Posted by:
Kathleen
(
)
Date: May 08, 2019 01:59AM
I saw a movie the other night, “In Order of Disappearance.” It was pretty violent, drug wars, etc., but the snowy Norwegian landscape was breathtaking, and the snow plows ... My memories of riding in Pop’s snowplow are so beautiful that despite the violence, I watched the movie twice.
I called my brother and told him to watch the movie—to fast forward past violence and just see the snow blowing and the Norwegian snowscapes. And, to remember our wondrous youth.
He said no.
“Why?"
"Because of those two little kids who were killed by the plow."
Two children in a neighboring town had burrowed into the bank and made a fort which a plow operator didn’t see, and they were killed. That news impacted my Pop horribly, having operated the same type of machinery. He was an engineer, but loved to run the snowplow—until then. After that, we were disallowed any snow forts.
I wanted so badly for my brother to see the movie—to relive our memories. But he said no. It was one news story in another town altogether that had hurt his heart so deeply that his own good memories vanished.
Clearly, the memory of those children should be honored, and the cautionary tale must be told. But, my brother’s heart was broken forever. My heart hurting is one thing, but his heart hurting is more than I can bear. It’s been over sixty years, and he still couldn’t think of the snow or the plow with any other thought than the news story of those children. I understand.
How many of our hearts are scarred by an event, even a news event, that impacts a distant family? I bet many.