My best friend just called me a few minutes ago. He was in Florida, so I asked him what he was doing over there (he lives in Texas). Well, apparently, his girlfriends grandmonther had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and they were getting ready to go over and see her. The next day, they got a call from the police. Apparently, her mother's ex-husband came down and shot her 14 times and then shot himself. That's just f***ed up.

 

As it was relayed to me, the mother had just hooked back up with her old high school boyfriend who had been holding onto a ring for her for 25 years. She was having the best time of her life when her ex found out about it. She was only 40 years old.

 

I can't say I knew his girlfriend that well. Even though they've been going out for a couple years, we've lived on opposite ends of the country, so I can't say that I was close to her. My friend however, got to know the family quite well. We've know each other practically our entire lives. Hell, I consider him more my brother than my actual brothers.

 

I've had my share of tragedy such as my father being murdered among other things, but most of that happened when I was young. So I even though I can relate to what they're going through, it's not on the same level as they knew this woman on a much more intimate and personnal level. They've had much longer relationship with this person.

 

So on one hand, I am filled with sorrow and grief for them, and on the other, I feel somewhat empty inside. How does one respond to something like that? Or is it one of those things that no how often you experience it, you can never be prepared for it?

:blink:

 

F-ed up. I don't.. I.. can't... uh... wow.

damn

 

That is terrible .

So, I talked to my friend and his girlfriend today. He called me to say thanks for the message I left them earlier today. It made them feel a lot better. They seem to be doing a lot better. They're coming back up to Maine for the funeral(her mom is originally from Maine), possibly as early as tonight. Then probably towards the end of the year, they'll be moving back up here for good. They had planned to move back anyways, but not so soon. The incident was kind of a reality check for them and his parents are getting up in their years (his parents are older than my grand parents). It will be good to see them again, it's just a shame that it had to come under such circumstances again.

When I was in elementary school, something similar happened to a child a grade or two below me, except it was a double-murder suicide (involving the child).

 

Life just really sucks sometimes.