Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Boys in Red

My first thought, when I heard about the accident: "Oh my god ... that's AWFUL!"

My second thought followed fast on its heels: "They could have been ours."

Today they are holding a mass funeral for the seven basketball players from Bathurst High School who were killed, along with the coach's wife, in an automobile accident on the weekend. They were driving home from a tournament in Moncton, and were five minutes from home when it happened.

The coach was driving. He survived. There are probably no words for what unimaginable hell these last few days have been for him. I suspect, as the inquiry into the crash begins and drags on, that things will not get any easier for him. Already there are "experts" from Texas damning the choice of vehicle.

Because they haven't needed me at my school this week, I don't know what the atmosphere is like there. But I suspect that the other teachers are thinking and feeling much the same way I am, and our basketball team is a little more sombre than usual.

Looking into their faces this morning, my heart just crumbled.


May they, and Mrs. Beth Lord, the elementary school music teacher and the coach's wife, all rest in peace.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Karen, thanks for writing this post. I blogged about it too today but I can't really put myself there. Sad day indeed for my hometown.

Danie Barkhouse
BHS Class of '89