Post by Sabeine on Nov 4, 2003 3:37:03 GMT -5
After over a month of waiting, the funeral for my cousin is today at 2pm.
He had been hangliding in Turkey when he hit a power line and free fell in to the ocean and died. He was 33.
It became a mess between Sweden and Turkey because they said they needed his body for an investigation. His family waited for 2 weeks, when finally the Swedish foreign department went to Turkey and claimed him as Swedish property.
He was a really wonderful person. He had lived with our family in the States for a year as an exchange student, then his sister came the year after, then I came and lived with them for a year.
Family will be invited to the actual burial, and other than a cremated urn being put in the ground, this is the first burial that I have been to where there is a casket. I have been to funerals, and memorials but this is closer to home. It is eerie. One minute I'm one the phone telling him that I'll see his band play, then a week later he is gone. Life is so very short, and there are no guarantees. No one ever promised us to make it to old age.
I guess the lesson from this is that one should value life more. Don't throw it away believing that you can do it "next week, next year" whatever. Take the opportunity now and go for it.
I wish I had had more time with my cousin, my friend, but I know that he wouldn't want us to be sitting around crying about it. He never let things get him down. His passing has made me realize many things about myself. I think in a way I am becoming a better person because of him.
He had been hangliding in Turkey when he hit a power line and free fell in to the ocean and died. He was 33.
It became a mess between Sweden and Turkey because they said they needed his body for an investigation. His family waited for 2 weeks, when finally the Swedish foreign department went to Turkey and claimed him as Swedish property.
He was a really wonderful person. He had lived with our family in the States for a year as an exchange student, then his sister came the year after, then I came and lived with them for a year.
Family will be invited to the actual burial, and other than a cremated urn being put in the ground, this is the first burial that I have been to where there is a casket. I have been to funerals, and memorials but this is closer to home. It is eerie. One minute I'm one the phone telling him that I'll see his band play, then a week later he is gone. Life is so very short, and there are no guarantees. No one ever promised us to make it to old age.
I guess the lesson from this is that one should value life more. Don't throw it away believing that you can do it "next week, next year" whatever. Take the opportunity now and go for it.
I wish I had had more time with my cousin, my friend, but I know that he wouldn't want us to be sitting around crying about it. He never let things get him down. His passing has made me realize many things about myself. I think in a way I am becoming a better person because of him.
words to worth reading again ... and a great reminder to live life.
