Tuesday, August 02, 2005

The World doesn't get much more Real than this...

I have discussed in the past my crazy reality TV addiction. And nothing says reality TV to me more than the Real World. It can be cheesy, and it isn't always all that much like reality, but it got the genre started, and for that I say THANK YOU!

This season started out with the usual teasers...and the one that stuck with me the most was Danny's bad news phone call from home. I wondered what it was that the call was about. Well, tonight, I found out. On tonight's episode, Danny's father called to tell him that his mother, from whom he had been estranged, had passed away suddenly from a possible heart attack. Now, THAT is reality TV.

And with that news, Danny started right into Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's five stages of grief. First, we saw some denial, followed quickly by anger at himself because he wasn't home when it happened. As I watched Danny go through this on national television, I was reminded of loss I have felt in my life and how difficult it is to say goodbye.

I have been very lucky in that, for a long time, I didn't lose many people close to me. The death I felt the most, until I became an adult, was that of my grandfather when I was in eighth grade. However, my other three grandparents are still living, as are all my aunts and uncles, my cousins, my sister, and both of my parents. I had a good run.

Once I hit adulthood, I did lose several people to whom I was close, and they were all sudden deaths. The first happened when a fire claimed the life of one of my fellow camp staff at the end of the summer of 1999. She and I had had a falling out, but we had spent some time together that summer and let bygones be bygones. I was so grateful to have had the chance to get past our differences. Her funeral included a "Scout's Own" that was a beautiful tribute to her life...but it was still one of those most difficult experiences I had been through.

I spent the turn of the millenium in Ocean City, MD, with my then-boyfriend Bob and his brother and his brother's best friend. We spent our time drinking ourselves silly and playing many, many games of quarters. We also hung out on the boardwalk and visiting the arcades. It was a great trip...and I was even more glad to have had it when Bob's brother's best friend was killed several months later in a car accident. He was only 19, and he was killed instantly. It was a shocking event...and it was another difficult experience to go through.

A couple of years later, in the summer of 2002, another shocking event came my way. Bob and I had broken up in January of 2000 (and I met Bill about six months later). However, we had continued working together at the same agency during the summers and had remained close. He had been ill, and the doctors thought he had pneumonia. Well, it turned out they were wrong. After going to the emergency room on a Tuesday, Bob died on a Friday from leukemia. It was so advanced that they didn't even get to start chemo before he was gone. I would say that that was the hardest thing I have gone through so far. It was shocking to realize that this person who I had been so close to was gone and never to return. We used to IM each other pretty often, and I remember thinking that death would be a lot easier if those we had lost could set up an e-mail account from Heaven and keep chatting with us. He comes to me in my dreams once in a while...but I know I won't see him in this world again.

I think it was because of this last event that I decided to go back to school and become a nurse. Quite honestly, cancer (and also death) had pissed me off, and I was going to join the fight against it. I envisioned myself as an oncology nursing, standing arm in arm with my patients as they fought for their lives. Now, after my mental health rotation, I am seeing that my plans might change...but I still take this path as a tribute to Bob and all the life that he didn't get to lead. And no matter what specialty I choose, I will be fighting death...and if I can't fight it, I will help those facing it do so with dignity and peace.

And now we will watch Danny as he goes through this on the more-real-than-ever Real World. I know that it was taped months ago...but I hope that he finds his peace with his loss. The final stage of grief is acceptance...I wish that for Danny, as well as the joy of the memories of times shared with his mom.

8 comments:

Susan said...

*tears* I can't see my screen to type but that was so moving. I'm reminded of my aunt's passing not too long ago. My friend's wedding is the same day as the day she died this year and I know it's going to be a tough day for me. I want to be happy for her but that will still be in the back of my mind. Funny, I kept all my aunt's emails and read them from time to time. I miss her so much...

hazel said...

that was a very touching post, and I had no idea that your reasoning for going into nursing was because of your loss of bob. that's very sweet and courageous.

the silver lining of loss is the growth you experience. you seem to have experienced alot of that.

mrs. awesome said...

it must be so hard to share your grief on camera with the rest of the world. (i watched it, too.)

isn't it interesting how the big events in our life shape them? after my dad was in a very serious car accident, i decided to get pregnant on that very day. no more putting it off, because i felt so strongly in that moment how short life can be. i knew that i wanted my child(ren) to know my father and that i had been given a second chance.

NME said...

Very powerful.

It must have been quite tough after Bob passed. I can't imagine how awful it is to lose someone who has been close to you so suddenly. But it is fantastic that an outcome was your commitment to help others.

I'll have to catch that episode when they rerun it.

Tony Grant said...

Hey don't sweat it living at home wiht your parents just get out quick! Nice blog though, check out my site www.lovesbible.com and see how I get down.

Tony Grant said...

sorry I spelled with wrong.

Jen said...

It was a really gripping episode of RR, wasn't it. I think I watched some of it with my mouth hanging open in shock.

Gunngirl said...

Very touching indeed. My cousin was a police officer and was killed in the line of duty. It hurts when you know you're never going to see them again.

I haven't been keeping up with the Real World, but I know that Danny was close to his mom. I hope he doesn't kill himself with grief.

I was so shocked to read about Bob and the cancer. I can't believe it. It's good you can channel your grief into something positive, for you and others.