Some People Just Die
I’ve been thinking a lot about a recent conversation I had with my good friend Charlotte Lankard. We were discussing this series and what an opportunity it is to speak about death, taboo subject that it is.
As we were talking though, I began thinking about all the people that don’t have time to say goodbye before they die. I mean I may not be ”Mr. Lucky,” but I do at least have the opportunity to see death approaching. This gives me some time to plan, some time to spend moments with those I love, some time to say goodbye.
“Not everyone has that chance,” I said to Charlotte. “Some people just die.”
One moment they’re here, and the next moment they’re gone.
This led to two tributes I wrote on behalf of people who fall into that category. First, my sister Karyn. And second, my friend Donya Hicks Dunn.
The tributes apparently hit home, for in the aftermath of publishing them on this site I’ve received note after note about Karyn and Donya. Why the response? Well, first and foremost, these were great people. But secondly, I’m not sure we’ve reached the point of closure yet. I mean, yes, we went to their funerals, but we never really had the chance to spend time with them and say goodbye.
Death can be long and drawn out. Shoot, we’re all dying when you get right down to it. But for many people, and I fall into this category, death can take more than a year, perhaps several.
But death can also strike like lightning. So quick that we never have time to think about it or see it coming. So quick that we never get that chance to say goodbye.
Some people just die.
That’s a fact. And a shocking one at that.
Many of my friends in Norman experienced this painful reality yesterday when our friend Sherri Little died. I don’t know many details, so I won’t get into exactly how, except to say it appears to have been a heart attack.
Sherri Little was 44. Her husband Brad works with me. They have three children. The oldest is in college, while the younger ones are in high school.
Sherri was a twin. Her sister Kerri is one of our dearest friends. I can’t stop thinking about her loss.
I would like to write a tribute to Sherri Little… someday. But not today. Today, her death is still too raw, too strange, too surreal. This week is for their family. This week is for her funeral.
But I would like to say this: Sherri Little was one of the good guys. And I mean that from the very fiber of my soul. She was good. And she will be missed.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
I read your post because I did a google search about death. My friend died one month ago today, she was an older woman with heart trouble. We argued a week before her death and she told me I was her enemy. We argued all the time, I know the 4 years I knew her we did and it was mainly because of her…I don’t like arguments, never did. Anyhow, she passed away in her home and I felt so guilty because I wasn’t there with her and I was suppose to be if we didn’t argue the week before. Maybe I could have done something to help her. She was alone and a friend of hers went in her house after I didn’t hear from her all day Saturday and found her dead on her couch. I believe it was sometime after 3:22 am on Friday night, Saturday Morning and they found her Sunday. I feel so guilty. I know that I didn’t cause her death but I didn’t know that people just die. I hope she didn’t suffer.
I was saddened to read about Sherri Little’s death. Not that I knew her, mind you. Whether or not death is instantaneous or slow, any death is always a shock to the system. Life changes for family and friends. A husband is now a widower and the children are now motherless. I sincerely pray God’s love and strength will help the Little family endure this difficult time.