extended family that she considered friends and friends she considered family.
We (Neal, Jenna, Peter) find our gratitude runs as deep as our grief. We were loved well and hugged well. That she was ours makes us profoundly more fortunate than most.
In lieu of flowers may we suggest you hug someone you love a little tighter, take time to tell a stranger they have beautiful eyes, and in the spring, plant a flower in your yard and watch it grow. Our mom would love that.
Interment is planned for the summer of 2022 at Burnt Ridge in Idaho.
The family has established a memorial website at carla-close.forevermissed.com where stories can be shared.
