Sunday, October 17, 2010

SHAKEN BY NEWS FROM YESTERDAY

Heading West on 50 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? 

"The Loneliest Roadin America" 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”.

21 comments:

  1. Well said, Laurie. Such a senseless tragedy...

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  2. Like so many, we are shocked by this awful news. Your blog today gave us some comfort. The Mallin's will be missed by so many. We never met them but we were touched by their words and thoughts each day.

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  3. You hit the nail on the head Laurie, although many of the folks whose blogs we read we have never met or spoken to they have been welcomed into our lives through our mutual love of traveling and living the RV lifestyle. The exchange of comments only seems to cement that relationship.

    The world is a poorer place because of the loss of this wonderful couple.

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  4. Well said, Laurie. It's tough to come up with words to express our sorrow and shock but you've managed to say it for a lot of us, so thanks!

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  5. Laurie, Thank you for your words. I am still in shock about the news of Margie and Bruce. I just learned about it a few hours ago. You captured my thoughts about planning for the day, the week, the month. Bruce and Margie would have done the same on Friday. I too believe they were living life to the fullest and this is a reminder that life is precious and worth living fully each day. A Camp Host Housewife

    http://acamphosthousewifesmeanderings.blogspot.com/

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  6. I think many of our lives today were saddened with thoughts about our friends. It is so hard when these things happen to those we cherish.
    :_(

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  7. Exactly what Jerry and I have been thinking and doing as well, events as this changes lives. We know it has changed ours.

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  8. It has been a day of great sadness, disbelief & sorrow. We have all been touched deeply by the loss of Margie & Bruce. We have lost part of our family.

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  9. Laurie, You expressed so well the sentiments of many of us in the RV world. What a terrible loss. Although I didn't know Margie and Bruce, I frequently read their blog, and saw their photos on other blogs as they visited mutual friends. This reminds us all to live every day to the fullest.

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  10. Thank you for your post today...I popped over from another blog who follows you.

    I too found I had the need to write about Bruce & Margie this morning and the many thoughts going through my mind - that people are the most important in our lives not things.

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  11. Thanks for sharing Laurie. For some of us like myself it's hard to put feelings into words. You said what I feel. Bruce and Margie will be missed!

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  12. Nice post.
    Thank you Laurie and Odel.
    - Mary Ann
    :*(

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  13. I am so saddened to hear of their passing. We all have friends we have never met who are and were comrades on the road. The world is certainly a sadder and less friendly place without them.

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  14. Thank you for your kind words and I am sure that Margie would be pleased with all of us continuing our blogging about Rving with the zest and joy she put into her blogs.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  15. Hi Laurie, you sure have a way with words...I am speechless and shocked over the tragic news..and have been since finding out yesterday..usually I read and lurk around the blogs..because we are not full timers as of yet..but hope to be in the not too distant future...I love your blog (and thought I should tell you!!)..Margie will be missed she too was a wonderful blogger..my heart aches for her family..may she and Bruce rest in peace..We met your DH Odel in Memphis at the agri center last spring..sorry we missed you..you were away at the time..take care and safe travels...

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  16. Just looking through some of the couples history and story; was an unfortunate witness to the tragedy on Saturday and can't help but feel connected to this couple as they left us....so sad...so sorry. They died a tragic, but very sudden and painless death..

    Pismo Beach Residence

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  17. Just looking through the couples past history and story. Saw the tragic accident on Saturday and felt so connected to the couple having watched them leave this world...so sad, so sorry, so confused

    Pismo Beach Resident...

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  18. Oh man, we just drove by Pismo Beach yesterday and laughed because it happens to be the site of one of our funniest RV stories (Dick's attempt to make a U-turn on the beach with the motorhome/jeep). So sad that it was also the recent site of such a tragic event. If it had to happen, there is something comforting in the fact that they went together.

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  19. I have been haunted/consumed by this tragic event as well. Keep going over inmy mind what if they stopped along their walk,or went left out their front door,any delay would have saved their lives. May have to look at delays differently in our own lives. My heart goes to their family.

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  20. Laurie, you did a great job putting into words what I think we all are feeling. So senseless, so tragic, so sad, so shocking. So much reason to live every day to the fullest.

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  21. To the family of Bruce and Margie, you are so much in my thoughts this time of year. My home was the one where the horrible accident happened, in our yard. I would love to talk to you whenever you want to talk, I think of your parents every day and the floral memorial is visited every day by walkers , who stop, look, and many kneel in prayer. I send you special hugs and blessings and for strength as you celebrate Christmas without them. I care deeply. Darlene Buchanan, 805 458 8875. Please call when you are able. love and hugs to all in the family.

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