I was reading the two different diaries on the rec list (I'm a rec list junkie, I admit it) this morning about people who are sometimes proud, sometimes ashamed and sometimes both when it comes to the Kossack community.
I'm mostly proud, and yes, the assclownishness gets tiresome. I have at times, myself, been an assclown on here when I was having an off day. My apologies to all of you.
Events in the last 24 hours though have put some things in perspective for me though, and I am hoping it might give some of the readers here pause as well.
I had recently reconnected with some high school friends online, who had been married 14 years since they were high school sweethearts. Very good people - that is, the kind of people you watch and realize there are things you need to improve about yourself.
The husband, Tim, was killed in a mountain biking accident yesterday afternoon. I had literally just reconnected with them, so I can't say I was close to him or even knew him. What I remember of him was that he was the guy who always laughed, was always in a good mood, and as far as I knew, never had an enemy. That's not just typical posthumous glorifying. Tim was a good guy. Period.
And he was killed by a bicycle. Seriously, a bicycle!
I think of the stupid things I've done in my life, the times I really shouldn't have been driving even though I thought I was OK. The way I felt invincible at 19. The way I have acted to the friends and acquaintances around me.
So can we all agree that there are Kossacks on the board here who, when considering the big picture of things, we should be treating better? Those we disagree with and the things we wouldn't say to them face to face? Yes, those on the other side of the aisle too, who we regularly call out for the perceived and real social offenses they have committed, even when our own conduct on that score, individually and as a group, can sometimes be called into question.
We need to treat each other better to start with. As a progressive community, we need to lead by example. We need to remember that this life is short, time is sacred, and We Are Not In Control. Our departure from this Earth may be random, quick, and make no sense.
So much the better, then, that we make the most of this time by appreciating those people around us, by acknowledging their humanity and by exercising patience.
I'm going to try to remember that, as I'd like to be proud, not only of our community here and my contributions to it, but of the way I live my life too, in the short amount of time I may unknowingly have left.
All that being said, I want to thank Kos for this community, and the Kossacks for what they give to it, and ask your forgiveness for my occasional assclownish episodes.
Now I'm off to go hug my wife one more time.