Posted: 7/11/2007 6:22:22 AM EDT
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I used to be on a summer swim team of kids from under the age of 8 all the way through 18. I have a lot of friends who have become more like family from the time we've spent on that team. Today I learned that one of the little girls who used to climb all over me in the pool and make me into some kind of aquatic jungle gym when I was in my late teens was killed in a car accident on the way to swim practice early this morning. She was only 14 years old and about to start high school this September. Her older sister, who is in stable condition, was driving the car. I'm asking that you pray for her, her sister, and especially her parents. Their names are Carley and Olivia. Olivia is the one who was killed. Also, if it's not too much to ask, I could also use some support from you guys because that little girl was the sweetest child I ever knew. So since I have a baby girl, my first child, due in 8 weeks, I'm really, really questioning my faith right now. Part of me wants to know what kind of God would so violently and horribly rip such a beautiful life out of this world, and another part of me is wondering whether I feel this way because I just learned about it and I'm grieving, or if this will have a longer and more permanent effect on me. Thanks... _MaH |
No, we're going to stick with the name we've already chosen. Nobody will ever take her place, not even my own child. When she's born, she'll have an entirely different place in my heart from Olivia, and it's wrong for me to try to mix the two together. My daughter deserves, and will have, her own life to live unencumbered by this tragedy. _MaH |
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Here is the news article/video for those of you who are interested: news.wjla.com/news/stories/0707/438385.html Jesus Christ... Just... My God.....   _MaH ETA: There will be a candle-light vigil tonight at the pool in her memory, but fortunately the reporter on the news said it was in Vienna. The pool is no where near Vienna. Hopefully this will keep some of the reporters at bay. I just don't know if I'm really far enough past that "anger" stage of grieving to hold myself back if I get blitzed and have a camera shoved in my face... This is a private matter for all of the family, friends, current and past swimmers - the media sharks smell blood and if they don't respect our privacy tonight they'll learn what a few enraged dolphins (our team's mascot) are capable of doing to sharks... ETA #2: Another article with a picture of Olivia: www.nbc4.com/news/13662224/detail.html?dl=mainclick  Even in that picture, all I see is the little 9 year old who just wanted to have fun... God rest your precious soul, Olivia... I'll always miss you... ETA #3: Yet another article: www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3744779&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1 This one with the correct location of the vigil... God they better be respectful... Sorry, I guess I'm still in a little bit of the anger stage. It's just that this girl and her family is like family to me. Violate the privacy and sanctity of our mourning and, well... |
Sorry to hear about the loss of your good friend. I can't really blame you for questioning at this point. There were times in my life when I felt I had little, where I stood at that crossroads, and I chose the unknown path, blind faith, because the alternative was certain and worse. Today, my faith is less blind. Some people may say to you, "It was God's will", and perhaps such things are never comfort, for they only increase the doubt, and there is no answer, no end, no silver lining, just loss. It is not so much that it was the will of God for her to be gone, but that what you see and who you know is only a part of who we are. Without knowing your faith I don't want to say too much, but I think it's safe to urge you to try blind faith if you have nothing else. You can discover more when you are able. If you believe at the times when it is hardest to do so, you will find comfort. |
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Glarus - thanks. I've reconciled my aforementioned doubts by now, but still your words brought comfort. NORVA - You would be surprised at how accurate you are... The candlelight vigil tonight had, easily, over three hundred people in attendance (I get that number from just a rough estimate). The media kept their distance, as the pool grounds are private property and they were not welcome in (made me and many others quite happy). This 14 year old girl directly touched the lives of at least 300 people. Wow... How many 14 year olds can say that? It only gets harder from here, unfortunately. I feel that Carly is going to struggle for a while with some "survivor guilt", as well as the family as a whole will need time to adjust. By far though, the absolutely most INFURIATING part of this whole experience has been some of the comments people have left at some of the previously posted articles. Comments like:
One gigantic FUCK YOU to who ever wrote this! I'm absolutely livid at this insinuation that the parents some how had a "lack" of "guidance". I know these parents, and all of us should be so blessed as to have to adults in their lives who would raise you like they did these two wonderful girls. Also, for every bit of energy in me which mourns the loss of Olivia, so likewise is there an equal share for the defense of Carly. There's the subtle odor of persecution in the aforementioned articles because she was the driver of the car. Just another testimony to the heinous nature of our mainstream media... Denounce the surviving sister and blame her for the death of the other. As if the pain of what's happened to her, her sister, and her family isn't enough. Sorry, I'm rambling. It's late, I'm exhausted, and spent a lot of time mourning the loss of a beautiful person. I'm allowed to get a bit ranty and bitchy in this situation... _MaH ETA: news.wjla.com/news/stories/0707/438385.html (Following is same as previous, but with new video added about vigil) www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3744779&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1 www.nbc4.com/news/13662224/detail.html?dl=mainclick Video with Pat (Mother Fucking Rat Bastard Son of a Bitch Asshole) Collins (My animosity towards Pat is a tangent for another time) ETA #2: Found another one: www.newschannel8.net/news/stories/0707/438385.html |