Life's too short...

[DeltAlum]

It is so difficult to comprehend why a youth dies.

A young boy in our middle daughters class in middle school committed suicide. Then a young man in our son's high school class did.

For those of us who live in the Denver area, there was Columbine. Our son and his choir went over and sang on the hill in Clement Park overlooking the school the Saturday following. It wasn't a formal or sanctioned thing -- they just felt like they should. It was probably their way of showing compassion, but I also think it was a coping mechanism for them -- something they felt complled to do. Music was their self expression of the sorrow, fear and lack of understanding -- and a way to help themselves deal with it. Not too long later, two Columbine students were shot to death at a local sandwich shop.

We hear so often about young people being killed in car accidents. We hear on this forum of alcohol poisoning and fatal falls from windows, fire escapes, decks and the like.

Naturally, you feel deepest sympathy for the victim's family -- but the hurt and fear go so much deeper. Our kids were profoundly moved by these occurances. Newbie, I'm sure you will be as well. This person wasn't someone you read about in the newspaper -- he was someone you knew. The good news is (I suppose) that the hurt heals reasonably quickly. The person's memory is tucked back in a quiet corner of your mind -- only to be brought out in special moments.

In both of our kids schools, a tree was planted in memory of the fallen classmate. It's a nice rememberance.

Is it any wonder that we parents and advisors are paranoid? The question is, are we paranoid enough? Is there anything we can do to prevent these tragedies?

It's a little trite, but most young people don't give their own vulnerability much thought -- the "I'm bulletproff" feeling.

Please take care of yourselves. You are all too precious to lose.