Sadness

Yesterday morning I was working at the computer and got a call from a ward member who lives in a very rural area on about 60 acres.  "We were here cutting trees and a tree hit Bro. Crawford.  I've called the paramedics and the first responders, but I can't get a hold of his wife.  They'll take him to Baxter hospital."

I didn't think...or want... to ask how bad he was.  I tried calling the wife.  No answer.  Called the Relief Society President to find out who her visiting teachers were. Had a plan of other people to call, but tried back one more time.  She was home.  She handled it well.  Said she'd call Sister H. and if she couldn't take her to the hospital, she'd call me back.

I just hung up the phone from talking to her and the ward member called back.  "Bro. Crawford is dead."  Shock!  "We need to wait for the coroner.  We don't know where he'll be going." 

So I went out to Tom who was burning a brush pile and just starting to mow the lawn.  He hurried in to change and go see her to tell her the news. "How do you tell someone their husband is dead?" he asked.  You know, there's just no good way.

I stayed to check the fire until it burned out some.  As I looked at the lawn tractor left in the exact position as when Tom heard the news, I was reminded of the painting of the "Bishop's Horses." It shows horses hitched to a plow, standing alone in the field.  The bishop was called away suddenly.  He just left the horses and went.

Tom was gone from about 9:30 to maybe 1 or 2 or so.

I fielded about a dozen phone calls. The ward member called with updates.  Each time, I learned a little more about the accident and what was happening at the moment. The coroner  pronounced him dead.... he'll take him to this funeral home.... call here to have him transferred to whatever home you want to use.  We have his keys and the truck.  What do you want done with them?  RS President-- where are they?  Other calls-- did you know...?  What should I do?  What can I do?

It turned out he was cutting down a tree on a ledge. The tree knocked him, or he lost his balance and fell about 5-6 feet, but landed on rock on his head.  He likely died fast.  But the trauma made it such that a viewing was not a good idea.

Lessons learned:
1. Life is fragile.  Be grateful for the time you have.  Use it wisely
2. Have your affairs in order-- all the time.  Have a "what I would like when I die" folder with favorite songs, funeral home you want, will, what you want others to have, etc.
3. Get to know those around you.  Tom came home and said, "Did you know Brother Crawford  was a scout master for 20 years and photographed over 7,000 graves to preserve them?"  No.  We shouldn't wait until a funeral to learn about those around us.
4. Develop a loving soul, so when you're tested, you can respond well.  The second thing Sister Crawford said, when she absorbed the news was to express sympathy and concern for the ward members who were with him cutting wood.

I am grateful for all you, my family and friends.  I appreciate you. I love you.