Monday, July 07, 2008

THE SURREALISM OF SUDDEN DEATH--AND SADNESS

Life: four simple letters. El-aye-eff-ee.

Death: five letters--two vowels and three otherwise--that have terrified most human beings since written--spoken--language was applicable.

I went Up North this weekend, with my girl, Meegie, to around the great Manistee National Forest in the upper knuckles of the Mitten, and, meanwhile, on Saturday, I received a voice mail on my overpriced cell phone. I couldn't understand the message, seeing as how she and me was in the Boon-Docks. All that I gleaned from the message--the phone kept cutting out--was "Lake Huron" and "metal-detecting" and "today."

I couldn't understand, so I let it go from my mind; I'd hear the message in full once I was back in civilization.

Well, yesterday, Lisa, a friend from work, called and I answered.

Hi and hello completed, she said something like, "Have you heard?"

"Heard what?" I asked.

"Tom Weaver passed away yesterday."

I think I said something like, "Uh, what?!"

"He died. He drown."

Now, listen: Tom was 39 years young. He was an ex-Marine. He was a big dude--247, maybe?--and he was as strong as an ox. Tom...died? He drown?

"Oh, fuck," I said. "What the fuck happened?"

She said, "He was out on Lake Huron, metal-detecting, and--I guess--he got caught in the undertow...he called for help, and people came, but they didn't find him until 20 minutes later. He was taken to a hospital, but he was dead."

I still don't believe it. I do, I do, but--shit. 39-year-olds, with two precious children and a fiancee--to whom he was to be married on Valentine's Day--39-year-old ex-Marines shouldn't die like that.

Metal-detecting: is there a more seemingly-innocuous pastime? How the fuck does someone die metal-detecting?!

I worked with Tom a few times. He was a lineman and I rode with him during my training. He was a good guy. He could talk a fucking mean streak--talk your ear into putty--but he was a damned good guy. I could tell.

Fuck.

How does this kind of shit happen?

In the title, I mentioned surrealism. Maybe that's not the best word. Shock might be. Incredulousness might be. Shit. Fucking sorrow might be the right word.

Apparently--and the story is still sketchy--Tom was out on Lake Huron on Saturday, bubbling happiness to show his kids how to metal-detect in lakes (Tom was a member of Michigan Treasure Hunters and he had found two or three keepsakes that he got back to the rightful owners)--and...just wait a second.

Life--that four-lettered word--ain't fair sometimes. Death is even more of a bastard.

Anyway, apparently, Tom realized he was in trouble and he called out for help from the people on the beach. Around a hundred people formed a human chain, hands linked, but they found him when it was too fucking late. The guy drown in four fucking feet of water. How the hell does that happen when the guy in question was about six feet tall? Was he wearing waders which could have filled up with water and dragged him under? (People say that he was in a wet-suit.) Did he suffer an brain hemorrhage? Or a heart attack? (Then how would he have been able to call for help?) Did he caught in an undertow? In four feet of water?! The guy was as strong as a bear, he was an ex-Marine...don't you think he'd have been able to bull his way out of the maelstrom?

I don't know what happened. And it's making me very very sad. My heart hurts for his soon-to-be-wife and his children. Things aren't fair, sometimes.

And I've heard this, today, about a thousand times: "When it's your time to go, it's your time to go." Shit. I've said it myself.

Bullshit. It wasn't Tom's time to go.

I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that the guy that I just saw four days ago is now dead, drown. He ain't on vacation and he ain't taking a sick day or two. The guy is dead. He passed on.

Passed on, my ass. "Passing on" seems so damned peaceful. I'm sure Tom's death wasn't. I'm sure that there was bafflement and then determination and then, finally, mortal panic.

And then Peace, hopefully. I hope that he--or his mortal brain, or his soul--accepted the inevitability of the situation and that he thought of the love of his life and his kids...though I see myself as empathetic and able to think as others do--or would--I think that that is a pipe-dream. I think that, when one is in a life-or-death situation, no thoughts pervail. I think that basically, it is an animal instinct, it is a fight for life and no thoughts are bouncing except for the crocodile brain of Survive.

And that fucking sucks, man.

That really fucking sucks.

I have never had a co-worker--at least one with whom I worked--die unexpectedly.

Winking, blue-eyed. Big-dude golfer, captain of his Marine team. Possessed the gift of gab. Had a big heart. Eccentric. Metal-treasure-hunter. Had a big heart. Tom.

Weaver.
I'm so fucking sorry, man.

Please rest in peace.

God, this sucks.

"In an unrelated accident, a 39-year old Wixom man identified as Thomas E. Weaver drowned in Saginaw Bay Saturday at the Caseville County Park Beach.
According to the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Weaver was wading in about 4 feet of water while using a metal detector to search for valuables, when he suddenly called for help several times before going under the water.
Weaver was discovered about 20 minutes after he went under and was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead."
--Freep.com

21 comments:

Laura said...

