This morning I am attending a funeral. A member of my family was killed last week in a terrible motorcycle accident; so horrific that it made every news station and newspaper in Las Vegas. My sister’s former husband and my thirteen-year old nephew’s father will be laid to rest today. The news has devastated our family and friends.


My nephew has five younger half-siblings, aged one to eight years old that are now also fatherless. I cannot even begin to describe the thoughts that race through one's mind when hearing of a tragedy such as this. Similar incidents occur everywhere. Other young wives are left widows and other children are orphaned. When this forty-year old man left for work that morning, he had every intention of returning home that evening. And he had arranged to spend the weekend with my nephew and the rest of his family.


Every action we commit has the potential to impact other lives. My nephew’s father had obeyed the rules of the road. Witnesses stated that the sixty-three year old driver of the vehicle that hit him had failed to yield and proceeded carelessly into traffic taking a life and effectively ruining his own, in one fell swoop.


We have the opportunity, at every intersection of our lives, to make really great choices or revert to old habits or ways that negatively affect those around us. Carelessness abounds when we lose focus or miss the opportunity to look about and really see what is going on. Last night, with great caution, I drove to Vegas with my children, through pounding rain that turned into blinding snow as we made our way up and down mountainous passes. I never forgot my precious cargo; it was a time of great introspection.


I know this is not a typical post from me; this not a typical day.
Do me a favor, please…, Tell the people you love that you do just that - you love them. You can live your life as carefully as you think possible. You can dot your I’s and cross your T’s. You can put your seatbelt on. You can wear a helmet. But can you control what the other guy does?
Love today. What could you possibly regret from that?


© by rayannethorn