by Clockwork Carruthers
April 15, 2006
Professional pallbearer Carl Newcastle is 57 and still going strong. How does he do it? A strict diet and workout regimen. After thirty-some odd years of pallbearing, Carl has come up with his own system that helps him stay physically strong, and mentally sound as he ushers the dead on a daily basis.
"...and I start each day with a protein whey drink. I pray the Holy Rosary because I know we're all being watched from a distance with Schmidt-Pechan designed objective binoculars. I turn on the police scanner to listen for upcoming local work as I do curls with my right bicep. My father's business, (the Newcastle Funeral Home on Mill Street) has been burying dead and comforting the bereaved since World War 2. Since I was a teen my father liked to keep me on the left side of the casket, so I would have to carry it with my right arm only...thus making my right arm significantly longer than the left. This nuance is enough to merit custom tailoring."
"What makes us different and sets us apart, is what makes us special. My job requires an upbeat attitude while maintaining a respectful stoicism. To keep this mental soundness, yoga has become a pre-funeral activity for me. I also drink some ginger tea or take a shot of gin just before walking to calm the nerves. While they grieve, I have a job to do. I'm not just carrying a stiff, I am carrying the spirits of every teary eye in that room."