February 7th, 2010 probably seemed like a normal day for all of you. There is a good chance that any Saints fans were having a great day, for they had just won the Super Bowl. Colts fans may have been down in the dumps after seeing their favorite team lose. But, for most of you, when remembering what happened on February 7th, nothing would ring a bell. It was probably just a normal Sunday. My day was a tad bit different. On that day, my entire world stopped spinning.
I woke up with the intentions of watching the big game later that day. I’m not a hardcore football fan, but everyone watches the Super Bowl. Like a typical college student, I logged onto Facebook pretty much right after getting out of bed. My Facebook Chat started blinking Devin’s name. Devin was a kid that I went to high school with but hadn’t talked to in a while. He asked what seemed like an outrageous question at the time. “Have you heard anything about Cody this morning?” I had no idea what Devin was talking about. “Well, my dad just came back from the bar and said that a 21 year old boy from Horicon named Cody just committed suicide.” I honestly laughed when I read those words on my computer screen. Cody would never commit suicide. It wasn’t possible for one of the happiest people I know to go and do such a thing. I laughed it off and left my computer. Deep down something didn’t feel right so I sent Cody a quick “what’s up” text. After about 30 seconds of no response, I just knew that something wasn’t right. I walked into the living room on my apartment and told my boyfriend at the time, Kale, what Devin had said and that Cody didn’t respond to the text I had just sent him. Kale did pretty much the same thing and laughed at first, but decided to call Cody anyway. No answer. Kale and I gave each other these looks that something just wasn’t quite right. Kale immediately called Andy. Andy is another friend of ours whose brother is an EMT in our hometown and his mom works for the Sheriff’s department. Andy is always the go to guy to get the low down on people. Andy answered the phone and by the look on Kale’s face I knew it was true. One of my best friends in the whole wide world killed himself about an hour before. I was in shock. I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it. I just sat on the living room floor and cried. He was really gone. No goodbye. No nothing.
Cody was the happiest person I knew. He was so carefree and laid back and never let anything bother him and never let anyone get the best of him. He had a loving family, a wonderful girlfriend, and the best friends anyone could ask for. He was the last person I would have ever expected to do such a thing.
Cody’s story just goes to show that life is too short and everyday could be your last. Tell people you love them every single day. If you are sorry, apologize. Never let stupid grudges ruin friendships and always love from the bottom of your heart. As much as I mourn for Cody, his death has taught me a lesson. Life is like an wrapped present. You have no idea what’s inside and no idea what’s in store for you. It may be good or it may bad. Live each day to the fullest and wait for the surprises that come out of the present.
My gift to you is a wrapped present. Let it be a reminder that life is a gift and it should never be taken for granted. The gift I’m giving you is empty. It is up to you to decide what happens with your life and what you do to make everyday worth it.
I woke up with the intentions of watching the big game later that day. I’m not a hardcore football fan, but everyone watches the Super Bowl. Like a typical college student, I logged onto Facebook pretty much right after getting out of bed. My Facebook Chat started blinking Devin’s name. Devin was a kid that I went to high school with but hadn’t talked to in a while. He asked what seemed like an outrageous question at the time. “Have you heard anything about Cody this morning?” I had no idea what Devin was talking about. “Well, my dad just came back from the bar and said that a 21 year old boy from Horicon named Cody just committed suicide.” I honestly laughed when I read those words on my computer screen. Cody would never commit suicide. It wasn’t possible for one of the happiest people I know to go and do such a thing. I laughed it off and left my computer. Deep down something didn’t feel right so I sent Cody a quick “what’s up” text. After about 30 seconds of no response, I just knew that something wasn’t right. I walked into the living room on my apartment and told my boyfriend at the time, Kale, what Devin had said and that Cody didn’t respond to the text I had just sent him. Kale did pretty much the same thing and laughed at first, but decided to call Cody anyway. No answer. Kale and I gave each other these looks that something just wasn’t quite right. Kale immediately called Andy. Andy is another friend of ours whose brother is an EMT in our hometown and his mom works for the Sheriff’s department. Andy is always the go to guy to get the low down on people. Andy answered the phone and by the look on Kale’s face I knew it was true. One of my best friends in the whole wide world killed himself about an hour before. I was in shock. I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it. I just sat on the living room floor and cried. He was really gone. No goodbye. No nothing.
Cody was the happiest person I knew. He was so carefree and laid back and never let anything bother him and never let anyone get the best of him. He had a loving family, a wonderful girlfriend, and the best friends anyone could ask for. He was the last person I would have ever expected to do such a thing.
Cody’s story just goes to show that life is too short and everyday could be your last. Tell people you love them every single day. If you are sorry, apologize. Never let stupid grudges ruin friendships and always love from the bottom of your heart. As much as I mourn for Cody, his death has taught me a lesson. Life is like an wrapped present. You have no idea what’s inside and no idea what’s in store for you. It may be good or it may bad. Live each day to the fullest and wait for the surprises that come out of the present.
My gift to you is a wrapped present. Let it be a reminder that life is a gift and it should never be taken for granted. The gift I’m giving you is empty. It is up to you to decide what happens with your life and what you do to make everyday worth it.
**This was the story I read as we were giving out Junior Counselor gifts at the end of Wisconsin Association of School Councils Leadership Camp… so that explains the last paragraph.
-Hannah G.-
**If you have a story you'd like to share, feel free to email it to us at Thelivelifeproject@gmail.com. Thank you Hannah for sharing!
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