Today a student of mine came to the school with watery eyes and a quivering lip.
He stood in my office for a few moments gathering himself before he told me that a 6 year old girl died after being hit by a car as she was crossing the street. He said that she crossed from behind a parked car and couldn’t have been seen until it was too late… And that he saw the aftermath of it all as it was just down the street from his home.
I simply can’t fathom what must be going on in the minds of the family, friends, and driver.
…Is this our fault? Should we have taught her to cross the street more safely?!
…If only I had been driving slower and more cautiously.
…Why did this have to happen?!?!?
It’s absolutely devastating all around.
And the reason for passing this devastation forward is to offer you the opportunity that the people mentioned above would do anything to have… the opportunity to have that careful conversation with your kids/loved ones… to drive more slowly and cautiously (and to never forget the potential cost of rushing)… to hug your little ones/ big ones a little extra tight while they’re still here…
Life is so damn fragile, y’all.