At 12:09 today, sitting at my desk in work when Skype popped up a call from Susan. A welcome yet somewhat alarming event as we always use chat but such sad news of Eugene's passing she felt could only be delivered as close to in person as possible. He had passed away peacefully on Sunday and the funeral would be today. Both salon's were closed as a mark of respect and mourning for their great friend and colleague. The rest of my day was carried out through a myriad of emotions. Sadness that such a good person had died and so young yet relief that he was no longer suffering. All the work stress just didn't get even the slightest considerations in my emotions or a second of my thoughts. The mere act of combing my hair in the office bathroom brought tears. This morning I had for whatever reason spent a little extra time grooming my locks and as silly as this sounds was happy I'd done so, as if in tribute to Euge.
From the moment in Peter Mark's salon in St. Stephens Green SC some 10 years ago when he rescued my hair from home dye hell not another's scissors was trusted with my locks until he stopped working last year. Some thought I was crazy going from Naas to Bloomfield SC after a relocation for both of us; when the trend continued after I moved to Amsterdam and he to Brown Sugar, they thought I was completely deranged. As many a girl will admit, when you find someone you trust completely with your hair as I did Eugene, that's difficult to let go. Besides all the mischief, Eugene got to know his customers and intuitively knew what suited them, their style and ultimately their hair.
Personally, I've missed him terribly in the salon in recent visits. The salon already felt empty and I often thought of how he was doing. Though not very religious, I lit a candle or two in the past year that he would recover. I can't imagine how lonely it will feel on my next visit.
Rest in Peace dear Eugene. You will be terribly missed.
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