A Tragedy-Why?

Christmas Party 2010!

Today my heart is sad.  The world has lost a beautiful young woman because of the crime of drunk driving. My heart is breaking for her husband, family and friends. 

My husband and I taught with Christa during our year in St. Maarten. She worked in one of the grade 6 classes and because I was teaching grade 7 I learned so much about her from the young people in my class. She was energetic, bright, positive, sunny, warm, caring and beloved by the students. 

She married her soul mate Ryan. They had what looked like a fairy tale wedding in Scotland just about one year ago. They were always together, supporting one another, spending time in one another's classrooms, hiking and participating in many other adventurous activities. 

In June the young couple returned to Canada from the Caribbean, probably to be closer to their families in the northern Ontario town of Sault Ste. Marie. On Saturday Christa was riding her bicycle when she was hit by truck operated by a drunk driver. She was killed instantly. A beautiful life was cut short by the ignorant actions of someone else. 

How does a family cope? How do her friends and colleagues come to terms with such a tragedy? How will her husband carry on his life? Why Christa? Why now? Why?

Some questions will never be answered. In the meantime, we are left to grieve the loss of a wife, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, a friend and a beautiful loving person. Rest in peace dear Christa. May you continue to live in our hearts.

Memories are precious. 

Until next time, 

 
Bee Rich

A Tragedy on the Road

No one wants to see this on our roads

          This week was a challenging one for me as I taught every day of the four day work week.  My jobs were at two schools, both very close to home.  Both schools are in small communities and have just over 100 students on site.  All-in-all, it should have been a perfect week; however, events on Wednesday early morning proved otherwise. 
          During the night on Tuesday the weather was a "mixed bag" of precipitation a little rain, a little snow, and then falling temperatures.  Wednesday morning I left a little earlier than usual so that I would get to school on time to get organized.  While driving on the first stretch of highway between our town and the next one, I came upon the scene of an accident.  Two vehicles were involved and both were in very bad shape.  As I braked to move to the side of the road, the Jeep swerved a bit and I thought to myself, I could be in trouble here.  Fortunately I was able to stop, and so did the two transport trucks travelling behind me.  I looked around and realized that no one else was on the scene.  The accident must have just happened and 911 had not been called.  I reached for my phone and then realized that it was at home. 
         My thoughts turned to what could I do in this situation. I decided to drive up through the vehicles to the waiting trucks.  The first driver had a cell phone so I asked her to call.  I drove to the second truck driver and told him that 911 had been called.  I asked him if he thought I should stay, as I was on my way to work.  He replied that he was fine, but that the road was terribly slippery.  "Drive carefully," he told me.
         As I drove away I wondered how many people were involved and how many had survived the terrible crash.  I thought I could stop at the OPP station in the next town and report the accident.  However, as I approached the town, the first ambulance was on its way to the crash site.  I proceeded along the highway another 20 kilometres to the school.  I drove slowly (between 60 and 70 kilometres/hour) and ended up with a line up of cars behind me. 
        When I arrived at the school I told the secretary and a teacher about my experience, and then went on with my day.  In less than an hour, news came to the school that three people had died in the accident, while two others were taken to hospital in serious condition.  The very sad news was that one of the deaths was a mother of two students at the school where I was teaching for the day. 
        Sad but true.  Later that day I called the OPP because they were looking for information about the accident.  I spoke to the investigating officer and asked if I had done the right thing.  Because I had not seen the accident, he assured me that there was nothing I could have done, even if I had remained on the scene. 
          Considering the circumstances, I was better off to go the school, support the staff members there, and carry on with my job as an occasional teacher.    

Until next time,


Bee Rich

Words to live by...