I had the chance to meet the very lovely Rachel of blog.rachelcotterill.com yesterday at a relatively nondescript midtown Irish pub (I wanted to introduce her to Ayza, a wine and chocolate bar but sadly they weren’t yet open). It’s always such a treat to meet a blogger face-to-face and Rachel was every bit the sweetheart in person as she is on her blog.
Sadly her time in New York is limited so we agreed to meet on 9/11. My only other plans for the day consisted of avoiding television coverage as much as possible (I couldn’t keep away from it entirely; there was at least one name I wanted to hear read out loud) and reliving those events along with every other New Yorker. Rachel’s visit was a welcome distraction.
I have been giving so much thought lately to how fleeting all of this really is. I’ve shifted focus over the past two years (ever since I started my blog, really) and have vowed I would never take anything in life for granted… and I realized that over the past few months, I have done just that. I have allowed my health and overall well-being to fall by the wayside and I have been sitting around feeling incredibly sorry for myself for no good reason whatsoever.
The events that happened 10 years ago yesterday reminded me of a very dark period in our history and loss that was experienced by so many on an unimaginable scale. And then I heard some news today in the bloggy world that reminds me again of how precious life really is.
Anna of An Inch of Gray is a blogger I have never met before but I read about her story this morning over at Alexandra’s home and it’s been on my mind ever since. She lost her son Jack this past week, just days after posting this photograph of him on his first day of school. He was swept away by the floodwaters in Virginia.
My heart shattered into a million little pieces and I wanted nothing more than to relieve just a fraction of that hurt for her and her family. There is really nothing I can do or say to take away that kind of pain, but I thought that if we could all just perhaps take a moment out of our day to send some good thoughts/positive vibes/comforting prayers her way, then maybe she would know how much her story touches us all.
If you have a moment, please stop by her blog and send her some good wishes. And if you feel compelled to write a little something for Anna, you can link up at Kate’s blog, The Big Piece of Cake, here.
I stopped by the other day and and left a message.
I think about this Family every day and the loss of their beautiful boy.
It’s heartbreaking.
m.
I love Rachel! I’m so glad you got to meet her.
I’m so sorry for Alexandra. That breaks my heart.
I hope you’re feeling better!
Thank you for posting this.
It is heartbreaking.
And beyond words.
my heart is aching. and leaves me wishing there were a way to cure the hurt of all these amazing and wonderful people who were wrongly affected.
Sorry for the confusion, blond duckie–it was actually Anna’s son; not Alexandra’s. Will stop by your corner in a bit. XOXO
Oh, gosh, I know what you mean! I heard about sweet Jack recently as well and just stared at my computer screen in awe. How does something so absolutely awful happen to people?!
Praying for this family, indeed.
To hear about the loss of a child is horrible. But to click over to a website – see pictures and read stories…have a view into a real life. It stops being a story and becomes real – a life. And your acknowledgement of that is lovely. You have a beautiful, kind heart. Thank you for this.
Hey Pixie!
I hear you on this… I was so upset and a mess after my basement flooding but after hearing a story like this or even after reflecting on 9/11 this weekend I am just grateful for what I have.
Remember when you are down to count your blessings!
My heart is breaking for her and her family. I’ll be visiting her blog soon.
::hug::
Horrible and heartbreaking. So sorry to hear it.
For a parent to lose a child is so unnatural, so hollowing; some people are fortunate enough to live their lives never having to experience that particular brand of hell, and then there are those who suffer through it and never fully recover.
š
As for September 11, yet another event that took so many innocent lives. Awful. I still remember being a high school junior and walking into the lounge room that morning before school to be greeted by scenes of utter horror and disbelief.
I just released my e-book yesterday!
Oh m y gosh… that is absolutely one of the most horrible things I’ve heard. I have tears in my eyes.
omg…tears are welling up in my eyes imagining what this poor woman and her family are going through right now. i will definitely stop by her blog. i agree with jessica – i just don’t understand how something so terrible can happen to an innocent child. this is definitely a sobering reminder to cherish every minute with the ones you love.
So sad. Sending out love and peace.
And yes, it is always good to stop and feel the ground beneath our feet, the air in our lungs, and be grateful.
So unbelievably awful. Having lost my daughter as an infant I can only imagine the pain that comes with losing a son after 12 years of memories.
My heart shattered right along with yours when I went to her blog. Things like that make everything else in life seem so trivial…and makes you say “thank God I took the time to tell someone that I love them”.
Alexandra was the one who told me about this. I immediately went to Anna’s blog and saw those pictures of her beautiful boy and their lovely pictures from their recent beach trip, so happy and oblivious to the awfulness that was about to circumscribe their lives. You’re right. It shattered my heart.
It is one of the biggest ways we cheat ourselves, by not embracing every day. I have learned more than a few times, how fleeting life can be. But then I get caught up in the routine of life and get too bogged down in all the little things that don’t really matter at all.
I vow to do better. For my family. For me. I sent my condolences to Anna. I can’t even imagine this kind of loss.
How horrible š š When you hear of tragedies like this you would never imagine it happening to someone you know.
What a wonderful insight you had! Everyone should take a moment to look within and learn to take nothing for granted!
Would you be willing to let me pick your brain about writing?