Creative, explorer, dreamer, comedian, philosopher
Mikie could always make people laugh. If you were sad or mad or just didn’t want to, he would beam his infectious smile and there you were, laughing with him. He was also good at convincing people to do things they may have reservations about. He would turn on the charm and say: “Trust me, it will be fine.” Sometimes it was, sometimes not!
Mikie loved reading the fantasy novels of Tolkien, Drangonlance and works by Machiavelli. He would dive deep into a subject and would not move on until he learned everything about it. His sister Candace said: “he always had a new plan on how to make money and create something new.” Some of his creativity expressed itself through art, metalwork and gardening, but he really loved cooking. He held various positions in restaurant kitchens and loved to try out recipes on his sister. Ultimately he had a desire to own a restaurant, and dreamed about leaving it for his son, Seamus.
One of Mikie’s greatest desires was to be there for Seamus and he tried, despite his own struggles. He loved to take him on adventures and was so proud of the great person he was becoming. It was difficult though for Mikie to take care of a child when he grappled with taking care of himself.
Candace misses talking with her brother; they even had their own language so they could talk around people without them knowing what was being said. She misses hearing his voice and listening to him ramble on about slug slime or hydroponic tomato farming or other random topics. “The emotions are chaotic. The guilt, hurt, anger, sadness, and hope end up all knotted together and you can’t pull it apart.”
“My brother was not what one would picture when someone says the word addict,” Candace said. “He had a job, sometimes two or three jobs. He was clean-cut and educated.” Spreading his story is her way of helping to shatter the stereotypes around addiction and “give space to discussing the real issues that need attention. ”Mikie was not just another junkie and a waste of life. He was a brother, a son, a father, an uncle and a friend. He loved and was loved.” His death has left a hole in the lives of a lot of people and his existence had true value.” They joked that he was supposed to grow old with her, and live in her basement forever! “Now I don’t have a plan and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Michael’s sister, Candace Carter, provided the information for this narrative.
September 3, 1989 – February 8, 2017
Age 27 – Lived with addiction 15 years
