SHAKEN BY NEWS FROM YESTERDAY

Because of connections we have made through this blog, our world of “virtual friends” in the RV blogging community is large.  Yesterday we received shocking news from our blogging family – Margie and Bruce Mallin (known through her comments as Margie M.) were struck and killed as they walked together near their RV park in Pismo Beach, California.  The driver of the car that hit them is a 19 year old who is alleged to have purposely left the highway at high speed, intending to kill himself.  Instead, he killed Margie and Bruce, injured himself, and is now in jail.

Reading of this accident was incredibly shocking, and it remains foremost in my mind today as I sit to write my own blog.  We had never met Margie and Bruce, but I read her blog frequently and enjoyed the comments she occasionally left on mine.  Their daughter, Stephanie, notified her parent’s RV’ing friends by posting the news on Margie’s blog, and the outpouring of shock and sadness was immediate.  Many of those who left comments shared anecdotes of Margie’s kindness and encouraging words.  Margie and Bruce will be sorely missed, and my heart goes out to Stephanie and her family.

As I made our dinner last night, as we sat together and ate, as we discussed our travel plans for today, I kept thinking “this is what Margie and Bruce did on Friday”.  Normal, mundane activities.  In their minds’ eyes they would have been picturing their day Saturday, beginning with an early morning walk and including… what?  A visit to the beach?  Time spent at the Pismo Beach Clam Festival? 

Odel and I are always full of plans, plans for the rest of the day, for tomorrow, next week, next winter and next year.  I’m sure Margie and Bruce were, too.  In a heartbeat, that future ended and their family’s lives turned upside down.  So quick.  So final.  So hard to believe and so shocking.

Bruce and Margie were living a life they loved, and from their blog, it seems as though their relationships with friends and family were strong and positive with no unfinished business.  We, too, are lucky to be living a life we wouldn’t change, and I hope everyone in our circle of family and friends knows they are loved and valued by us. 

So, as we roll on across Nevada heading west, we’re shaken by the news of this loss, far less focused on small hassles and more focused on gratitude for our friends, families, health and freedom.  Margie and Bruce will be much missed by their RV’ing family, and today’s blog couldn’t be “business as usual”. 

Safe travels, friends.  As our friend Bobbie Chapman always says, “Remember, you are loved”.