Death

     Death is not a favorite topic of mine. I don't think that anyone can be too fond of it either. The day and a half, I have had death on my mind. Not mine of course. I love my life and don't plan on leaving this world until I am good and ready and around 120 years old. I know, wishful thinking, but hey I'm stubborn. Just ask my dad. Anyways, death has been brought to my attention twice in the last 36 hours. The first time, yesterday morning when I was checking my Yahoo. On the main page they always have news story that are either breaking or highlighted for the day. It's great because you can localize it.
      A story had the headline of "Suspect in Ventura killings apprehended" or something to that extent. My stomach knotted and I clicked. Last May, a couple was murdered in their home in a city not far from me. The wife was 4 months pregnant and it is being ruled a triple homicide. It hits home because this couple was related to a friend of mine at church. I just could not believe it when it happened. It was the most horrific thing to happen in our county in a long time and no one could figure out why this couple. They were a wonderful couple with two children and one on the way. They were well liked and connected in the community.
      Sunday night they arrested a young man in connection. Now, Tuesday he was being arraigned and my friend's facebook page let me know that he was going with some family members. I pray for their sake that this is the right guy and that this guy, this scum of the earth who took innocent lives, gets what's coming to him. It's despicable. When I was reading the breaking news article I could feel myself boiling with anger at this person. A person I didn't know who had taken the lives of people I had never met. But it hurt and caught me off guard. I was so shaken that I couldn't get it out of my head until yesterday afternoon when I was preoccupied with not getting lost in SF. This type of death is the violent one, obviously. These people had a long life ahead of them that was going to be full of love and laughter and good times. Now their two older children, who were not harmed physically, will live life without their parents. It's cruel.
     The second time was about an hour ago when I was talking a friend I had done my internship with last summer. She started the conversation with the foreboding "did you hear the news?" Somehow I knew it was not good news. It wasn't. The beloved husband of our boss from last summer had passed away in the night and she had found out before me. I knew that he was sick and struggling and in and out of the hosptial but it still hurt. He was so love by his wife and children. Yes, he was elderly and ill but he was so so loved. I know this is going to hurt his wife and family but they know now that he is in a better place and no longer suffering. He was suffering for so long.
     Death is not fun. I experienced it for the first time when I was in second grade and my grandpa died. It's a surreal feeling. I don't look forward to going through those feelings again. Make sure that the ones you love know you love them and do your best to love and care for all in your life.