Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Lives Unlived

I had a memory tonight, which is rather rare for me.  My memories are few and far between.  It was a sound that triggered the memory, one from forty years ago.  The sound of a cat.

It was around this same time of year, when two young boys, one that I knew personally, were playing outside.  They had just learned how to tie a noose.  These two boys, for whatever reason, tied nooses on opposite ends of a rope, placed them around their necks and climbed a tree.  Somehow, in the process of their playing, they fell across a tree branch and the rope wasn't long enough for them to get their legs under them, to get weight off the nooses. 

After hearing of the tragedy, I was lying in bed, crying.  This was back in the days of attic fans and open windows.  Somewhere, out in the dark of night, a cat was crying out.  The sound reminded me of a child, crying out for it's mother.  It broke my heart, more than it was already broken.

Hearing that same sound tonight, brought back the memory.  The memory of two young lives, cut short.  After forty years, it still brought with it, a chill.

33 comments:

Ms. G said...

It gives me a chill too. There are some things we wish we could erase aren't there?

~mel said...

It's weird what can trigger one's memory. Sorry to hear that cat's meow triggered this one from so long ago ... what a tragic happening. {{HUGS}}{{HAPPY THOUGHTS HAPPY THOUGHTS}}

Ms. A said...

Mel, I welcome anything, short of a crowbar, that will pry up a memory. I'd sure prefer it to be a happier one, but it didn't give me the choice... it just popped right in, without warning. Thanks for following!

Katherines Corner said...

Sweetie, I hope the positive memory you expressed on my blog today about the porch bench will cover this one up. hugs!

Copyboy said...

Ugh that's so sad! I agree the weirdest things and times will trigger odd memories for me.

Gigi said...

Sights, sounds, smells will all trigger memories. Sorry this triggered such an horrific memory.

I Wonder Wye said...

chilling, horrible tragedy....

So. Cal. Gal said...

One hopes that kids think before they act but, unfortunately, that's not always the case. A 13 y.o. classmate died doing something stupid and I still think about it/him.

And cat cries/pitiful moans creep me out.

(((HUGS)))

Anonymous said...

Oh my. That is just the saddest thing. I dont even know what to say, thats just awful.

Chana Meddin said...

Dear Ms. A, it's late and i hope to manage this: in 1999, only weeks before i moved to Bellingham,WA, two young boys were out in the woods adjacent to where I moved and an older boy was fishing...unbeknownst to all, an oil spill was occurring beneath the surface of the water, a stream that runs directly through the middle of Bellingham, past where they fuel school buses, past a senior/disabled high rise, past city hall, and into Bellingham Bay...no one knew. The young boys were playing with firecrackers, igniting an explosion that killed them and the boy who was fishing...yet by doing so saved thousands of innocent lives, for had the oil reached the Bay our entire city would have exploded off the map. The mayor called them
heros. While camping late one night I ran into a First Responder - a woman - who had never told her story. It was 2 am and she told me. I shivered and cried for days. We left all the burned trees as a remembrance to these three young ones whose lives were cut short...a quirky
tragedy, but one that saved so many. I sympathize with your memory and offer whatever loving comfort might provide solace, even it is only to offer my own story. Thank you for yours.

baygirl32 said...

that is awful

Lori G said...

Oh my goodness MsA...the sting, the horror, the sadness of tragedy never leaves our hearts. And triggers?...I hear you. To remember out loud with friends who love you does help some to soften the edges with time. Love you.
((((Hugs))))

parenting ad absurdum said...

Oh, I've got a chill too. I don't know what to say. I'm going to hug my boys.

Ms. A said...

Chana, Thank you. I'm guessing that was the Whatcom Creek Pipeline Explosion. Extreme tragedy.

Lori, Thanks, I love you!

Parenting Ad Absurdum, hug them hard and often.

Anonymous said...

Recently my momories have been triggered by reading blogs written by people from India. These are young people but their blogs take me back a couple of decades:) This is Munir from Focus.

Ms. A said...

Thanks for visiting, Munir.

Liz Mays said...

Wow, that most definitely brought a chill to me as well. What a horrible tragedy.

Ally said...

what a horrible tragedy. i have really bad pms and this post made me cry. those poor babies.

Deborah said...

That is beyond sad. I'm so sorry even all these years later. It makes me mad and sad.

I never never never want things like this to happen.

CiCi said...

Poor little kids back then had less supervision than kids do now in lots of places. Quite a few years ago I knew a woman whose granddaughter wore a leather strap with beads on it to preschool and the rope caught on something on the playground and she was hanged. A metal necklace would have broken but she would have been okay. I have always been of the mind that little kids should not wear jewelry to school anyway. This is a sad memory for you but in one respect it shows your warm side to still care about those little boys.

Margaret Benbow said...

Yes, I agree. I know these memories cause you pain, but because of them, those precious lives will never be completely lost because you have a mind and heart that remembers...

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I just want to give you a virtual hug.
Love and blessings,
xoRobyn

Sarah said...

I know how you feel. Makes your heart break with those poor mothers'!

KrippledWarrior said...

That does suck...
I hate cats =/
So, tell me dear, how old am I?

Anonymous said...

OMG! I have the memory problem too. Exactly the same thing. This is getting eerie but I can't dwell on that as I am overwelmed with my messed up blog. And I mean MESSED UP! tHIS IS MIDDLECHILD

Betty Manousos said...

Oh that is really awful...so horrible.

(((hugs)))

miss you
betty xx

Anonymous said...

Oh, how horrific - my God, it made my blood run cold. Gosh, what a terrible thing for a child to deal with, something anyone would have difficulty coping with at any age. Sorry it ambushed you recently, I hope you can leave it back where it belongs and not allow it to haunt you again. (Hugs)

ps. Blogger is playing silly buggers with me, it's not showing me as Shrinky, just Anonymous - grrrr, hope this posts!

Anonymous said...

Ugh. Big hugs. That is very sad...especially when their intentions were just to be kids and play, having fun. Very sad. Loves ya.

Momma Fargo

Jenny said...

I wish I knew of a magic eraser for memories like this. They haunt you frever. Sending you a healing hug and a wish for peace.

Tgoette said...

My what a terribly sad story. I can understand your feelings now 40 years later because as we become older the loss of someone takes on such a greater significance. Wonderful post, Ms. A!

Help! Mama Remote... said...

Oh how awful! I'm sure that's a memory you would rather not have.

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a sad, tragic story. It breaks my heart when I hear about the death of a child. I can only imagine how difficult the loss of those two little boys must have been to their parents, to their family and friends and to the entire community. Hug the kids in your life every chance you get. Life is short, and sometimes, sadly, very cruel. - G

Pat Tillett said...

Wow! What a sad story. It's amazing how a sound, or a smell can take us back to a previous place...
Great post!