My name is Nathan Schouest. Nick is my oldest friend; he will always be my oldest friend. I never had a brother, but I am proud that he called me his, and I the same. Nicholas Clifford Carter was raised like many of us here today in the 909, over in Redlands, California. Born June 18, 1981 to his mother Cynthia. Nick is a testament to Cynthia and the persistence she had to guide this often bucking bronco of a boy and a man. Although we all knew we couldn’t control Nick or what he would do, I thank Cynthia for steering him, and pointing him the right direction. Kicking him in the butt when needed and helping make him the man we all respected and loved. Early in life I saw that his love for you and his desire to ensure you were cared for was stronger than most boys for their mother, and this attribute was definitely transposed to his other relationships in life.
Today I feel lucky, I feel lucky to have known Nick for nearly 27 of his 29 years. I feel lucky that he was in my life for so long, and left such an imprint that I know will survive for the rest of my life. Over the last week, I have heard so many people say ‘he was my best friend’. And it’s true, he was, that’s the man Nick was, unbelievably loyal, supportive, energetic, adventurous, dependable and magnetic. He was the glue in any conversation or gathering. He kept things going late into the night and early into the morning. For me he was the easiest person to hang around with I ever met, despite being stubborn, and at times thickheaded.
I’ve been struggling the last several days to come up with a story to tell, a story to serve Nick justice. There are too many memories that I have found myself grasping at a million stories, they all seem to flow into to each other. We shared so much early on, so many firsts, soccer teams, friends, watching Mallrats 100 times, the DarkSide crew, the water tower, Redlands pride and other debauchery. But Nick wasn’t only mine, and not only Redlands’, as can be seen by everyone gathered here today and those who couldn’t be here but have sent their thoughts and prayers.
I’ve decided with Nick, it is more about moments. The moment when you walked in the room, no matter what he was doing, if it was a friend he would run over, pick them up in the air with a huge bear hug and let you know he was glad you were there. The moment after a soccer game, when you knew he would have something hilarious to say about the other team and something good to say about what you had done in the game. The moment before I’d pick him up, probably a 1000 times sitting on the curb in the street outside the Lawn and Tennis Apartments where he grew up, ready to go cause some trouble. The moment you saw Nick running full speed down the street, in flip flops, not knowing how those things stayed on his feet.
The moment I walked outside my math class and realized he had made me a 7 foot by 15 foot Happy Birthday poster with all the cheerleader writing and dazzle he could muster; followed by a dive bomb hug from behind as he came out of the class next to me. Nick knew how to show his love for his friends and family, you always felt it. The moment he would sit with an old friend when you were down and how he was able to empathize in just the right way to make you whole again, make you smile again. The feeling you’d get the moment he walked in the door, knowing the next few minutes of your life were going to be better than the previous. The moment he told me he was joining the military; it was the toughest conversation we ever had. The moment you knew that he would never let you fail, as long as he was around to help. The moment today that I miss you Nick, but I realize you will never be gone. He helped shape so many lives, nearly every moment I got to spend with Nick was a positive one, was an encouraging one.
Nick decided to go into the Army while I was at UC Santa Barbara and I was scared, at first for him, but soon I realized I should probably be more scared for the Iraqi’s and the Taliban. When Nick put his mind to something, you knew it was going to get done, and it was going to get done well. Nick showed no fear in so many aspects of his life that at the end of the day I had no doubt that he would be coming home from war.
I know his time in the military was challenging and harrowing but also extremely rewarding. He rarely spoke of the specific experiences with me. But always mentioned his love for his Ranger brothers, the amazing friendships he made and his achievements. Never tooting his own horn, but we all knew he was going to be one of the best at anything he did, and his great success during his service only reinforced our confidence in Nick.
Before moving to Italy Nick and I talked. He was so determined to go to culinary school, he didn’t know how he was going to pay for it, or if he was even going to get into school. But I had no doubts; he had decided this was what he was going to do, so I knew it would be done. After a few months of being there he seemed like a new man, never forgetting where he came from or what he had been through, but he was rejuvenated. For most of the time he was there I thought I may never see him in the United States again. I thought I would just have to buy a ticket to Florence, take a month off and visit him. Until one day we talked and he said he was thinking about moving to New York. I knew something was off, a staunch California boy talking about moving to Long Island, farfetched I thought. He kept talking about this amazing little gymnast. “Nate” he said, “You got to meet her, you will see what I am talking about, I need you to meet her.”
It took a while for that meeting to happen, but when I finally visited Nick in New York, I couldn’t believe how excited he was for me to meet his woman. I knew right away this was something different, that he had it bad. After that weekend, even though he was still far from what I considered “home”, I realized he had found a great place, and an amazing woman to share his life with. Deanna, I want to thank you, I never saw Nick more proud and complete a man than when he had you by his side. You made him so happy, kept him grounded. It was clear that he found his perfect compliment and I never had a doubt that he was in the best hands. Please know you always have a family here in California.
There was so much I admired about Nick, but above all I strive to replicate his loyalty and the joy he created for others when he was around, and long after he left the room.
I end with a short quote that I feel epitomizes Nick’s drive and determination. It describes how Nick lived his life and how I plan to live my life in order to honor his. I learned it from my Grandfather and it is a quote from our 30th president Calvin Coolidge. Press on - Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. We must press on as Nick did so often in his life, in tribute to the way he lived his. I love you brother.
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