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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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