Roller coaster
Life is full of emotional roller coasters. As with their physical forms, there are some who love the thrill of riding the ups and downs and loop-de-loops. For most of us, it is a matter of just doing what we can to get through without losing our lunch.
I was home last Wednesday afternoon trying to get a jump on Thanksgiving preparation and finish up on decorations to be put in the park. I was already feeling a bit down because that day our long-time family dog Kiko was euthanized due to multiple medical issues. We have had him just about as long as we have lived in our current home and he was a faithful, if occasionally cowardly companion.
Into this is when I got the message about a bad crash on CTH E involving a vehicle and a horse-drawn buggy.
When my daughter was in elementary school at Holy Rosary, whenever a helicopter flew overhead her class would stop and say a prayer for the unknown patient being transported. It is a habit she brought home to our family and even now, I find myself quietly reciting a prayer whenever I hear an emergency helicopter overhead or see an ambulance speed by.
Responding to a crash scene is just part of the job for a community newspaper reporter. The intent is to help document what has happened and share that information with readers and the community.
Considering the amount of cockamamy nonsense rumors that were already spreading about last week’s crash within hours of it happening, the job of reporting facts is a necessary one, if for no other reason than providing access to the correct information.
As with other accident and fire scenes, I parked in a farm yard well away from the actual scene and wearing my bright safety vest identifying me as a member of the press, I hiked in to a place where I could take pictures of the crews at work. With every step there was a growing cold dampness that had more to do with what I could see of the wreckage than the actual weather.
Fortunately by the time I had hiked the half-mile or so up CTH E, the ambulances had been long gone and the firefighters on the scene were packing up. There are some images that don’t need to be shared.
I took my pictures of the mangled remains of the buggy and the wreckage of the vehicle that struck it, using care to avoid any overt gore. The deputy in charge of the scene was talking to people at a nearby house as I got the pictures I needed. He caught up to me in his cruiser and we talked for a few minutes. I knew an official release would be coming from Sheriff Larry Woebbeking and would use that for the base of writing the story for the newspaper and website.
By the time I got back to my car, it was time to head over to Immanuel Lutheran Church to get pictures of their community Thanksgiving Dinner and service.
The cold and melancholy dampness of the tragic crash scene was replaced with the warm, welcoming embrace of Immanuel’s school cafeteria. The room was filled with the sounds, smells and voices of people gathering in fellowship and thanksgiving.
Pastor Daniel Iwinski greeted me by the door and invited me to join in the dinner. The smells coming from the serving lines, and the laughter and voices of fellowship made it a tempting offer.
I declined saying I needed to get home to my family. In total honesty it was only partly true, and declining had more to do with not mentally being up to socializing and wanting the company of others. It was as if the crash scene had put a chill into my soul that would take a long time to thaw.
Sometimes you just need for the roller coaster to slow down a bit.
Brian Wilson is News Editor at The Star News.
