An acquaintance died this week. A private, lonely man with few friends, no known family. He shared wisdom, but couldn’t live the words. He shared kindness, but didn’t love himself. He exited this place by harsh means. No key to his heart, mind nor the lock into his home. His life seemed to reflect this image of his front door. RIP John
Life gets busy. We are often self-absorbed in real life, dramas, passions and pursuits. Sometimes, around us are loved ones, friends, acquaintances that are in a desperate emotional situation and are contemplating ending their lives. A few close friends get a glimpse, a few shared thoughts that give light to the ongoing struggle of our friend or loved one. We offer them encouragement to stay positive and motivated by life. As friends we lend heartfelt support and mean to stay in touch, to continue bolstering our friend’s resolve…but life interrupts and without warning death interrupts as you receive word that a your dear friend has taken their life…having seen no way out, no path toward peace in living.
The self recriminations will linger for those of us that didn’t make the efforts or we did but we then became distracted by our own journey, even our own struggles. In those moments, our dear friend, our loved one became further isolated and swamped by thoughts, chemistry and a sense of profound isolation in life….so they left us alone to ponder such a decision that leaves loved ones behind…forever scarred. Seek help…give help….please.
expressed on the wall of my daughter’s bedroom, behind the door. She moved out into young adulthood five years ago, yet the words still reflect her optimism and zest for life’s challenges and sense of realities. Today, my daughter learned one of her dear friends took his life….’broken dreams’. I know she will once again strive to be happy. But not tonight.
I took my wife hiking-bushwhacking to a remote area that was quite historical over a hundred years ago. Now it is an overgrown area, that only a few history buffs and artifact diggers know of. We found an old short handled shovel and some tin pieces, but none of the pottery pieces and such that use to litter the area…this private, overgrown area.
I have it on good authority from an avid area historian that certain workers were buried up in these dense woods with their keepsakes and possessions in unmarked graves. This belief must be known by others because at one time, I encountered digging sites and some artifacts, but nothing to denote a grave.
So, this gawdy vision in the distance, moving with the cold wind caught our eye. Now what are the possibilities for such a marker well off the beaten path?
Now to clarify the decorative trappings: a small plastic princess crown that said “Happy Birtday”, A deflated, mylar balloon that said “I love you”, a deflated, mylar balloon that said “Happy Mother’s Day”, a deflated, mylar balloon for the Oregon State Beavers (OSU) along with the strung garland.
So why this spot out in the woods with no discernible trail to this spot?
Was this the end point of some Geo Tag Scavenger Hunt for Mom? Was this a one time favorite haunt for Mom so the family decided to celebrate her Birthday or Mother’s Day in the dense woods? Hmm? Was this where Mom came to, this place of solitude to end her life? Or was this where someone else decided to end Mom’s life? A shrine to Mom.
This is not your ordinary littering. This is someone marking a spot and leaving the markings behind in a manner that, for them, over rides the no-no in these parts of ‘defaming’ nature’s visuals. This is a flaming reminder to Mom amongst the earth tones of Fall.
Or perhaps you have a similar experience and know right away what this was about? Either way, a creepy little discovery of remembrance for someone unknown to us.
Please, no matter how hopeless reach out to someone..some loved one, some friend, a hotline. Those that love you, like you, even take you for granted, will never be the same without you…please reach out now, this moment…please.
