Sharp Knife of a Short Life

             I see my grandma almost everyday and every time I look at her, she looks at me and smiles. I can always tell when it bugs her. The glistening tear surrounds her eye, her fingers develop a sense of anxiety, and she gives me THAT look when she thinks I’m asleep. The thing is, when I get past that huge brick wall I actually see what is going on in that crazy head of hers, but when I do there is no turning back. This is shown well by The Band Perry song, 'If I Die Young'.

            When I say “IT” that’s what I mean because if IT is mentioned any other way there is just a big silence for a little while. IT happened twenty-five years ago. My grandparents used to live out in the boonies, and so my dad (age 17) and his friend (age 17) were going to go drive around one night. My dad’s little brother (my uncle, age 11), Jody, wanted to go along, and you know how moms are. Even though my dad didn’t want him to, he tagged along. A man fell asleep driving a truck and met them head on while crossing a bridge. The accident killed my dad’s best friend and my uncle. I may not have seen what happened (since I wasn’t even born) but I see how much it has affected others. I do know how much I would’ve liked to have known my uncle.

            This was the catastrophe that ran through my head the entire three minutes and forty-two seconds of this song. I was with her the very first time either of us heard it and saw how she reacted. It’s funny how the right words can be put together and makes your heart ache, and how someone dying at a young age strikes everyone harder.

            “I’ll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom.” Even though children can mess up big time, in His eyes we are still full of innocence, purity, and wholesomeness. “Gather up your tears, keep ‘em in your pocket save them for a time when you’re really gonna need them.” Although people shed tears due to the loss of a loved one, they should know that they are happier where they are at.

            Sometimes some of us do not even get to say our temporary goodbyes. We should all enjoy the time together because one day you may not have that, and no one needs to look back and regret what they have done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw8W6hYGZ0E