Death of a Classmate and Recent Graduate

As I entered our school to pick up my grades and graduation pictures, and turn in my doctorate program application on July 12, 2007, a familiar name in an announcement caught my attention.  A former classmate and recent graduate had passed away from lung cancer on July 2, 2007.  He is survived by his teenage daughter.  There were flyers encouraging donations and informing about the funeral to be held on July 18 at 4:30 P.M.

The cancer victim was a great person.  He knew very much, and was a favorite among patients in clinic.  Many of us enjoyed working with him as well as watching him treat patients.  We also learned from him.

I knew he was married with children, but he never informed us about his lung cancer, or that he was a single parent.  Though he could be silly at times, he was friendly and social with us classmates.  I wish I had a chance to know him better.  I never got a chance to see or talk to him again since he graduated in March 2007.

Since I couldn’t attend the funeral of our professor’s son in May due to conflict with my clinic hours, I thought about attending this one, but it was scheduled at a bad time for me, and I also had a headache that day.  Besides, I knew the painful event will tear me apart.  I guess this is another sign of my being mean, rude, arrogant, and selfish.

Argh! Once again, why must life be so unfair! Why couldn’t the death be on someone evil, such as Bin Laden!