So, it turns out Greg wasn't entirely joking when he said I should rename my blog with some catchy title and make it about people who died. He said there may be a big market for that. I will leave that for another discussion. But to continue my death theme, I just wanted to write about today's weird coincidence. Don't worry, after today I will pick up the mood in my posts!:)
Today, I went to make a shiva call (a traditional visit to a Jewish mourner within the first week after the deceased has been buried) to a friend of mine who lost her mother. Her mother had Multiple Sclerosis. Shiva (the first seven days of mourning) is being observed an hour away from Baltimore, and the people observing shiva are somewhat isolated, so it is understandable if news from B-more hasn't made it there yet. Anyway, I found out this morning that another friend from here's mother passed away this morning as well and the funeral was to be this afternoon. So, while I was at the shiva call, I told my friend about the death of this other friend's mother because I knew they were definitely associated with eachother- I just wasn't sure how. Anyway, it turns out that the woman who passed away this morning had multiple sclerosis as well ( I knew that but didn't make the connection). Anyway, the two friends of mine had been roommates while in Israel for the year and they introduced their mothers because they had the same medical condition. Their mothers became friends with eachother and often offered each other moral support in times of need. My friend was very shaken when I told her of the other woman's death and she said, "we were just talking about how we were going to tell her that my Mom died- I guess we don't have to now."
I can't help but think of one of my favorite quotes from my favorite band, "Is this life that we live just the world’s accident?" Not a chance.
The line in that song by your "favorite band" is referring to Mankind's existence as planned as opposed to randomly occuring through evolution. The ramifications of the latter view, of course, being that there is no purpose in our lives and nothing to look forward to after death. In the song you are referring to (James, by O.A.R.), the singer's grandfather is close to death (or is dead). He believes that the life that we live is no accident of chance, that there is a God that created us with a purpose in mind. This allows him to "move on with a smile", fully assured that he will be reunited with James after his time on this earth has come to an end.
Breathe.
That being said, I think it is a beautiful story (your's about the two friends, I mean).
Posted by: Greg at October 30, 2003 10:56 AMI agree with your interpretation 100%. I was just using some literary creativity. I was trying to get the point across that our lives are not lived by chance. Many seemingly unrelated events happen that end up being connected and affecting events and the people who are related to them.
Posted by: peninah at October 30, 2003 11:18 AMYou do have to wonder, though, if it is your mind that gives the coincidence meaning or some external entity. Or if they are the same thing. Freaky.
Posted by: Greg at October 30, 2003 11:28 AMWe may never know. What did Nietsche have to say about this?
Posted by: peninah at October 30, 2003 11:38 AMPeninah,
Thanks,
Faye