Tragedy at my Break Time Spot
https://ithacavoice.com/2022/10/ithaca-fire-department-rescues-person-from-ithaca-falls-gorge/
One week ago today, something came up and Howie needed to use the vehicle, so I didn't go in to Ithaca and work.
As you know if you follow my blog, Ithaca Falls is my break time spot. I do check out other places, but with few exceptions I come here first.
One week ago today, if I'd been in Ithaca like I was supposed to be, it's very likely I would have been right there when it happened.
It has been haunting me ever since I heard. There are lots of theories as to why he wasn't able to get out, such as an undertow or getting caught in debris... none of which sit right.
I've swam here many times.
Technically you're not supposed to, as they don't employ a lifeguard, but that has never stopped anyone. Of course it's too chilly for swimming now, but not so cold that it would factor.
A few weeks ago I even wrote a post about swimming here, skinny dipping in fact, when I was young and first in love.
It was sometime late September that magical, romantic night. And the falls were thunderous, far more so than they are right now.
One week ago a man's life ended because he wanted a better angle for his photo. What bothers me the most- there's always people here...how did no one help?
Perhaps he hit his head on the way in, and that's why he didn't come up. But why did people just stand around waiting for an emergency crew?
If I had been there, could I have done something? Or would I have tried only to endanger myself?
Like I said, it's been haunting me. My dad always believed that we have an appointed time. That a date with death is set in stone. I never have been able to decide if that's true.
And this guy? He either didn't hear the story, or is making a point... definitely a little weird to see someone in the water right now.
And to add to the surreal nature of what just happened in my peaceful sanctuary, I came across the rock face...and it's all been torn down.
I've grown used to the flashes of color from the graffitied rocks that adorn it, so even from a distance I could tell something was off.
Sure enough, every last one of them are sitting in a pile. Why? Who pulled them down and why?
It was with a touch of melancholy that I trudged back to my car, thinking of the poor man's family, knowing how it feels to get that particular horrible, life-changing news.
I sat on a rock for a bit, mulling, when I noticed the birds. The tree with its Autumn Leaves was a perfect camouflage until they lifted off.
All but one, and it seemed like it was staring at me. I had the strangest sensation that it was waiting for something. Or perhaps waiting with me while I processed and exorcised the shadow that had fallen over my day.
Life is so fleeting, and accidents happen to prove that point.
That's why my new mantra is Make It A Great Day, you never know when it's your last one so try and be mindful of each one. It's a reminder to myself of this and if it empowers someone else along the way, all the better! :)
Thats so sad to hear. 😢 We have only one life to live, living it right is the key
Truly sad. Yup, we're the authors of our own stories, we should "write" the best ones we can!
Wise words 🤗
Terrible thing to happen. That's the brutal thing about accidents, you often never quite know how or what happened.
Very true. To this day I don't know what happened to cause my sister to run the stop sign. The friend that was with her was in a coma for a week after and when she woke she didn't recall details. She went through survivor's guilt though, and confided she was afraid she'd done something to distract her. I spent a lot of time talking her out of that train of thought. Just the fact that someone was coming from the other direction at that exact moment- it was a country road, the odds of that happening were pretty low. Sometimes there's no figuring it out, it just is.
I'm so sorry to hear that happened. It's strange to think about that if, indeed, this was an accident this man woke up that morning assuming that day come and go like all the other ones that came before it. You are so right about having to live each day as it's your last. The pandemic really drove that point home for me. I put far fewer things off now than I used to and I make very sure that people close to me know how I feel about them.
Something that drives me crazy about myself, is that I should have already learned this lesson. In fact I did after each death I've experienced,.and for awhile each time I was very clear on the temporal nature of this place. But somehow, while I'm still aware of it, the urgency, the poignancy fades. Covid was a reminder, though I didn't lose anyone to the virus itself. Still the potential looming certainly brought it back. It's not that I forget, I have a very long memory, it's just the emotional connection to the thoughts fade and I get caught up in the mundane. Though to be fair to myself the experiences have had a lasting impact, a growth and maturity. And maybe we're just not meant to be constantly evolved. Perhaps it takes away from the magic of each experience if we're always sitting with past ones.
I would try not to be too hard on yourself, I think this kind of amnesia happens to us all. There's so much noise in the world today it's sometimes difficult to stay focused and remember everything we've learned all the time. We must constantly reorient ourselves and even then we don't always remember to even do that (at least I don't). Good point about too much attachment to the past forcing us out of "the flow" of mindfulness and the present moment.
Oh that’s sad ☹️ the poor guy and his poor family.
Perhaps people around were not strong swimmers and would have put themselves in danger trying to help, the general advice is to wait for the pros so you don’t make work for them right.
Are you doing okay now?
There could be many reasons why people didn't step in, good ones too. Especially if those that were there have never actually swam in that place, they'd have to consider potential underground currents etc. But the likelihood of an emergency crew making it in time to do anything in a situation like this is so slim. They'd also have to consider they were standing around while someone died- or at least I would have been thinking that. Maybe I was protected by not being there, because I can't imagine not trying. And maybe some things are just meant to be like mom always says, my verdict is still out on that lol.