I've been busy lately, which is good for me. When it's the elderly, I'm able to be cold and simply see the bottom line. The younger, the harder... Today's service was a 21 yr. old... Initial call was an auto accident. First thought is: facial reconstruct. It turns-out that it was a 4-wheeler accident. Thankfully (for the family & I), there was simply a bruise on his forehead. Apparently he had no helmet, went over the handlebars, and slamed his head on the surface. When doing a post (autopsy), the scalp is cut ear-to-ear, scalp pulled to the forhead, to cut the scull cap and remove the brain. Massive bleeding on the top of his head. Snapped his neck... Anyho... we did a black&white balloon release. I didn't think to bring my camera. It looked pretty cool, as the wind was down & it went well. As I'm trying to get a pic. with my phone, I get a touch on my arm. Dad's thanking me for everything. I snapped my phone closed! Poor guy thanks me for everything and proceeds to tell me that Mathew kept bugging him for a 4-wheeler. He had it 2 days... There's no 'script'; you just go with it. I feel comfortable feeling that he left me 'satisfied'. I missed 'the shot' (balloons), but it means more to me... well... I just want to cry for the poor kid/family... I've always thought that helmets were gay re: bicycles, but re: motorcycles/atvs... wear a God damn helmet. (I don't expext any responses... just think)
Sad Story my friend and really true. In my younger years I was motorcross racer and you should have seen some of the gounges in that helmet from crashes. Thump your mellon once and its over Cheers Teamster6
I'm alive because of a helmet and leathers. Still a proud member of A.B.A.T.E. but my bros who ride without a bucket are looking to leave a wife husband-less, a child fatherless or a parent broken hearted. The sense of freedom just isn't worth it.
Up here in Alaska there is an ATV accident like every 20 seconds. Lotta closed head trauma. No helmet. People still ride those death-trap 3-wheelers from the 1980s. Astro, do you work for a funeral home?
Agreed! When I was 15, I was riding a motorcycle and took a corner too fast and the bike slid out from under me. When my head hit the pavement, it ripped off the facemask and scraped up the side of the helmet. If I wasn't wearing a helmet, by face would have been left on the road. Walked away with only a few scatches from the barbed wire fence that I got tangled in.
My thoughts go out to the family, it's always extremely sad when a parent outlives their child. I'm shocked to hear that someone would be riding without a helmet, though. It's against the law to even mount a bicycle over here without a helmet - $146 fine. It's just not worth the risk! I'm also sorry to hear that you had to go through that yourself, I personally don't deal with situations like that very well, I hope you can deal with it okay.
No matter how much I convince myself or know that I've accepted death, it always hits me eventually. I witnessed and was the first responder on the scene of an accident where a friends young brother was killed. Took a few months and a weird dream, but I was finally emotional about it. About six months after my grandfather died I was driving home, started singing some bass (which was his range, and he taught me Jews harp) and I started crying. I've yet to cry at a funeral. Young or old, it hits you no matter how much you are used to it.
Dude I have no idea how you do it. I am thinking of you tonight. I will soon see a lot myself. I am watching video after video but it will not be the same. Poor kid. Very Very Sad
Morning All. that I unloaded here; I guess I needed to decompress. I decided to get alittle sedated & that just made it worse! LOL! It's just hard doing a young persons service. Mom practically carried into the chapel, brother & sisters, tough guys bawlin' at the podium,... I can take comfort in knowing that I did a good job. I do the trade work (embalming-in this case an autopsy, casketing/dressing, cosmetics). Nobody knows (unless they might ask) who did the work, but really cool when they say that he/she looks good. Forgot who asked, but I'm a funeral director/mortician. Thanks again for allowing me to vent.
I admire you Astro, to have a kind soul like yours is truly for one of a kind people and thats you....and I thank you man :beerchug-2: asssit:
Thanks, chris. Although I've been a real ass on GK at times, it's more a reflection of how shitty things have been the last few yrs. and not my true nature. I'd much rather help than hurt. If anyone ever has any questions re: funerals/death, please feel free to pm me. If I don't have the answer, I'll get it. Now I have to shop (after I run the boys) for a buddy's 1st baby gift. I know that may sound gay, but I have no woman atm to do it. I did call mom last night for ideas! LOL!
I was involved in a very minor mountain bike accident but I hit my head on the dirt (I owned a helmet but didn't wear it) and had a bad concussion, I had amnesia for a day and had to be hospitalized for 1/2 a day. They said I was lucky I wasn't going just a bit faster or hit my head on a rock or on the pavement because I could have been either brain damaged or dead. Sooooo Bike+Helmet=Sensible and Advisable. :thumbs-up: P.S. I also had an uncle that was made into a vegetable while riding a bike (at 12 years old) in front of his house when he was struck by a car going only 10 miles an hour. He was in a coma for years until he died at the age of only 22. Had he been wearing a helmet he probably would have only had minor scrapes and bruises. Helmets are always a good idea. Head injuries are no joke. When participating in any activity that increases the risk of a head injury you should wear a helmet.
