Life, it has so many meaning. A mother gives life to her child. A person lives their life. You can have life-long friends. But the actual part of life that keeps us breathing, the blood pumping through our veins and the brain waves active . . . that is so fragile.
Two days ago Joel was running a simple errand at Kinko's. He needed more take-away menus printed. As he stood in the store looking out the plate glass window which gave him an eye view of University Drive, just north of Oakland Park Boulevard, Joel witnessed an accident that sent several to the hospital but claimed one young woman's life.
A very loud noise made Joel and the manager of Kinko's look out of the window. Joel said it was like watching a movie in slow motion. Perhaps the brain can't process all of the information that is occuring so quickly in front of your eyes that the activity seems to slow down. He said that one car crossed the median and ended up faceing the wrong way in the northbound lane but flipped over and over and then another car hit that one and flipped in the other direction.
When Joel grasped the reality of what had just happened, he ran out to see if he could help. He ran to the first SUV that was now lying on its roof. One young woman was crying and pinned down by her friend who was leaning on her. Joel took one look into the second woman's eyes and froze. He just knew in that instant that there was no life there.
The details went on. They aren't important anymore. It was a terrible scene. The ambulances finally arrived along with the fire engines and the police officers. Joel was no longer needed and was in the way. But in that one moment, he had seen death and it shook him to the bone.
He called me many times that day. I could hear the fear in his voice.
I have come in contact with death several times over the years. I have lost many family members to old age and illnesses. You never get used to seeing that blank stare that chills your bones that tells you there is no longer any life. It isn't like in the movies or on television. It is, however, a cruel reminder that we too will die.
Joel always avoided coming with me to funerals and hospitals. But this week he had a front row seat and found out how precious life it. I don't think he will ever forget it now.
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