The Passing Away of Dr.Rao

[Abhi Kantamneni]

  One my my dad's friends was killed in a freak road accident, the day before yesterday.  He was a good man and at the age of 67 he had just retired and was starting to enjoy life, although his version of 'enjoyment' meant helping out at an organization for underprivileged women and children. 

 

Which was exactly where he was headed at 5:35 am on 01/01/2012, when a speeding ambulance lost control, crashed into the brick wall of a coffee shop, the force of the impact causing a small piece of the brick to fly 15 meters before smashing into the back of his skull, killing him almost instantly. 

 

I was not particularly close to him, I haven't spoken to him in over a decade now so I guess it is okay to admit that his death does not affect me much. However he did give me my very first gift when I was 5, a small blue battery-operated table top toy fan, which wasn't spectacular but for some reason 2 decades later, it still sits on my bookshelf.

 

I wonder however, if this might actually be a pretty decent way to pass out after all, when you dont see death coming,it is instantaneous and spectacular enough to inspire people to make blog posts about it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Abhi Kantamneni]

@Teresa The blue fan intrigues me as well. In the past two decades, I have moved 3 countries and six states, and through all the packing I dont even remember specifically holding on to it, but there it sits all these years later, on the bookshelf.  If anything, it really makes me wonder how much we even know or notice the very things we own and place around our homes. The history and meaning behind every possession.  There are so many things we dont even notice.

@Brittany you are right, the people they leave behind suffer the most. I think the guilt is the worst. You cannot help somehow feeling like you could have done something to prevent all this from happening.

@Kristine, @Toby and @Michelle, Thank you!

@Edward Ha, Ed.!!  After I am dead, I hardly care. I am more bothered by those people pissing me off when I am alive. 

[Teresa]

Thoughts about these things occur to me at strange moments, like in the McDonald's drive-thru last night.  Something about ordering "Happy Meals" made me remember someone I lost and her kids.  Brittany is so right.  Those left behind suffer the most.  But I am most intrigued by the blue fan in this six.  We don't just keep things for no reason.  I don't believe this is an accident but maybe a clue to your future.  Or maybe the fan represented the bond between the man and your father, something of a tribute.  I don't know.  But that you have it seems more than just a fluke.  Two decades later.  And on the sacred bookshelf.

[Kristine_ES]

I suppose it's best that it wasn't a long, lingering, suffering fade. But to be taken out so suddenly, when he was doing the things he enjoyed that also benefited others... that's a real bummer.  I'm sorry.

[Javed Baloch]

Speaking of freak road accidents, I wonder if there is any other kind. I dont know about spectacular, but it sure seems instantaneous and it sure as hell is sad.

[Michelle]

This gave me chills.  A well written reflection.  

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

Condolences on the loss of someone who was in your life, if only in the early stages.  He seemed to be a good person.

[Edward Dean]

Well rendered Abhi.

No disrespect but personally, I'd prefer enough notice so I can piss off all the people I wouldn't want at my funeral anyway:)

[Brittany]

Abhi, I often wonder the same thing and I think either way the people that you leave behind suffer the most. We have recently lost a cyclist friend to a freak and horrible accident and as awful as it was all I can see are his two small kids at the memorial, stoic but broken because their Dad was gone. Thank you for sharing your story and I hope your fan continues to remind you of what seems like a great man.