The Day I Met Craig

I met Craig the day I met my husband, actually. It was before the start of Winter semester 2007, shortly after Craig's firework accident. Several friends went to celebrate the birthday of someone in the BYU Foreign Language Student Residence (lovingly called the FLSR) at Brick Oven in Provo. I sat across the table from Craig and the man who would later become my husband. The interesting thing about Craig was how easily he made friends. As both these young men were new to the FLSR and I didn't know either of them, I was surprised to learn they were not previously friends; they both got along so well and acted like they had known each other a long time. I was intrigued at the mass of bandages on Craig's arm and soon the story came out about the fireworks in Mexico. I was astounded at how Craig was able to joke about his accident and make everyone laugh so shortly after losing his hand. After that, Craig became the friend of everyone in the complex. We all knew him for his positive, upbeat attitude and wonderful sense of humor.

Craig wanted everyone to be happy; I even remember him encouraging my then-growing relationship with my husband Gregory! Craig was also willing to share his time and talents with others; at our ward talent show he participated in a group rendition of the Thriller dance; seeing a man with one hand dancing the Thriller dance adds a certain special effect! At the end of the year, we all voted Craig to be "Most likely to become a motivational speaker". Though it never became a career for him, Craig's life has been uplifting and a blessing to many. His memory, life, and friendship so far have been motivational to all those who knew him.

--Sarah Schultz