We have all had different people die in our lives. Usually it's a grandparent or a distant uncle. These are all really sad occurrences in life. But all of these fail in comparison to losing a close friend. Amanda Clifford, 20, of Lindon, was traveling southbound on the freeway just after 8 a.m., heading to school at Utah Valley University, when she was cut off during the early morning commute. Amanda lost control of her vehicle and swerved to the right, then to the left in front of a semi-trailer. The truck hit Amanda's Honda on the driver's door. Clifford was the only occupant of the vehicle and was transported by helicopter to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Amanda died at approximately 2 P.M. She was an amazing young lady that I had the privilege of knowing for 6 or 7 years. I knew her through Marching Band at Provo High School. She was an amazing friend.
The last time I saw her was this last Sunday at Benjamin Perry's LDS Missionary Farewell. Ben was her boyfriend of 3 years. He was scheduled to leave for Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Mission on Wednessday of this week. She had just recently put her papers in to go serve a LDS Mission herself. They were planning on returning from their missions and getting married.
We never really understand death untill it is imposed uppon our lives. As a young person I tend to have the feeling of being invincible. You never know how fragile life is untill it is taken away from those you love.
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2 comments:
Troy,
I am in a complete agreement with you - that we try not to think about death until you've experienced it first hand. I also know of losing someone close to you suddenly and tragically. I have sincere compassion for your loss, and the loss of her family because I have experienced death continuously from an early age.
My great-grandmother Lila (who I was named after) died when I was 9, and that was REALLY hard for me. Actually all my grandparents died when I was really young except for my Dad's father who died when I was 15 - I had to sing in his funeral. His wife my Step Grandma Reba (who I loved very much) died in a car accident a few years earlier.
My cousin Kelly died when I was around 14 in a horrible car accident. She was only 18 and her 6month old baby was in the car with her - the baby was left to her grandparents.
When I was 19 I moved up to Idaho, and lived with some really great friends. Their family included a younger couple with three younger children of the ages 6(girl-Riley),3(boy-Garrett),1(Parker). I rented their basement out and lived with them for a about two years. They became more like family to me, and one day they found out their 4 year old little boy Garrett had a brain tumor. All the doctors gave him less than 6 months to live ... I lived with them while they took him to all the chemo treatments, radiation, and new experimental treatments they could. They tried anything and everything they could to keep him alive, and 8 months later two weeks after his 5th birthday he passed away, and they asked me to sing in his funeral that was SO hard (I'm not really sure why but I've become the funeral singer -- seriously). I think of Garrett often as I look at my little boy who just turned 5 two days ago, and thank God for every day I have with him. Everyday truly is a gift and we never do know when "life" will be called back. But if one has never experienced loss ... can we really know and experience a true gratitude for the people we love, and appreciate the little moments that life has given to us?
2 years ago - 5 days before my birthday - I got a phone call from my mother saying my little brother Joshua has just passed away in Texas a horrible car accident. He was 20 ... we buried him the day before my birthday, and the next day as my family went to celebrate my life ... I seriously sat back and had to look at my life and ask myself what I wanted to change or what I wanted to leave behind? As I asked myself these questions, my whole life really changed for the better. I began writing letters to family members of why they were important to me, and keeping a better journal so my son or family would be able to "have" something to remember me by. I am more quick to appologize, and I TRY to be a little more thoughtful to others around me (not to say I am able to be nice all the time at all) But It was a life changing experience for me.
So yes, when someone extremely close to your heart passes away it can be one of the hardest things to deal with, but sometimes can be one of the biggest blessings of good for a person to help them realize and appreciate life, and be able to change theirs for the better. Life is strange but always seems knows what we need whether we can see our "need" at the time or not. It is what we choose to do with those experiences that will not only define us, but many others around us.
That was also an amazing way to show love to your friend by sharing her story with us. What a great tribute you gave to her life - So, thank you for sharing that with us. It was extremely touching and definitely hit home very hard.
Thank you
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