Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Hey, That Just Isn't Right


Sometimes life kicks you in the shins and you want to stand up and raise a fist, yelling, "Hey, that just isn't right!" We stumble through and when it's all over, we are stronger and more resilient, or at least that is the hope. But sometimes the result is more permanent. A life is changed forever, or worse, a life is lost in its prime. It always seems to happen to the nicest people--the neighbor at the end of the block--the one with the barrel full of daffodils every spring, a teacher you remember loving so much, a kid that struggled in school and finally made it in the world . . . Tragedy strikes and they are snatched from our world here on earth forever. And when we finally catch our breaths, all we can say is, "Why?"


Sometimes it happens to someone or people we have never met before, but we relate to them on a human level. We grieve as a nation, as a community, and alone. This morning I read in the newspaper about a British couple I would never meet. They were living the life of their dreams, bicycling around the world and chronicling their journey in a blog called Two on Four Wheels. 

On Monday, they were struck and killed by a pickup truck in Thailand. The driver survived. Peter Root and Mary Thompson, both 34, lost their lives doing what they loved most, exploring the world on bicycles, a journey that had begun in 2011 (from Guernsey, in the Channel Islands). They had traveled through Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and China, and had plans to visit New Zealand next.

"They were camping wild, as they called it," said Jerry Root, father of Peter Root. "What helps me is to think of how happy they were with each other. They were leading the life they wanted to. It was the happiest, the most fruitful of lives." (Associated Press, 02-19-13)

I truly hope it was, and although they died tragically on a remote road in Thailand, I am almost certain they were in love with that beautiful country. It is sad we will never hear their impressions. Their last blog post had a photo of Cambodia, taken over a week ago. I include a photo from my own files of Thailand in 1995, in their memory.

 (Thailand - author's trip in 1995)


Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl 

12 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon, Coming to visit after you stopped by my blog. Thanks btw. I appreciate your thoughts on the very difficult emotions which surround loss and heartache. I hadn't heard this story and appreciated the opportunity to go and check it out. God bless, Maria

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Maria! It makes me think how important it is that we live life to its fullest potential. We never know what the next day will bring.

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  2. That is such a sad story. They were so young.
    The glass half full in me thinks: At least they were together doing something that they loved.

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    1. Thanks Jai for your comment! I know what you mean. Truly sad. It has to be tough for their families, but I take comfort in the fact they were happy and 'leading the life they wanted'.

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  3. It broke my heart to read about that couple!

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  4. I know... I was struck in the same way. Thanks Sherry for your comment. Hope to see you again!

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  5. My heart goes out to the couple and their families. It is tragic that they both died so young.

    On another note, I found you on Rosalind's blog. I'm also participating in A to Z and wanted to say "hi."

    Julie

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  6. Yes, truly tragic what happened. So glad you stopped by to say 'hi'. Hope to see you again!

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  7. I read about it. It was awful. I always worry when I'm overtaking cyclists, me in the secure metal cocoon, them open to the elements. I've never been able to ride a bike and I must say I never want to try.

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  8. My husband and I ride bicycles, but mostly on trails. We have access to a wonderful network of bike paths that loop through eastern Washington and northern Idaho to as far north as Montana. We love it. But caution on roads is always the rule. I admire the adventuresome spirit of this couple. Given the opportunity (when younger), I might have joined them. I'm an adventurer at heart. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope to hear from you again :)

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  9. Oh! That is so truly sad. Things like this are the reason we ponder "why do bad things happen to good people?"
    Nice to meet you and I look forward to reading more.
    Thanks for stopping by the nut-tree...
    ~Just Jill

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  10. Thanks, Jill. Happy to meet you too.

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You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.