Heartbreaking, bitter tragedy up in Harford County last week as a 16-year-old girl was killed in a crash involving a school bus. Her name was Blake Elliott. She and her boyfriend, Zach Griffin, had just left C. Milton Wright High School and were on the way home in his car, waiting to turn onto Crescent Knoll Drive, at which point another car rammed into Zach's car from behind, pushing them into the path of an oncoming school bus.
Blake died from her trauma; Zach was critically injured and is still in the hospital.
At a vigil on the school grounds Friday night, Blake's cousin said, "The loss has taken a toll on everyone who loved her. It has reminded us how quick things can change."
All of the students at "C. Milton," as the school is called, now know of the horrible swiftness of finality. Chances are Zach and Blake got in the car, listened to favorite songs, talked about a dance coming up, or SATs, or some homework.
Those things seemed mighty important until that car came up on them...
Then they were not that important at all.
Those of us who've been around a few decades know better than to forget how quickly this big ball of yarns we call "life" can unravel. Somehow, we need to impress upon those young people to remember that every time they see someone, it might be the last time. Every time they count on "see ya soon" coming true, that's a gamble.
George Bernard Shaw said, “Youth is the most precious thing in life; it is too bad it has to be wasted on young folks.” I don't think it's a waste at all. They are the ones still physically capable of jumping across brooks and streams and emotionally capable of falling in love every day. I say, let them enjoy being young while we enjoy remembering being young.
It's just that, every once in a while, we need to share stories like this, and if it sticks somewhere in the back of their minds, so much the better.
Praemonitus, praemunitus. Forewarned is forearmed.
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