I know I am not the only person to ask this question but, why do bad things happen to good people? No, seriously. What makes a person eligible to go through hardships, or worst of all, be taken from this earth before they even had the time to live on it? While there may not be an answer, maybe just one that is deeply rooted, it is an interesting concept that makes life precious. In my humble opinion, which the majority of my articles here are, I believe that there is something beyond life on earth. Whether or not there is a God that created everything, I can truly say that I believe in something; I believe that things happen for a reason. Yet, that reason is not always clear, and I think that’s what living is about; exploring what those reasons and answers might be.

On December 22nd, 2016 two strong young men passed away in a brutal car accident. Owen Higgins and James Lavin were involved in this fatal freak accident and the the aftermath is something horrible and beautiful all at the same time. Yet, by no means is it my place to talk about these guys as if I really knew them, because I didn’t. I did know Owen, we worked together last summer and I can honestly say he was a smiling face that I’ll miss seeing next summer. At this moment in time I feel sad for the families that lost a son, a brother, and a best friend because I can’t quite comprehend how to people with so much ahead of them could be so quickly taken, and taken in that way. As I read the stories about each young man, there were things about each of them that were nothing short of amazing; making it all the more difficult to answer my questions. It hurts my heart to know that Owen and James won’t do the things they set out to do, but when I read about them, it sounds like what they did do, should be something to be proud of. A few weeks prior to the accident, the boys played and won the football championship at none other than Gillette Stadium; home of the New England Patriots, they dressed for numerous hockey games, snapped their senior photos, went to prom, and most of all, belonged to a loving family and friends. Those same friends and family have done so much to support them even after they’ve gone. This is the beauty that I see.

Their deaths don’t make sense because they were good people and had so much life to live. But the life they did live helps give people the strength to see how truly special they are. Yes of course the absence of such beautiful lives will hurt, but it is with that same pain that we must go on living in search for the goodness that life is trying to put in front of us. We have to look behind the sadness, and see the everything happens for a reason. Life is precious because it doesn’t last forever, so take the time to see the beauty in all of it before it’s gone. Live a life like I hope Owen and James did.

I'm sending all my love to their families and to Falmouth.

In memory of James Lavin ~ https://www.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-james-lavin

In memory of Owen Higgins ~ https://www.gofundme.com/owen-higgins