It was this time last year when The Free Press reported the tragic drug overdose of USM Portland Hall resident Nick Johnston, who died March 22. Barely two weeks later (April 5) another USM student, Seamus Nee, died in a car accident on the snowy April roads.
Just two weeks ago WMPG technical director Phil Hersey was found dead in his home probably from his long-term diabetes illness. He was just 53.
Now, another tragic death. The most incomprehensible kind. The death of a small child. Student Senator Rick Cook’s two year old son Justin died last Friday. The exact cause has yet to be announced, but it was called into 911 as a drug overdose. I am immersed in sadness. Sadness for Rick, for his family, for the senators who worked with Rick, and for anybody connected with the tremendous loss.
What happened to Justin and Seamus, Nick, and Phil- all accidents, all tragic, all incomprehensible. The truth is even though we witness these events, they’re happening in our community, we still don’t let ourselves believe the possibility of them happening to us. My sister Trisha has two children, both under seven. My sister Jody has three children aged five to 10. I don’t normally consider the possibility that one of them might get into something in the medicine cabinet or under the sink. I assume that the next time I want to talk with my sister she’ll be there. She always is.
In times like these I am forced to consider the possibility that she might not be.
These tragedies remind us that we are all vulnerable. We have limited control. Tomorrow I really might not be around. My sister might not be around. One of my nephews might not be here. It helps to prioritize.
It helps to separate the real shit from the bullshit. What do I really want my life to be like? How am I going to make it that way?
I always wanted to believe that I was living fully but this opportunity to reflect has revealed that there are so many little things I want to do that I put off. I put them off for a million reasons: there’s another story to write, the kitchen needs to be swept, I should watch this movie-I did spend money to rent it after all.
Those things definitely need to get done but should they always be first?
What about calling that old high-school friend who I haven’t talked with in ages? Doesn’t my kitty need some loving? She’s been awfully lonely with me gone all day. Maybe I should hang out with my Mom. Those activities are so much more gratifying. Those are actions that you build relationships upon. What has fulfilled me more in life than a nurturing relationship? I don’t want to wait until the possibility that those relationships no longer exist before I realize I need to do something about them. It could all be gone tomorrow with no warning.
Christy McKinnon can be contacted at [email protected]