For those of you not from around here, there was recently a tragedy which has taken the life of some 50 people. In the late evening of Saturday July 6th a freight train parked on some tracks and loaded with crude oil outside of a small town called Lac Megantic; approximately 200km from Montreal began rolling out of control into the small town. There was no conductor aboard and the exact cause of why the train began to roll away is still unknown. What is known is that it picked up speed as it ran down hill over a 12km run towards the center of town. When it arrived in the heart of the village it came to a section of track that turned abruptly. The train with no one at the controls was going far to fast to stop or make the curve. What followed can easily be described as the '' Train from Hell''. The railway cars began derailing, piling one into the other in a twisted heap. The impact was such that some of the rail cars carrying the crude oil split open and began to burn and explode. The subsequent firestorm, explosions and destruction surpassed even the most perverted filmmakers mind. The blast and fire leveled some 60 buildings it the center of town. Right next to the tracks was a popular Bar/Cafe ( Musique Cafe) which was bustling at that time of the evening with young people enjoying a warm summer night. The final outcome has been pure devastation. This Blog however is not about runaway trains, incompetent railway executives, lacks transport regulations, or even the hero's who rushed into action to try and limit the carnage. This Blog is about the fragility of life.
Do you think those young people gathered to enjoy a drink, some music and companionship could have ever imagined what was in store for them that evening? I am sure none of them, while sipping a drink on the terrace overlooking the train tracks found themselves contemplating how that evening might end. Perhaps they were thinking about the cute girl or guy at the other end of the Bar. Perhaps about a weekend wedding to attend, a job to go do on Sunday morning. Perhaps the conversations centered around the upcoming fall semester of college or university. Perhaps there were conversations about the recent NHL draft or the Canadiens acquisition of Daniel Briere. Perhaps as we have all done before when surrounded by those who's company we enjoy and love; the conversation was about everything and nothing. Just idle conversation. I believe no one was talking about runaway trains, hazardous material, insufficient security measures or anything at all to do with dying that evening. But death is what these young people got. Their lives ended in a mangled hunk of steel, bricks, mortar, fire and oil. It was a horrible and unjustified way for thier lives to end.
This is, in essence, the heart of this Blog. It is about the fragility of life. The pure reality that it can end for any of us; anywhere, anytime and under any circumstances. Some which we could never fathom. It is the reality that what is most important in these tragedies is not the net value of the assets lost, who is to blame, or where It went wrong. The most important part of it is the loss of the human asset. Is it possible that one of those who died tragically that night might have been the next Doctor to discover a cure for Cancer or HIV? An engineer who might have invented an alternative source of fuel. A teacher who would inspire generations of students to greatness. A Father or a Mother who would have raise their children in a nurturing and stimulating environment that propelled them to become leaders who revolutionized politics and the life of men and women. These are possibilities which will never be realized. At least not by those so unfortunate to have found themselves in the center of Lac Megantic that eventful night. This is the toll of an event such as the one that occurred. It is not measured by value, it is measured and should be measured in lost opportunity, lost influence and most of all, lost love.
Each of those who lost their lives leaves behind, Fathers, Mothers, sister, brothers, grandparents, uncles, cousins and friends. They leave the living with the obligation to contemplate the lost possibilities, the meaningless loss of their lives. There is no easy way to alleviate the pain, the anger, the loss. There is only sadness and pain. There is only wondering about the, ''what might have been'', the, ''what could have been''. There in lies the tradgedy of humanity, the reality of the fragility of the life we live. No one knows how it will end. Or where, or under what circumstances. It is held in the old cliche, '' live life everyday as if it was your last one'', everyone knows this is not possible. That as humans we rarely contemplate the end. We rarely do so other then when faced with events such as the one at Lac Megantic or when we attend the funeral of a loved one or friend. As a rule, we rush through our days, weeks, months and years. Tragedies occur all around us but for some not so understood reason we feel immune from the grasp of death. We ride above it believing it will never happen to us. The car accident, the fire, the drowning, the cancer, and all the other events that claim, '' others'' will not claim us. It won't happen that way to us. So we live our lives without realizing or understanding its fragility and the fact that every moment in time is not a given it is a gift.
When you leave home tomorrow ask yourself what guarantee you have that you will come back that evening. Think of your wife, husband, children. Think about those you love. Ask yourself when the last time was you took time to let them know exactly how much they mean to you. When was the last time you were with close friends and you shared with them how much you value them. The last time you spoke with co workers you spend more time with then your family and told them how much you enjoy the opportunity to work with them. When was the last time you actually did something for you? Not for anyone else. When was the last time you decided to make your life better? To take charge and make your life your own. How long has it been since you did any of that? If it has been forever or never, ask yourself this. How sure are you that there will be a tomorrow for you? How sure are you will get the chance to, ''do it later'' ? If you were standing in the middle of a small town called Lac Megantic having a quite drink, would you have regrets? Would you believe that there was a tomorrow to take on the world and all the things you put off. A chance to say to all those you care about just how much they mean to you. Of course you would believe there was a tomorrow, you believe you have a right to a tomorrow. I am sure that those 50 people in Lac Megantic thought exactly the same thing that evening. For them, there is no tomorrow.
Over the next few months the story will fade from the headlines. The families, relatives and friends will move forward. Slowly, painfully and with much sorrow they will move on. It is the reality of life. The living earn the burden of going on without the lost. The ones they lost are gone and will never come back. Will never have the chance to do all those things we so take for granted. My friends, understand that it all balances on the edge of envelope. This thing we call life.Your expiry date is not predetermined. It is not stamped on your forehead. It could be tomorrow, next month, next year, in 50 years. We do not get the privilege of knowing and in most cases chosing. For if we did, I am sure we would spend much more time loving those we love, cherishing those we cherish and living each day to the fullest.....especially if we knew that the end train was coming for us.
Rob
