I am told of some sad news, but also hopeful news in that when this is all over, she will be okay.
Despite how easy it is to hate MySpace, the reality is is that it’s pretty much the only portal I have into my years in Milwaukee. Tons more successful than classmates dot com, MySpace has enabled me to get back in contact with some high school friends and they with me–one of them being one of my best friends in grade school. It’s also allowed me to get in touch with a good high school friend, whom I’ve since met up with and we ended up having a really good time when I visited her at her place on the Milwaukee east side. It’s a really interesting peek in the window to the past, sometimes. That is, where the lives of those through that window have gone.
For many (including myself I thought), it’s not even a window people are curious about peeking through and instead, probably would rather throw a rock through it. Yeah, I’ve been there. And then a personal message from this best grade school friend (also my middle-through-high school classmate) really hit home.
Apparently, last week in rainy weather in Green Bay, Wisconsin, our Senior Class President had gone off the road and flipped twice (greenbaypressgazette.com). The car, with her inside, landed upside down in a nearby marsh, submerged in three feet of water. Two samaritans who had seen it happen came and got her out of the car (wbay.com), and saved her from drowning. She was in a coma as of last week but thankfully woke up over the weekend while on the ventilator.
Bless those passers-by.
Jenny and I had the same class schedules. We were nerds–or as some would say, the “nerd jocks.” In reality I was more of a “musical nerd” though. We took most of the few AP classes our school district offered at the time together. She had band while I had orchestra and we were officers in National Honor Society. Also, some science club that I can’t quite remember. When she was done with soccer, she joined cross-country, for which I was captain–and she consistently ran better times than I did. 
She was ranked No. 1 in our class while I was No. 13. Very, very talented girl.
I haven’t seen her for about 9 years. Jenny was planning our 10-year reunion; it seems as though the torch has been passed on. She’s in my thoughts and prayers.
I have come to realize: you just never know when, you never know what, you never know how. The only point of this post is, Make every second count. Every single second. And if you could, to send some thoughts wayward high for her.
Love,
*e
4 Comments
This goes along with your theme of driving safe. I’m thankful I don’t have to drive in NY.
A similar story happened to one of my high school friends named Kari. She was the editor of the school newspaper and we collaborated and talked a lot about our careers. She was the only person I knew in my class of 800 that refused to learn how to drive; it terrified her so she relied on rides.
Flash forward 6 years later, my mom told me one of my classmates died. It was raining and she swerved out of her highway lane and skidded underneath a semi. It was Kari, and I can’t help but wonder if she self-prophesied her death all those years ago.
I’m glad your friend woke up, she’s quite lucky for those good samaritans.
That’s why the Good Book says to never let the sun go down on your anger and why it never hurts to spend an extra 30 seconds each day telling someone that you love them. Life–and everything it encompasses-is precious. Hope she pulls through okay! It’s a good sign she woke up from her probable hypothermia. P.S.–Thanks for the password rescue! I’ll try not to forget this one…haha
One of my friends was actually in that good samaritan position a couple of years ago…. during the very heavy rains, he and his gf went up to Solvang, and on the way back they were driving through a downpour and they saw someone skid down off the road in a windy, hilly area. The guy who skidded ended up trapped in his car, and the rain was so heavy that nobody would have really been able to see him down the side of the road while passing. When my friend freed him, it turned out this person had no cell phone reception there. Lucky guy, eh?
Ever watch Six Feet Under? Morbid theme, excellent show that deals with making every second count. Also has the best ending to a series I’ve ever seen.
i’m on trauma surgery now, and it makes me think about all the things you just said. also makes me think twice about my driving habits (fast and aggressive). being on trauma surgery and seeing ppl on ventilators and tubes in every orifice has also killed any last desires of buying a motorcycle…..