(Bosom) Friend Fridays: Carin Towne
Written by hootenannie on August 27th, 2010When I first met Carin Towne, I had no way of knowing what an extraordinary gift I was being given.
We initially bonded over our mutual love of (obsession with?) country music – which, living in Seattle, was a connection we couldn’t exactly afford to lose. We started going to concerts together, and watching the various country music award shows in her living room, drinking wine and analyzing dresses and performances and bad face lifts. Carin is witty and sassy and hilarious – my soulmate for discussing all things pop culture and entertainment. She is an insanely talented musician, actor, and writer. She makes me laugh until I cry.
And sometimes, she makes me do both at the same time.
Many of you remember Jeff and Carin’s spunky, determined, beautiful boy Ben – I’ve written about him before. Throughout Ben’s fight with cancer, Carin kept a powerful online journal that was read by thousands all over the globe. She wrote honest and compelling words about their journey.
In the year and a half after Ben’s death, Carin understandably stepped back from writing in such a public arena, as their family has been living in the reality of round-the-clock grief. But with the launch of the Ben Towne Foundation, Carin has been posting again.
I’m not just saying this because she’s one of my dearest friends: you need to read her words. You NEED to. This woman knows what it means to fight, to weep, to love fiercely. You can subscribe to her posts through your favorite reader, or sign up to have them emailed directly to you.
To say that I’m excited about the launch of the Ben Towne Foundation is an understatement. It’s going to be huge. It’s going to save lives. And with Jeff and Carin at the helm, it’s a formidable force. When you hear Carin speak, you can’t help but want to join their fight.
Last Saturday, I spent the day with Jeff and Carin and precious Ryan in Poulsbo, WA. It was the most wonderful time. They are the best kind of people – the kind that disarm you with their honesty, and allow you to be exactly where you’re at – even in the worst of circumstances. They “get it” – mostly because they’re honest about the fact that they don’t “get it.”
They’re moving forward, even when it feels impossible.
Life is sadder than a country song. But the fact that Carin is a part of mine makes me want to keep singing.
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She is truly a remarkable writer… what a beautiful tribute to your friendship.
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i’ve just spent an hour reading her entries on their new site (loooove that Ben’s eyes!) – i am flattened. this is the real stuff. thanks for pointing us her direction.
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I should know better than to click through to anything Carin writes before getting a firm grip on my emotions. I’m grateful for her braverty to put those very REAL words out there.
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Did you by chance spend some time at the world famous “Poulsbo RV”?
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I’ve been reading her posts since you wrote this and am in awe of the profoundness of their loss and the beauty of her writing. She has a tremendous gift for putting her tragedy into words. I will keep their family in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for sharing their story, Annie.