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A strange thing happened to
me the day and approximate time that my friend
Scott
died.
I don't claim to have any particular
powers or abilities that are any different than the average person, but this
specific incident is definitely unique for me, but not unheard of to others.
I was working as a lift operator
at the local ski area in Flagstaff, AZ (Snow
Bowl). The day was especially busy because it was the middle of
Winter Break for Northern Arizona
University (and U of
A - Tucson, AZ and ASU -
Tempe, AZ) and a few days after Christmas.
It got to be around 11:30 a.m.
when I suddenly began to feel lightheaded and unusually weak. I pressed
on because that day we were a little short handed (nothing new) and I didn't
want to let the chief down by leaving early.
After a while, Adam, one of
the other lift operators working with me (on the worst lift to work - all
beginners) noticed that I didn't look all that good. He gave me a
PowerAde thirst quencher
to help me out.
He questioned me about the
previous night's activities thinking I was hung over or something. The
thing was that I hadn't drunk any
alcohol for a few days.
I had gone to sleep around 9 p.m. that night so I could be ready for my fifth
day of work at nine hours straight without a break. I should have been
fine, but certainly wasn't.
Another half hour, or so, passed
and I got weaker. Adam finally insisted that I call the boss and tell
him what was happening to me.
While taking to Eric (the chief)
I explained that I didn't have a head-ache, didn't have a stomach ache, nothing
on my body hurt, but I was unusually lightheaded and weak.
He told me to see the Ski Patrol
and have them check me out.
They hooked me up to some machine
with twelve points on my body to monitor my heart, etc. But that showed
nothing out of the ordinary, in fact, it only verified that I was in good
health and my body was operating normally.
After more medical interviews
and tests, they sent me home after trying to get me to go to the hospital.
I refused cause I knew I was alright physically, but also knew something was
wrong.
After that day I had three
days off before I had to return to work and spent most of the time in bed
and relaxing.
It was a couple days into my
break from work that I received the phone call from my friend Maija telling
me that my friend Scott had died.
After some more conversation
I asked what day Scott had died. Maija
answered saying "December 28th around noon or so".
My eyes opened wide and I got
a stiff, dull painful sensation in my stomach right after I realized it was
that day and approximate time when I had my episode at work.
I don't know about you, but
that really spooked me.
I don't know how to consider
that other than it happened and I can't deny it.
In a way I'm thankful for the
experience because it's almost as if Scott made
one last attempt to communicate before he graduated from this experience into
the next. I can't prove that in any way, but whatever the case may be,
I had one last experience with him.
Unfortunately, this story takes
an even darker turn. I found out recently (June 2001 -- six months later)
that Scott ended up dying by his own hand. It was a good thing they
held that information from me when they initially told me. I would have
really lost it, that's for sure.
How Scott got to the point
of shooting himself in the head in a (foolish) game of Russian Roulette, I
don't know, but that's what happened.
I hadn't seem him in a few
years and I suspect it had to be drugs or something related to drugs, cause
I really don't think he would've made such a decision in his right mind.
I never thought I'd know someone
who would die by their own hand, especially by Russian Roulette.
Please people, things are not
as bad as they may seem. Just push past it all and keep going.
Overcome and adapt. You'll be glad you did.
Just live everyday as though
you're going to die that day (knowing you probably won't), but you'll soon
develop an appreciation for life you've never had. Trust me on that
one, it works. It may take a few years, but it'll be worth it.
Scott,
I miss you. I miss you a lot! You will always be in my thoughts, which
fortunately no one can steal from me (you punk).
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