Thoughts, feelings and emotions that hopefully provoke the purest of minds...Capturing thoughts through written words is like capturing pictures on film or digital camera.
It was three days ago when Mrs. Champa woke up in the morning and prepared foods for relatives and friends who came from the provinces. About 30 people came from Kampot to stay at Mrs. Champa's home in Russey Keo district to simply enjoy the boat festival.
This year promised to be larger than ever...given the number of boats, different development sights opening up like Koh Pich, Canadia Bank building and so on. The people in the provinces just have the appetite and the urge to come to Phnom Penh city and see these new things. For some, it was an opportunity of a life time.
Mrs. Champa had just lost her husband to a tragic car accident whilst on their way to Sihanoukville last year. She was left with two daughters and a son. Mrs. Champa had so much hope of her children because they are what's left in her life.
Sophy, the eldest daughter was one year away from being a doctor. Joy, the second daughter was in her third year of law school, hoping to be a diplomat one day. Joy was always full of life and had tastes for international travels and foreign languages. The son, Channy was an extremely good computer programmer who have just won an award to go to Japan for 2 years right after the Water Festival.
Mrs. Champa always tried to keep her children from crowded places since they were young and especially during big festivals such Khmer New Year and Water Festival for the simple fact that any thing can go wrong in crowded places.
For many years, Mrs. Champa always encouraged her children to watch the boat race at home on TV. And that what the children have been doing during their teenage years.
This year's Water Festival promised to be big and extremely fun with exciting boat races, TV shows, concert with live telecast, fireworks and more.
After keeping themselves refrained for the first two days of the boat race; Channy, the son initiated the motion to go and enjoy the show at Koh Pich. Both of the sisters and a couple of other friends joined in.
All three never made it home. They perished during the tragic event at Koh Pich along with 346 other people.
This is a sad story about life and how our future hangs in the balance. It is hard enough to procreate, to raise a child, put him or her through schools...hoping that they will become a productive member of society.
In spur of the moment, life is nothing but a last breath of hot air.
Could you imagine the pain and agony of those young children, teen, adults who were struggling to get themselves out? Buried under human bodies, trampled to death by other human beings...the agonizing screams that will never be heard?
It was one tragic event that will never be forgotten...the number of lives it took!
They were young and innocent. For many, they didn't even know what life is yet, nor that they have ever experienced lust nor love. But filled with hope for a nation that needs them most yet their future stolen...
For many, parents prepared late night supper for them when they returned...
It is a time of mourning for the number of lives loss. To those who waited, late supper prepared.. nothing but despairs to have heard of the gruesome news.
Can life ever be perfect?
For me, event like this teaches us all that life is hanging in the balance for every soul that exists on this planet. Life is nothing more than precious moments in time...when we have opportunity ..we shall cease every second, every minute of our existence. We shall live like we will die tomorrow...so make every second counts whilst you are here.
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