Monday, March 31, 2008

Thoughts inspired by Sophie Olivia, 3/21/94 - 3/31/94

Today is the 14th anniversary of the day my daughter Sophie died. Imagine a sculpture, or something, that has been shattered. After putting it back together again, some pieces were lost, some put in the wrong place and there are a few pieces left over that you don't know where they belong. The sculpture then looks mostly the same as it did before, but not entirely whole. That's as close as I can get to describing how I feel about it. I'm not going to say more, only because it would be too long and I don't feel up to attempting to organize everything in my head into a coherent form. Luminiferous Ether has a post about her here and Sophie's older sister, Cinderbelle, wrote about her, as well as some other things, here.

I love you, Sophie.


While driving around doing some errands today, thoughts of Sophie were burbling around in my brain. I turned on the radio and WORT FM was broadcasting an interview with Lawrence Colburn, one of the heroes (and by hero, I mean that he was one of the soldiers who intervened to stop the slaughter) of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam on March 16, 1968. Since this month is the 40th anniversary, Mr. Colburn, along with a number of other people, were in My Lai, which is where this interview was held. While listening, I thought about how Sophie's death effected my life. I can't even imagine how this tragic event must have shaped the lives of everyone involved, military and civilian, hero, perpetrator and victim. I also wonder how many massacres like this are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan and we never hear anything about it, neither the horror nor the heroes. How many lives are being destroyed or changed forever? If you'd like to hear that interview, go here and listen to or download the 3/31/08 broadcast of "A Public Affair." The interview will be archived on their site through 5/30/08.

7 comments:

Suzy said...

Thank you, Ed. I love you.

Fran said...

Ed this is such a moving post, I don't want to say too many inane words and misspeak.

I wish you all peace always; you are one beautiful family and how graced am I to know you, even in this way.

Thank you.

Cinderbelle said...

Daddy, that was a beautiful post. You are a great writer, and I'm thinking about all of you today and missing her as well. I don't think I've ever heard you speak about her before, and you expressed yourself wonderfully here. I love you.

Anonymous said...

Hello Ed my dear,

I'm thinking of you all and Sophie today. Some hurts never heal, but I wish you heart's ease.

Love to you all,

Beth

Ed said...

Thanks to you all for your kind thoughts and wishes. It means a lot.

Crayons said...

Hi Ed,
Wow, that unforgettable image of the shattered sculpture gave me chills. I love the way you keep Sophie's memory alive. Every time I go to your house I wonder what she would have been like. I know for certain that she feels warm and welcome in your home and in your hearts. She chose a great family.

PS: I also think often of families in Iraq who have lost children to the U.S. occupation. They show up as numbers on a television screen, but I feel their searing agony.

Jess Wundrun said...

I don't have words. Just that I'll be thinking of your family this week.