McKenzie: Woman indeed has loyal friends, but could use a few more

The holy passion of friendship, Mark Twain said, is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime — if not asked to lend money.

The steady and loyal friends of Carolyn Noteman, however, are willing to sell their belongings on her behalf.

“In the fall of 2011 Carolyn was diagnosed with breast cancer and is now undergoing chemotherapy. She is not quite halfway through the chemo and then she goes into radiation treatments,” said her friend, local musician and real estate agent Greg Allen. “And, of course, this medical stuff is all ridiculously expensive, and we are doing what we can to help raise money to cover her bills.”

Aristotle, an old, dead Greek dude, said that without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.

Well, Ms. Noteman has friends and they want her to live. That’s why they’re throwing a big yard sale from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday at the Earlysville Volunteer Fire Company’s firehouse at 283 Reas Ford Road.

“Clothes, knickknacks, dog stuff, books, furniture, tools, appliances, artwork, collectables; the list is endless,” says a flier circulated by Ms. Noteman’s friends.

Ms. Noteman is an Albemarle County dog trainer, specializing in training agility dogs in competition. Agility is sort of a team sport, with dog and trainer working hurdles and other obstacles to be surmounted. Ms. Noteman is also a former Albemarle County police officer who was seriously injured while on duty.

In 1990, trying to break up a barroom brawl, Ms. Noteman lost the upper hand to a man named Glenn Scott Snow who broke free of a couple of hotel security guards and elbowed her to the head, then smashed her head into the hotel’s glass door entrances until she could regain the upper hand.

Mr. Snow received a three-month sentence for assaulting an officer and disorderly conduct.

Ms. Noteman received a life of epileptic-like seizures from the head injuries, was forced to medically retire from the department and was advised by doctors never to have children.

Life ain’t fair and dreams die hard, but life goes on and so did Ms. Noteman. And if, as Shakespeare said, we are advertised by our loving friends, Ms. Noteman is top shelf.

“I had to laugh when I first met Carolyn at an agility show and she had her 80-pound dog with her,” recalled Lynn Sigman, owner of Madco Agility LLC, where Ms. Noteman and others train with their dogs. “When they finished the obstacle run her dog tried to help move some of the obstacles around, specifically a big tire. He knew it was time to change and wanted to help.”

Ms. Sigman has since grown to know Ms. Noteman well and they often work together to organize and run matches.

“Carolyn is such a good friend to everyone,” Ms. Sigman said. “She’s always doing things for people and she’s the first to jump up and offer to help if anyone needs anything.”

Cicero, an old, dead Roman dude, said friendship lessens adversity by dividing and sharing it. That’s why Mr. Allen and Ms. Sigman hope the sale will help Ms. Noteman get through a tough time.

“It costs an arm and a leg and she has insurance but she can’t work and there isn’t much money coming in,” Ms. Sigman said. “It’s a very scary time and we want to help her any way we can. She’d be the first to do the same for us.”