My uncle died yesterday. Well, 18 years ago yesterday. We went out to his grave and left a rose for him. I looked at his headstone and it hit me like a ton of bricks. My uncle was only 20 when he was killed. Uncle Jeff died when he was my age. I wonder if his best friend still thinks about him? He was dating a girl when he died. She keeps in touch with my grandparents. She has a son our age. He said to my grandma once that he didn't know whether he loved her or her son more. Her son isn't my uncle's child. I don't really remember much from when I was 2, but I do remember Jeff. He was great. He was the one who actually got on the floor to play with us. He got his fingers dirty wth us. He was awesome...What I remember anyway...
The last time he saw my grandma, he went into their store, which was, at that point, a paint shop. He came in and said, "Just thought I'd brighten your day!" Then he left to go to a race. He loved the races. He and my other uncle, his twin brother, loved fixing cars and racing them. On their way back from that race, he and another friend were killed by a farmer who was crossing the highway to get to his fields. They were killed on impact while the two guys in the back seat walked away from the car. The man who hit them faced no consequences for his actions. It was a careless mistake. And maybe I should mention that the driver in my uncle's car had fallen asleep. They hadn't been drinking.
It was just a big accident. Accidents happen all the time. What if one of us is in a big accident? Will you come put a rose on my grave? Will I come put a rose on your grave?
A good friend's mom is buried close to my uncle...Do people still visit her grave? I did yesterday, and it made me happy because there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her three wonderful daughters.
It's weird how going to visit a grave that I've been to many times before could be such a reality check for me. Life is short. Be thankful for what you have. Hug your friends while you can. Hold the hands of the people you love. Tell them that you love them. Brighten someone's day with a smile instead of bringing them down with a frown. Walk instead of drive, love instead of hate, laugh instead of cry...Because the time we have here is short. And life can be ripped away in no time at all.
Be thankful that you have air in your lungs and your feet on the ground, because eternity is a long time to be breathless on your back.
The last time he saw my grandma, he went into their store, which was, at that point, a paint shop. He came in and said, "Just thought I'd brighten your day!" Then he left to go to a race. He loved the races. He and my other uncle, his twin brother, loved fixing cars and racing them. On their way back from that race, he and another friend were killed by a farmer who was crossing the highway to get to his fields. They were killed on impact while the two guys in the back seat walked away from the car. The man who hit them faced no consequences for his actions. It was a careless mistake. And maybe I should mention that the driver in my uncle's car had fallen asleep. They hadn't been drinking.
It was just a big accident. Accidents happen all the time. What if one of us is in a big accident? Will you come put a rose on my grave? Will I come put a rose on your grave?
A good friend's mom is buried close to my uncle...Do people still visit her grave? I did yesterday, and it made me happy because there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her three wonderful daughters.
It's weird how going to visit a grave that I've been to many times before could be such a reality check for me. Life is short. Be thankful for what you have. Hug your friends while you can. Hold the hands of the people you love. Tell them that you love them. Brighten someone's day with a smile instead of bringing them down with a frown. Walk instead of drive, love instead of hate, laugh instead of cry...Because the time we have here is short. And life can be ripped away in no time at all.
Be thankful that you have air in your lungs and your feet on the ground, because eternity is a long time to be breathless on your back.
posted by Kyssa at 8/10/2005 09:03:00 AM
1 Comments:
Yeah that's a good post. I liked it and it's very true. It's very true and people shouldn't take life for granted because it's a precious thing. A very precious thing. Good post Kyssa!
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