final thoughts

this past week at work finished with a resounding emotional thud. a wall of tears, sighs, wonderings, questions, blame, finger pointing and, most importantly, loss.

in the pre-dawn hours thursday morning a west ottawa seventh-grader died on his way to school after being struck by two cars. he'd made it halfwy across teh five-lane street. he continued, then the back wheel of his bike was struck by a car. the bike spun. a second car struck the bike killing the boy.

it set off a barrage of media, both from newspapers and tv. word spread quickly through his family, his school, to teachers and students -- his friends -- the community. students at harbor lights began to grief and cry for the loss of their friend and classmate, teachers held students and comforted them.

his boy's sister saw her older brother lying on the street, dead. a haunting image that will surely stay with her all her life. a mother who cried until no more tears came out and no words, unable to say anything about her son's death.

his body lay in the casket, open to viewers, some children hugging it, a friend told me.

he will be buried ad life will continue...with an emotional loss.

still, i wonder what were his final thoughts as he crossed the street. was he thinking of breakfast at school? his new bike? his upcoming school day? his friends? the weekend? who knows, but i'm hoping they were happy thoughts, thoughts that will keep him happy whereverhe is now. let's hope there was little time to feel pain and fright.

bless you where you are now, giovanni.