Shit.

Sorry for your loss Adam.

xx

Jay said...

That is really awful. Terrible thing to happen. What freak accident!

Condolences to his family and friends.

Melissa said...

Oh Adam, that's terrible. I'm so sorry to hear it.

Anonymous said...

Adam, honey, I'm so sorry to hear of your friends death. It pains me to hear that incredulous confusion in your words. I can only remember my own experiences with losing someone in my life, and how difficult it is to comprehend.
Thank you for listing his name as well. He (and especially now his family and freinds) wil be in my prayers tonight. xo

Adamity73 said...

Thanks, Bunny. It's been kind of somber around the office these last couple of days.

Jay-Jay: Yes. "Freak accident" describes it with perfection.

Missy-Poo: Yeah. I am particularly sorry for his 8- and 13-year-old. They were there when it happened. :-|

Tesa: Not really a friend, per se, Tom was more like a co-worker with whom I was friendly. Either way, though, yes, it sucks. And thanks for having his family in your prayers.

JenBun said...

That is very sad to read about-- so tragic. Your words are beautiful.

My thoughts are with you, in this time of loss, and with his family and loved ones.

Be well! xoxox

Adamity73 said...

Thanks JenBun. My thoughts--and yours--are with Tom's family.

Seeing an American-draped coffin makes one do a double-take on one's attitude towards the country.

And then another double-take.

(Yeah. I hugged his soon-to-was. She was a tearful-thank-you. I hugged her tight and I told her that Tom was a good guy. A really good guy. Her tears spilled on my shoulders as I hugged her tighter and said, "He touched so many lives."

Spillin' a 40, Tommy. You had many friends, man. Your Marines showed up in full regalea. They had swords, dude. The room was fucking PACKED, man. So many Consumers employees showed up, braw. We went to the bar down the road. Something-Cantina, man. Brian, your last TMO, showed up in threads that would have made Puff feel inadequate. The Fullmer brothers helped me out, got me home. Dave Jizz talked shit. No. He didn't. Dude. We all--pretty much--loved you, man. Youy were eccentric, sure. But! I always saw you as a paragon of Truth. I don't know why. I reckon it was just a feeling, man. I saw your pictures tonight. Man. I am tearing up, again. You had so much Life, man. Maybe Jesus was looking to fix his slice, or something. TOM WEAVER! KNOW THIS!: You were loved, man. You shoved 80 years into 39. Peace Up There, man. Peace.)

Adamity73 said...

Bernard? Now is not the best time to have attempted Web-flow.

Could you?

Please?

Shove a hot binary red-hot poker through your ass? So that your esophagus is threatened by subterfuge?

Or Collateral?

Thanks, dick.

Thanks for ruining a memorial.

Ya bas'td.

Anonymous said...

Incredible. Sorry. Hang in there. All my love.

Frank said...

Fuck.


That's all I got :(

JenBun said...

I just teared up on "soon-to-was."

Peace.

Adamity73 said...

Thanks, Jimmy. I'm all right. Just shook me a little. Oh, by the way! Happy belated birthday, my fine fellow. =o)

Yeah, Frank. Me too.

JenBun: Peace back atcha. "Soon-to-was." Not really a word, but, whatever. :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry.
That is awful.

Adamity73 said...

Your words are registered, Caleal. Thankee-sai.

=o)

JenBun said...

(Hey darlin', just wanted to let you know that you have won a blog award, over in my neck of the woods... )

:)

M@ said...

I need to be more careful out there.

Anonymous said...

Wow man, I'm so sorry for the terrible news. It's so sad and so unfortunate. I don't even have the words...

Noelley said...

How incredibly sad. I'm so sorry. :(

Aloha_50 said...

Depending on TOMORROW is the worst mistake people make. Make the most of today...and leave tomorrow for aspirations.

Sorry for the loss, dude.

JenBun said...

Yes, Adam, yes.

I am reading this post from a different perspective this morning.

Thank you for saying it better.

Sudden. Tragic. Loss.

Adamity73 said...

'Leal: Thank you. =-)

Bunny Jen: Thanks! I ain't checked it out, yet--but!--if I know you like I *think I know you, it must good and golden. ;-)

Matthew? Yes! Wear the arm-thingies, man. :-|

Tizzy: Thanks, hon. You *have* the words but they're inadequate. It's a part of sudden young death.

Ephie! Hi! Yes.

Beautiful Babes Man: Yes. TODAY is the ONLY day, man.

IFfy: Peace back to you and yours, man.

Bunny Jen: EACH day brings a new perspective, ma'am. Just life, y'know?