Saturday, May 16, 2009

REST IN PEACE...
...reflections on losing two more of my classmates...
-
I didn't know these two people very well in high school. Indeed, I either felt I was too inferior or was just too shy to speak to a whole lot of people. The two classmates I lost recently were people I barely knew back then...but I remember them...
-
Tom was one of the Really Bright kids in school, and during that time, I didn't know him and had never spoken with him. Later in life, I was surprised to find out that he drove cab for the same outfit I used to drive for. Tom worked mostly the night shift, while I was a daytime driver. Tom was one of the "real smart kids" in High School, so I was surprised that he was very congenial and easy to talk to, and I really appreciated that. Tom's brother, Jack, also drove cab, and Jack also passed away a few years ago. So my thoughts are with their families.
-
The other classmate that passed recently was Debbie. I never said one word to her all the way thru school, but I didn't say a lot to very much of anyone back then. She was always one of those people who was "around"; she always seemed to be smiling brightly and I remember her as being very, very exuberant. My heart goes out to her families as well. In high school, I had my own little group of 7 or 8 friends, and I was Extremely Scared of Girls back then. So even though I went to school with All These People back then, 99% of them didn't know me and I didn't know them. But whenever one of them passes away, I feel a sense of loss.
-
It's amazing how many people we become familiar with on some level or another, that we never Really Get To Know, because we think they don't want to talk to us, or we're afraid that we'd make fools of ourselves if we tried to communicate. Although I didn't know the larger part of the class I graduated with; they were all part of my life back then. Some still are, and for that, I'm grateful. Through such venues as e-mail and Facebook, I've found some of my old buddies, plus I've received communication from some other classmates who wonder who I was. (Told ya I'm unmemorable).
-
Occasionally, I'll look thru the online obits from funeral homes where I used to live, and every now and then, someone else I knew is gone. I don't like to read the obits anymore, though. Too many of the dearly-departed are close to my age. Most of the People I knew who passed away raised families, assumed responsibilities, were accomplished, and were Very Good Citizens. People like those pass on, and I'm still here. I'm not responsible or accomplished, or probably even Not Very Smart. And I'm still living and breathing. Go figure, huh? The Lord really does work in mysterious ways.
-
I will hang onto this life As Long As I Can. At the same time, I've come to the realization that when Death Comes, that's it. It's over. No More anxieties, no more worries. I hope there is an afterlife, I hope there's a heaven. But if it's "lights out" on a permanent basis, well then, that's that. Right now, I'm a little bit sad. At the same time, I'm grateful to be alive. Here's my wish for Tom and Debbie and all others who've departed this world...
-

9 Comments:

Blogger MarmiteToasty said...

Life aye........ its what we sign up for..

Quite a few people that I knew from my teens have snuffed it.... all to young....

But what can one do about it...... nuffin..... but carry on with whats given us..

Sorry I aint been around..... my bags are full to overflowing with trying to sort 'things' out... will explain soon..

x

3:24 AM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Hi, Marmie...I'm not so sure we sign up for life. We just sorta land on Earth and before ya know it, we're old.

I know that once you get stuff sorted out, we'll all be hearing from you again. Just take things at your own pace.

As long as I can see your little Dancing Duck, I know yer okay...

1:28 PM  
Anonymous Songwraith said...

Despite your (perhaps justified) efforts to keep the subjects anonymous, your piece contained recognizable threads that led me to the official notice. I didn't know him well, but well enough to know he'll be missed. Thanks.

2:29 PM  
Blogger Carol Woolum Roberts said...

Just this last month a guy I graduated from Kellogg High with passed away in a freak accident at work, where he was taking a big tire off a truck, and it hit him in the chest and head. He was way too young. I hadn't heard from him in 20 years or so, then last fall out of the blue he called me because he wanted to have a football team reunion, and wanted contact information for guys on the team. Then all of a sudden, I get a message that he is gone. I pray for those left behind that they be comforted. Life is a funny and unpredictable thing.

8:50 AM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Songwraith...that sounds kinda creepy, that you found out at least who one person was. I did try to keep them anonymous. I try to do what I do with a bit of dignity, after all.

Valley Girl, back in the days when Bunker Hill was open, a guy I went to college with was working there during the summer; he walked in front of the mine tunnel where the railroad tracks are, and he got flattened by one of the ore cars. Boom. Just like that...

Life is fickle, ain't it?

10:58 AM  
Blogger Word Tosser said...

as a nerd in school (and not one of the smart ones) I know what you mean, about not being remembered by others... 85% didn't know who I was, and 14% of the ones who did, don't recall me now... the other 1% still email me.
So when we hear about one of our classmates passing away, it saddens us, as part of our life has passed, and also we feel like, there for the grace of God, could go us..

2:45 PM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Hi, Cis...look, you seem plenty smart to me...but if you weren't the smartest kid in high school, I can bet that you were one of the most compassionate and understanding, and that goes a long way...

11:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's so sad that at our 'young' age we're starting to lose classmates. Getting older reallly sucks!
Penny J

8:46 AM  
Blogger Lil ol' me... said...

Hi, Penny J...I guess we can't change things; all we can do is try to grow old gracefully. I think you're doing a better job of that than I am...

1:27 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home