New Thoughts for a New Year

In the midst of all the Holiday cheer and festivities we are sometimes reminded of what is most important to us.  And seeing as though we just began a new year, I feel as though it is important to share this with all of you.

On December 23rd 2008, tragedy struck my small community.  A young boy I went to high school with passed away.  Sean graduated from Salisbury High School in 2007.  He was only 19 years old.  I cannot say that I knew Sean very well.  He was only in 10th grade when I graduated but he played basketball with my boyfriend and was dating a friend of ours.  The scariest part of Sean's passing is that we don't know why he died.  There was no evidence of suicide.  He just died.  I think we always want to know what causes a person to die because it scares us to think that at any moment we could just die.  But with that in mind it is important to take advantage of every moment we have on this earth.  To love is the most important thing we can do as humans and it was clear at Sean's viewing that he was loved.  

I just keep thinking about his parents and how I'm sure most of his presents were wrapped and under the tree.  He'll never open them.  If that were my child, I don't even know how I could bring myself to go home and look at those presents under the tree.  The holiday season will never be the same for them and I'm sure it will take a long time before they can look at the Christmas season and smile.  

It is always so sad when a young person dies but it helps to remind us all to be safe and not careless and to live as though each day were our last.  Sean's passing reminds us all of other young people who have died in our community.  Just a few short years ago, Randy died in a car accident.  He was engaged to a friend of mine and I have never seen such sadness.  She held on to me for hours as she cried for him.  Randy was reckless that day that he died.  Driving to fast in the rain.  Up until that day my boyfriend rarely wore his seat belt unless I told him to.  Now, he wears his everyday because of Randy.  

When I was in 10th grade two seniors died.  Chris Gore and Sean Cieri.  Going to school and seeing everyone's pain was very hard.  Salisbury is a small school so everyone knows each other.  There was not one person who was not affected by Chris and Sean's passing.  I remember going to the spot where they had died along the road.  It was just a few weeks before graduation.  

Death happens for a reason.  I believe that God was trying to remind us with Chris & Sean's passing that even though being a senior and being able to go on senior trips and parties is exciting and memorable, it can also be dangerous.  Chris and Sean were not careful that night.  Randy's death reminds us to cherish those that we love.  And that we live not only for ourself but for those that we love.  Every time we get in a car we remember Randy and how because of one bad decision, his fiancee was left all alone.  Sean's death this year reminds us to be thankful for the time that we have with our family and friends during the holiday season and not to take it for granted.  

I didn't want to start the New Year off with a sad note but sometimes you have to and sometimes it is for the best.  We cannot let the death of these boys be forgotten.  We must remember and learn from them in hopes of making our own lives better.  New thoughts for a new year.

Sean Aungst RIP 12/23/08