Sometimes, I like to sit in my underwear at the computer and just write about “things”. You know, stuff that just runs through your mind. The news will sometimes be my catalyst for writing on a topic. I read with much dismay about the family that exited this world through the help of “dad” and his gun. Dad comes home, gets his gun and puts a bullet in the head of his kids and wife with the thought that there’s a better world other than the one we live in. He robs himself, his wife and kids of knowing the future. What if his son was to be the next President of the United States or his daughter a physician? What if his other son went on to become a football champ or was even just a regular guy (a nobody) who worked at the local 7-11 and fathered four children – the murderous dad’s future grandchildren. I guess we’ll never know.
This is a case of suicide, some do it in the privacy of their home and others do it publicly. Some even take others with them, as they’re afraid to go into the unknown alone. Men will often kill themselves with guns, while women will take the “pill” approach. I don’t know how many people have ever contemplated suicide but, I bet the number is up there. Even if someone has ever had a fleeting thought of killing themselves (or others), it’s usually just a fleeting thought. Some wish others were dead until they found out the person died. You know, that “I wish so and so would just drop dead” and then they magically do? It happens.
How about those times when you wish you were dead and then all of sudden get a few chest pains and panic? You go to the hospital and find out is was just indigestion and then count your lucky stars. You chalk up the experience to that of a close call and now you won’t tempt fate in the future:-)
Have you ever had a moment when you just wondered if I wasn’t here, where would I be? It’s a deep contemplative moment that we might have but, shove it to a file drawer in the back of our minds, as the thought of where we would be (if we weren’t here) is a bit too deep. What if all the oxygen got sucked off the planet tomorrow or all of the water was gone? What if an asteroid hit the Earth tonight and obliterated all of us to kingdom come? How about the Earth falling off its axis or the moon disappearing or better yet, the sun explodes? Happy thoughts huh? No, just wondering what would happen if we all knew we had 24 hours left on this planet and how people would react. Would we run to be with our families or stay put? We might call a bunch of people to say good-bye but, most of us would get that “circuits are busy” message and the usual “try your call again later“. However, later just might be too late.
Tonight, fifteen people in China won the Darwin Award when they blew themselves up by shooting off fireworks on a table (in a nightclub) to celebrate a birthday. One would think that everyone knows that it’s not a good idea to shoot off roman candles indoors when there’s a ceiling over your head. So, the angels came down and picked up another 15 souls – cause of death – stupidity. If it wasn’t so sad, it would actually be funny.
No, it’s funny and stupid at the same time. How many stupid things do people do without the intention of killing themselves – accidental suicide we’ll call it. In Florida, you don’t need a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Now, maybe the State of Florida thinks that no one would be so stupid as to drive a motorcycle without a helmet. Guess what? They’re wrong. There’s a highway a few miles from where I live and I can’t count how many 20 year olds have gotten on their crotch rockets and have raced down that highway at 100+ MPH. One kid hit a garbage truck so hard and so fast, there was nothing left of him to pick up but itsy-bitsy pieces. A few weeks later a fellow from the neighborhood picked up a brand new Harley. One problem, he had never driven a motorcycle before and on his way home from the dealership, he died in a motorcycle accident.
In Florida, the old west is alive and well. You can put a handgun in your car and keep it in your home or office – at the ready. Go to buy a gun in Florida and there’s just a three-day waiting period. The gun shop owner told me it’s a “cooling off” period. What if the person buying that gun is NOT cooled off in three days? On day four - he or she just might decide to unload their problems on an unsuspecting soul. You can set controlled fires in Florida and if some will remember (a few years ago), you could drive down route 4 in what could only be described as a thick fog, as a controlled fire got out of control.
What about car inspections in Florida? We’ll if emissions are ever to be controlled don’t look to Florida in leading the pack, as if you can start it, you can drive it! I saw a pick- up truck last week driving down Dale Mabry with six guys in the back, a tail light dragging in the road making sparks, black smoke coming out the back and of course, the guys in the back were drinking a six-pack on their way to work. That’s about ten future Darwin Awards for that group alone:-)
Yes, life could end tomorrow if we make the wrong turn, are in the wrong place at the wrong time, buy fireworks (which seem to be as readily accessiable in Florida as a can of pop) and blow oursleves up or, simply stay at home and watch the Super Bowl:-) Then again, I just might go to church and count my blessings:-)
