Nov
Sudden Death
This past Wednesday, the news reported that a worker at the Monmouth Battlefield State Park had been killed in an accident. Someone we know worked at the park, and I told my wife that I hoped it wasn’t Deny (pronounced Denny). We figured it probably was not him and put it out of our minds.
Today, I learned that the deceased worker was Deny. He had been killed by a falling tree. Apparently, he and a co-worker were cutting a tree. Another tree had been leaning against it. When the tree fell, the other came down on Deny’s head. Dead at age 36.
Deny and I had both been in he same model railroad club. He really loved trains. Deny was a big, congenial fellow. He was a mainstay of that club. From what I was told, the club members are shaken over his passing.
Also today, an Army major in Fort Hood went on a rampage. He killed 12 soldiers and wounded at least 30 more. We had been discussing that tragedy this evening over at my Legion Post.
Today was a weird day.
Hela was busy today.
Is the day of our death appointed? Is it pre-ordained? Does death have a justice to it? We know from the Havamal “…Cattle die, Kinsmen die, and so one dies oneself…” Sometimes death hits close to home. We must remember that death is something we do not control. That being said, it is up to us to live bravely. A life that is well lived is not a wasted life.
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I learned that Tuesday evening, Deny had been at the club running trains. He was one of the fellows who closed up the place that night. The man had lived as he wanted and enjoyed his hobby. There is something to be said for that.
