A father of two in town on business was jogging on the beach and listening to his iPod when he was hit from behind and killed by a small plane making an emergency landing, officials said Tuesday. Robert Gary Jones, 38, of Woodstock, Ga., died instantly Monday evening when he was hit by the single-engine plane, which had lost its propeller, said Beaufort County Coroner Ed Allen. The pilot's vision was blocked by oil on the windshield.The plane was basically a glider without its propeller, making little to no noise, and it hit him from behind. Just because he was listening to his iPod doesn't mean the outcome could have been any different. I just felt sick when I read about this (it happened yesterday), because I thought about how he was just out there living his life, and something like this happened. Here's the entire article. He's gone, and he never knew what hit him.
And again, I felt moved to say thank you for today. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. I'll bet Robert's mother would gladly have changed places with her son if she could have. I think of her terrible loss. More from the article:
"Any time he traveled, I would worry myself to death about him," said his mother, who lives outside Tampa, Fla., where he grew up. "I'd call and say, 'Where are you, where are you?'"
But Robert had all those things available to him, and still... It makes me ponder not only the fragility of our lives, but also the arbitrariness of these accidents. His mother is probably, right now, wondering how it could have been different. When my son Chris died, I would wake up from a dream where I kept trying to rearrange the circumstances and make it so he would still be alive. It would all be a bad dream that I could wake up from.
So I'd just like to say how grateful I am that life goes on, that we all have a chance to stop, take a breath, and say thank you for today.
:-[
Beautifully said. At least he didn't know what was coming and probably felt little pain. For tha,t his mother can be thankful. I have a daughter traveling to Thailand for a month in April and the other one to Costa Rica in May. I will worry the whole time. But, just as this story exemplifies, there are no guarantees even when we think there are.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. This week has been a reminder to me of how fortunate we are to have every day that greets us.
ReplyDeleteCheck out my post for today. It's about Blogger in Draft.
It just goes to show that we never know when our time to go will be. He was probably jogging to stay healthy and prolong his life; little did he know, he might as well have been having a well-marbled steak and fries. I think I'l have a piece of chocolate now.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post DJan, and yes, I'm grateful for everyday I am given.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame about the young man, a tragedy, a life taken in an instant.
You were a cute little girl, I can see your face still in that picture ;)
I like Eva's idea of having a piece of chocolate now.
ReplyDeleteBad things happen. There are no guarentees, that's for sure. And I am truly grateful for every day and for what it brings me.
Thank you indeed!
ReplyDeleteThis "death comes unexpectedly" (which for some reason all of the sudden reminds of Pollyana) is why people need to stop stressing about the dangers of the world and just enjoy each day as it comes! When it's time, it's time. Nothing you can do about it. Make sure you've had a good life up until that point.
If you need a good laugh after this come on over! ;o)
It was likely a Dodge business coupe. They are cool and sought after today. They were called such because the trunk was so massive. A tragedy with the young man. Yes, thanks you for today and every minute and second. We just never know....
ReplyDeleteSuch a tragedy, but it serves as notice that no guarantees are made in this life. We need to live each day like it is our last. Very nice post.
ReplyDeleteSuch a touching post...thank you for that important reminder!
ReplyDeleteEvery second of every day is precious.
It does go to show...we just never know. I like what Gandhi says..."Live as if you were to die tomorrow." So sorry you lost your son. That must have been so difficult for you. Somehow I think that when we have these losses it takes us to a deeper place within ourselves. And we then gain a different perspective on life.
ReplyDeleteSad for this family right now...their lives will be forever changed.
Good post! Just a few hours ago, I was thinking that God must truly love me, cause after driving the wrong way on a one way street several times (not just once), I am still alive and healthy -- not crippled or dead!
ReplyDeleteThat's horribly sad. This is a good reminder, though, that we really don't have as much control over our lives as we might like. We can control our own actions but not those of everything around us...Life can stop, shift, change in a heartbeat, seemingly without our input. All we can do is live intentionally and share our love with others. Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so sad...it really does make you think about you own life...wow...
ReplyDeletei've sure missed reading your posts, however usually they are happier than this...i hope we can keep in touch better haha...
ive posted a few new posts so if you wanna get caught up..and also a few new photos :D
Hi DJan, This was so sad, one never knows from one minute to the next do we..I need chocolate now too and a nap:)
ReplyDeleteDJan...well stated! Life is such a mystery! Life indeed goes on with or without us so I plan on enjoying it rather than wrestling with it as I did for so long. Your post was a reminder. Had a recent setback after knocking myself senseless on black ice and was feeling sorry for myself when I turned to your blog. Thanks. Maybe I can now complete writing about his "phase" of my recuperation.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sad story DJan. Woodstock, GA is just about 12 miles north of my town. The paper here said that "When he was home he was all about the kids," Jones' neighbor told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He had recently switched jobs so he could spend more time with his family. "He was an absolutely wonderful father and husband." This is the type of accident people don’t expect. People in the US are always so afraid of “terrorists” but as some others said, you never know when your time is up. That is why I don’t get scared traveling to all those countries far away, I know that you don’t have to go anywhere to get hurt. People fall at home and get killed too. But this is terrible for the young children of this man – to lose their father so early in life.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very tragic story, what a lose for his family. It points out the fragility of life and the need to live it to its fullest.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of you as a child is precious.
What a heart-wrenching story. Every time I look at my kid I can't help but think of how fragile life is. It's important to remember that we never get enough time with our family, you need to stop and be thankful for today, like you said. No one ever says on their deathbed "I wish I spent more time at the office" right?
ReplyDeleteWe never really know how much time we have. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems like every day there is something tragic happening to somebody, doesn't it. We really do need to be grateful for what we have.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Star