Re: The Colorado BS thread
I don't blog, nor social network, so you guys will just have to tolerate me today, as I feel compelled to write down my thoughts... I do not wish to make any political statements, or anything of the like...
My friend, not close enough, Mark Hummels died this morning, having been shot yesterday morning in Phoenix. Mark was a lawyer, representing a client in a contract dispute over a measly $17,000. They were in mediation, when the other party left to go to his car. When he did not return, Mark and his client went to leave the building, and were gunned down in the lobby. Mark's client died at the scene, or shortly thereafter, while Mark underwent emergency surgery last night for gunshot wounds to his neck and lower back. While doctors were optimistic last night, Mark's condition worsened this morning, and he was put on life support pending harvesting of his organs for donation. The shooter's body was found this morning, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound -- unfortunately roughly 24 hours too late.
Mark leaves behind a wife and two young children, a promising career, and legions of friends. While Mark and I have had only occasional contact over the past 20 years, since being co-captains of our high school swim team, this morning I feel empty. Mark was one of those people whom I simply enjoyed being around -- his dazzling intellect, incredible sense of humor and simple joy of being alive always endeared him to me. A dazzling light has gone out of the world, due to a moment of senseless anger. I regret not being closer to that light while it lasted. I last saw Mark at our 20-yaer reunion, almost 5 years ago, and we spent a good deal of time talking, being the only two "sharks" in the room.
I'm unexpectedly grieved at not only Mark's passing, but its circumstances. As we talked about at the reunion, we were living somewhat parallel lives, taking a while to seemingly find our respective callings as lawyers, to start families, to live the lives we wanted to live. I'm staggered by the unfairness of Mark being denied those rewards, and of his family being denied Mark. I weep for the life denied. Truly, we must seize the day, every day, for tomorrow we may die.
Goodbye, Mark, my friend -- I did not know you well enough, but I will miss you nonetheless.
