Keep on Truckin'

There is a crazy phenomenon that occurs when someone is in the process of losing a loved one. All the people around you, that truly care about you start saying the most bizarre things that are designed to give you comfort, but 90% of the time they don't do that at all. You're trapped in a moment, face to face with these people, and you get an urge to either laugh in their face, burst into tears, or punch them in the nose. But instead of owning your emotions at that time, you just smile and say thank you. What a crazy world we live in.

As a person from a hilarious family I look back on all these comments with great humor, and they still bring a smile to my face. I will start though with the quote at the top of this post. Many moons ago I was working for a different company and something tragic happened to a coworker, the loss of a loved one. The customary procedure for a situation like this is to send around a card where everyone writes 3 to 8 meaningful words to show their concern and well wishes for the person going through the loss. Other than the panic you feel when the card lands on your desk to add a thought provoking piece of inspiration, even more intriguing is what your co-workers write in these moments. The best quote, even to this day that I can think of is what my peer wrote in that card. He simply stated "Keep on Truckin".

Here is why that comment is amazing:
1. It's totally different than what everyone else is writing.
2. It's actually one of the best pieces of advice you can get. The first 3 months after a loss, all you can hope for yourself is that you, Keep on Truckin'.
3. It's simple, yet profound.
4. And most important, hopefully for two seconds it shakes you out of your sorrow and allows you to smile or laugh.

Now on to the good stuff. Here is a sprinkling of the best, worst comments we recieved through the passing of one, or both of my parents.
1. I know exactly how you feel, recently my family has been preparing for the loss of our dog. We've had her in our lives for 14 years, and it is going to be devistating once she goes. - Quote from my boss (Seriously, you're comparing my dad to your dog) I sped home to share that nugget of empathy with a livingroom filled with family members. It gave us all a good laugh.
2. You should really get a colonoscopy, because there is a high probability that you're going to die from the same thing your parents had. -Quote from an old lady at church while I was walking into mass holding my two small children's hands.
3. Honey, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. What are the chances of survival? I hear not good based off of the stage he's in. You're all in my prayers. - Quote from a church friend in the safeway parking lot by my parents house. The funniest part, was that my dad was in the car with me when the lady knocked on my car window to tell me that. My dad looked over at me with a smile and said, "wow, I guess I'm a goner. Few, rough day".
3. These are the one liners I think everyone should omit from their heart felt reactions: It's for the best, they're not in pain anymore, it was God's plan (maybe true, not at all comforting), time heals everything, it was meant to be, how are you, do you need anything, I bet you miss them alot.

Here is my genuine advice when someone in your life loses someone they love. Give them a silent hug, not a bro hug, a real hug. And if you feel the need to say anything, do this, once you release from that hug, look them straight in the eye and say "I know this sucks, I'm sorry, Keep on Truckin".