 anytime i tell you, anytime... Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Over the weekend it was reported that on a cross country flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Salt Lake City an elderly lady died. No one noticed. The other passengers and crew thought she was merely sleeping. It wasn't until everyone began to filter out of the plane after it had landed that someone realized she was in no hurry to return herself to an upright position. An EMT on the scene said she had been dead long enough for rigor mortis to set in which according to what I have read is 3-4 hours after death. It's roughly a 2,500 mile trip and a commerical jet travels somewhere around 570 mph so she undoubtedly died early in her flight, maybe during take off, the autopsy isn't in yet. No this isn't GoTreadGo CSI, I'm simply talking about going...at anytime. I've heard it said by folks who don't live in the USA that we take life too seriously and the loss of life, waaaay too seriously. In foreign lands like Darfur or along the Gaza strip death is very much a way of life. Happiness is a goal seldom acheived when death is all around. In America, we seem to get wrapped up in the drive to succeed, to make money and get superficial shit--barely stopping to think that on our death bed it is doubtful we'll be asking to hold our Benjamins or waxing philosophically about the extra hours we put in in Spring of '06 so we could buy that plazma screen. Given a chance at a last moment to reflect, we'd all wish for something relating to doing it all over and spending more time with those that mattered. You'll be lucky if you get that chance. Think about that, I'm not being morbid, just saying anytime, I tell you, anytime...might fall asleep on a plane and not wake up, might be walking to work and a 8,000 pound slab of concrete fall from the parking garage (this happened here in Lexington last week killing a 22 year old woman who was 8 months pregnant) or any number of 'bad' things could happen. So today, if only today, think about those you love, give them some of you, take some back. It's a sad thought that you could lie dead next to someone for hours and them not know it, but it is sadder to think that this 78-year old lady was probably traveling to see a loved one or to meet a friend and she didn't get to say some words or give some hugs that she might have been holding back. Ok, cheer up. I got a PhotoBloggie. I blame all of you. Patsy Matilda. Diana F, Kodak Porta 400VC. If you like toy cameras or if you don't--read my thoughts in the May issue of Photoblogs Magazine. Other places you can see Tread... Sunny16. Mooncruise. Box. Filmwasters Gallery. Buy Lightleaks. New issue coming soon, the debut of 'Treadly Speaking,' an interview with super photog Lee Frost, a superb gallery and much more. Pre-order NOW! Comment (13) | Permalink |
