I'm going to stay home and hug my family!

[Yooper]

Our sleepy little town has lost 3 kids in the last 10 days- one on a 4-wheeler (she was riding fast through a field and a piece of barbed wire decapitated her), one by her own hand (gunshot), and one last night in a car accident. All girls, and the one last night a friend and classmate of my daughter's. The suicide victim was a classmate of my son's, and the other girl was an acquaintance. One of their friends is hospitalized after the car accident last night in critical condition and had brain surgery first and then surgery to fix her legs. I was this girl's baseball coach in Little League and of course know all the families in this small town.

One of the ironies is that the girl killed last night was at the other girl's funeral yesterday. My son saw her just yesterday.

I told my kids (17 and 15) that I just want us all to stay home today and sit in the living room and be thankful that we are alive and well and living a great life. I am reminded that life is short and unpredictible and I don't want to say, "I wish I would have told them how much they mean to me."

So, let's all go hug our families and thank them for being here. No matter what's going on in our lives, we are so lucky!

 

[Evan!]

I think we all take for granted the fact that we're alive. In fact, the predecessors and prerequisites for our existence, each and every one of us, is staggering merely to contemplate. We're programmed and trained to think that the mundaneness of our daily lives isn't special---I suppose that's so that we don't overload our brains and waste our lives marveling at how special every moment is---but in reality, it all only happens once, and someday it will end. It's sad to think about, and most of the time, none of us want to entertain such thoughts, but it helps to put things in perspective, if only to clarify your outlook and re-prioritize your life. Unfortunately, it's usually tragedy and upheaval that is the motivator or engine for such a change in outlook. Sometimes I can't get ahold of my wife and I have no idea where she is, and those hideous, horrible thoughts flood my mind. Suddenly the mundane crap that we spend so much time worrying about all just falls away and you're left with what's important. It's eye-opening, every time.

I'm with you...let's go hug our families.

 

[EdWort]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. The town has to be crazy with grief. We just gave our 18 year old a goodbye hug as she heads to South America for a few weeks on a church mission.

We are lucky and blessed indeed.

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

My mother used to go on missions to Guatemala. Lost here 3 years ago to breast cancer. Kinda of unrelated and related to the thread at the same time. Lots of tragedy in the world, but you are absolutly right when you say life is short.

 

[TxBrew]

Sad to hear.

My backyard borders a huge cemetary so the wife, dogs and I walk around it daily for exercise after it closes. Good somber reminder of life and death everyday.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Our village (we are under 1100 people) and several surrounding towns went through a similar incident several years ago when 3 HS football/wrestling players were killed in a 1 car crash.

One of the 5 occupants of the vehicle was my 15 yo grandson.

I know what you are going through.

We had 3 of our 4 great-grandchildren over today, eating burgers and dogs, flying kites for hours, looking at the baby birds in their nests...great memories all....

 

[dibby33]

Yeup. Life is short. Have fun. Remember to take time and stop and smell the roses (or the airlock)

 

[RichBrewer]

Lorena,
I'm sorry to hear about the losses you and your community are suffering through right now. I can't imagine anything worse than a parent losing a child especially to such tragic events. My thoughts are with all of you.

I would like to add to this thread by expressing my love and deep regard for my parents. My dad, a survivor of the attack on Perl Harbor, is 85 years old and has suffered a broken arm and leg in two separate falls. He is in a rehab center where he can barely do anything for himself. It saddens me to see the strong active father I know slipping away. My Mom and Dad have always been there for me and at times I haven't appreciated all that they are to me .
Let's take the time to appreciate everyone in our families because we only get so much time with them.

I also want to thank Nurses and health care providers for what you do for people in need. I have learned so much about what you do over the past week and I can tell you there is no way I could do it. You can't be in this profession for the money alone. It just doesn't pay enough. I've had the pleasure of dealing with nurses who have helped my dad and at every moment had a smile on their faces.
Thanks for all you do! The world is a better place because of you.

 

[Brewnurse]

Lorena,
So sorry to hear of your town's recent losses. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. It is sad that it is usually in the wake of tragedy that we are thankful for what we have everyday. I say we try to be thankful everyday for what we have, always.

And Rich, sorry to hear of your fathers health problems. I do know that the best part of my job is helping people, that is why I do it.

Good Luck to both of you, You will be in my prayers.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks for sharing, everybody. I guess caring about others is what makes us human- and we all have someone we care deeply about; parents, kids, friends, spouses, etc. I still thank God that my kids are here while others have lost theirs. I don't know how I'd survive the loss of a child.

My daughter just now let me read her "talk" she's giving at the town's Memorial Day service tomorrow and it's insightful and meaningful. I guess that life does indeed go on.

 

[Jaybird]

My heart goes out to you for I know the anxiety you must have just having children in this VERY wicked world we live in. I am soo sorry for the family members who have had to suffer such a great loss. No parent should outlive there children. I have three and I worry every minute of every day they are not with me.
JJ