Don’t Blink, It’s Over

I think that it’s strange the feelings that you get.  Sometimes something sudden just happens, and you’re not really sure what to feel about it, and then in a moment of sudden realization, you feel a tightness around your heart and you struggle to come to grips with it.

This morning I got a phone call from my family letting me know that a friend had been killed in an auto accident.  When I first got the call, I thought of it kind of objectively.  Mostly because I didn’t really recognize the name, and so it didn’t seem to be that big of a deal.  It was sad, to be sure, but because I hadn’t made that personal connection, my feelings weren’t as concerned.

You see, growing up, I’ve had people pass away in my life before.  Often, they’re just acquaintances, people that I’d head of, etc.  As such, again, it was sad, to be sure, but it was still at a distance.  It was impersonal, and so I could look at it objectively.

But after getting a second call this morning, I realized who it was.  For the sake of anonymity, I’ll call her Marie.  I’d really only met her once, when I was asked if she could hitch a ride after a holiday break.  At the time, I didn’t know anything about her, but her family was good friends with mine, and so I said that would be fine.

It wasn’t really a huge, life changing drive or anything, and to be honest, I haven’t talked with her since.  But when you spend a few hours in a car with someone, you get to talking, and you make a connection.  So when I finally realized who it was, my heart kind of hiccuped.

It’s strange to realize just how fragile life can be.  With so many things to do, so many different things to see,  do, and take care of…  Work, school, family, friends, careers, travel…  and suddenly it’s just gone in the blink of an eye.

I realize it’s a somber note, but it’s definitely something sobering to realize.  I guess it’s just more incentive to live every day like it’s your last.

Cause one day, and you never no when, you’ll blink and it will be.

- Kyle

~ by Karratti on Friday, 6 June, 2008.