my coworker died - Democratic Underground

north houston dem

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Tue Mar-07-06 01:22 AM
Original message

my coworker died

what do you write about something like this?

one of my coworkers has died. Suddenly, horribly, in an auto crash, someones life has been cut short. people are crying, the phone is ringing, the world has turned upside down and still the library must function. we were all dazed and shocked, moving around and working but not doing anything, trying to comprehend this new reality thrust upon us.
This man that died, he was a good man. He was a father and a husband, a coach and a good friend. He took me in, he trusted me, he argued with me, he annoyed the hell out of me, he called me his friend. I have worked there for little over a year. Known him for only that long. His eldest son was at work that day, he brought him over to me and said "here's that lady I complain about so much at home". I annoyed him too, apparently. But for all that, he still took me in his regard. He looked out for me, he lectured me, I lectured back, we made peace until I annoyed him again. The last night we worked together, the day before he died, we laughed so hard there were tears in our eyes. It had been a long two days stuck at the desk and we were both punchy. Someone had left a disgusting mess in the toilet in the mens, and he had found it. He came out holding his hands apart - it's this big! He wanted me to take a picture of it for posterity and he was laughing so hard, he was so full of life. I flatly refused, instead telling him my own disgusting bathroom stories, and we laughed till we cried. Once we had closed and locked the doors, he left because his family was waiting for him outside, and he was devoted to his wife and his kids.

I came home tonight to a peaceful house. I helped my daughter do homework, I put them both to bed and kissed their foreheads. I am still dazed and shocked. I cried writing this, I have cried all day long. Tomorrow I will go back to work and he will not be there. Today his children woke up and he was not there. My heart aches for them and his wife, there are no words to console them, their world has been ripped apart. My loss is small compared to theirs.

I keep thinking - just like that. Just like that - the world splits around you. Just like that - poof! - you're dead. You, me, anybody. We're all dying and we all know it, but we always think we have the luxury of time. My friend was gonna coach again this year, he was already putting his game together to be ready for the season. He had plenty of time, he was still young, as were his children, they were his joy. He used his time here well. He was a credit to his family, a model for his community, a friend to many. I will miss him.

I am going to post this and go to bed. It has been a long horrible day and tomorrow ain't looking much better. I am sorry to post and run but I had to get it out of my system or I will never be able to sleep. I will check it at work tomorrow. Or maybe later if I can't sleep.

GOD life is cruel.