He was tall with blond hair topped in a long crew cut, and he flashed the biggest grin I had ever seen. His drawl proclaimed “southern boy” before he could even finish 5 words. When he first came (okay, swaggered) into my store last year, dressed in his Raleigh Fire Department uniform, my first thought was “oh my god it’s an inspection what did I do wrong!?” But he was just friendly and curious about the new store. He told me his name was Flip which was as memorable as he was. Over the next year he stopped by occasionally, buying a tea for his wife or just to check up on me. With his sense of humor there was always as much laughing as talking, and he was often the target of his own wit. The last time I saw him, he was parked with the Raleigh Fire Engine raising money for some charity.
On December 5th he was struck by a bus on his way home after his shift. In critical condition for a week, he passed away last Friday, leaving a heartbroken wife and two little girls.
While I know my grief doesn’t even come close to that of his family and co-workers, I find myself sad and near tears every time I think of him. He was only 35, full of life and laughter, and he is gone too soon.
All I can think is that Raleigh needed a guardian angel for some reason, one that has a twinkle in his eye and a gift for the absurd. We’ll miss you Flip, but for all that you touched in your short life here, we thank you for your kindness.
