"We're just lucky that we knew her" . . . Simon Gillett and his son, Rhys, farewell cyclist Amy Gillett's at her packed funeral in Ballarat yesterday.Photo: John Donegan
Simon Gillett with a friend at the funeral of his wife, Amy, who was killed in an accident last week while on a training ride in Germany.Photo: John Donegan
"The candles flickered as Rachael Kininmonth turned toward the coffin draped with an Olympic flag and gently laid down a wedding tiara. With this simple gesture, Kininmonth bade farewell to Australian cyclist Amy Gillett.
"To my beautiful, beautiful friend," said Kininmonth, a bridesmaid at Gillett's wedding. "You radiated energy, beauty and a naive innocence in your love of life... In my heart, I haven't let you go yet, but when I do, ride on the rainbows, Betty. Now the halo will protect you."
Hundreds gathered yesterday in Ballarat to mourn the 29-year-old Olympic rower-turned-cyclist and celebrate her life, which ended in Germany 11 days ago when a driver lost control of her car and careered into six Australian cyclists on a training ride."
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We tend to read news stories, reflect for a bit and then move on with our lives. For Simon and Rhys this becomes a little more difficult. The accident happened in a split second--the consequences remain forever. I've been careless on my bike and I've been in crashes because of that carelessness. One thought remains--there are no second chances if that moment of carelessness goes terribly wrong--there is no "do over," no mulligan.
Peace is every step as my good friend Thich Nhat Hanh says. And so is awareness in each moment of the day. Tell someone you love them today. There is no guarantee you will be gifted the opportunity to do so again tomorrow. Peace, Love, Compassion.
2 comments:
In my country yesterday one man 100 meters from his home, where he returned from his job, killed with his car a small boy on the sidewalk, the father of boy was light injured. The driver probably has fall asleep. The similar accident I have seen personaly last year ago as a biker, about half year I was afraid to go with my bike to the road.
Jaroslav, that is very sad news indeed. Life is so fragile. The younger we are the more likely we think death is something far, far away. Yet, the one thing none us know is what day is our day. Could be tomorrow for all we know.
We have an appointment with life--here and now. If you are not here, right now, then you miss life. Our time is short--tell someone you have been meaning to tell, that you love them--do it today.
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