In light of the Paris attacks, it still shakes me to recall the memories of us sitting in that same café in Paris, on a particularly warm night, having the time of our life, drinking wine, lost in conversation, absorbing the atmosphere. Not at any moment did a single thought pass that something could go wrong. That night was destined to be perfect.
I can only picture how abruptly it would have been interrupted had someone burst in and began to slaughter people. I wouldn't have time to adjust, to react. I would probably be among the dead. And as much as I would like to think that I was "destined" to be there just 3 weeks prior, the reality is that I was just plain lucky. Yet others were not so lucky. Others will not be coming back from a night out, or work, or from their Europe trip. I think of all the friends I was with in my hostel. I can not imagine to find out that a dorm mate was not coming back. Ever. I extend my sympathy to all the families and friends and backpackers who had to go through this tragedy. I hope that you will heal, that life will go on, that your travels will continue. It is easy for me to tell myself that things happen for a reason. That it is my destiny to be where I am now. It is a coping mechanism which I somewhat recently adopted. But as I sit here in my plane seat 04A on my flight from Palermo I can not help but tell myself that it is bullshit and that I am always making conscious decisions that determine my path in life. Like choosing my education. Choosing who to date. Taking risks by traveling. Taking risks by climbing. By snowboarding. The only difference is so far, I have been able to walk away unharmed. There are trains derailing every year, there are planes going missing, there are terrorist attacks. There are people who die traveling, working, just living their normal lives. It seems like in this day and age there is an increased risk to be in densely crowded places. But let's think about how many such crowded places exist in the world. It is not destiny, nor can anyone predict when a tragedy is going to unfold. But what is to be learned or concluded from this? (I believe...)That we should be supportive and humble in times of loss. That we should be cautious and alert. But certainly not afraid to live our lives to the fullest. Because at the end, the experience of our existence, the memories we have made, the impact we had on others is all that will remain. And I can only hope that for those who's lives were cut short or those still living that (in the end) we shall be remembered as legends.
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