Every once in a while the news of the week in this small town looks like history repeating itself. One of these unexpected events will shake not only a family but a community to its core, especially with the loss or life-changing injury of our young people. One glance at the weekly Days Gone By feature in the newspaper tells us all how some things never change. The old saying “accidents happen” comes to mind. Recognizing the seasons when our roads are most treacherous, the mention of previous highway fatalities appears in other sections of the old papers, as well. The local accidents that continue to stick in people’s minds often appeared on the front page or were cited briefly in local law enforcement reports. One only need to research the archives of our local newspaper to find specific articles citing a mention of the tragic events that occur here, year-in, year-out. They come directly from the old editions of the Meeker Herald, now the Rio Blanco Herald Times.
Every few years, our local landscape is marred by unexpected tragic events. Vehicle rollovers occur every so often and while attributing the cause to sudden weather conditions or the increase in wildlife crossings, it is important to think of how constant buzzing of the community grapevine for months afterward can be harmful to the accident victim’s family and friends. While the cause may immediately matter to family and friends trying to make sense of the event, as well as to those community agencies responsible for getting out to the scene of an accident, the early days of support by the entire community is what matters most. Dissecting the cause of the accident may be important, but allowing space for family and friends to grieve helps even more.
Life in a community does continue to go on after a tragedy occurs yet the process of grieving is experienced differently for each individual. After the initial shock has worn off and enough time has passed, it is essential that care and concern go on in the community. It helps to fill in some of the void left by that loss. Giving someone space does not mean not keeping in close contact with them or leaving them completely alone. It simply means giving them the time that they need to recover a bit. Time doesn’t heal losses but it does help those who are left behind. Celebrating the memory of a loved one as well as talking about them and recognizing their importance to the community is essential.
By Dolly Viscardi
