      Last week I had prepared a column, but you never know what the future can hold… which was made very evident last week and inspired me to write a new column, which begins with my deepest condolences to everyone affected by the tragic event on April 6.
Friday’s collision involving the Humboldt Broncos team bus and a semi was felt across the province; it resonated with the country and around the world.
           Where we live, Saskatchewan, it means we travel for everything. Although it was just another day on the bus, it became so much more to so many more people.
           I wasn’t born yet when the Swift Current Broncos’ bus crashed, but I grew up knowing the names of the four young men that lost their lives. It was a community forever changed. One that, even though I had not yet been born, had respected their memory and continued to share their stories.
           When I heard about this collision my heart sank. What were the chances that on that day, at that exact time, a semi and a bus would cross paths in that way? The driving conditions were favourable other than it being cold out, however, the intersection has a history of being a dangerous one.
           Through my years playing and coaching volleyball, we typically go in parents’ vehicles, but on occasion I’ve been on a similar bus. We were heading out to Abbotsford for Nationals. We played music, laughed, played games, and slept – some of us on the floor and others on the seats. It was a lot of fun and although we didn’t travel in that fashion all of the time; I can see how for hockey players it was where the majority of team bonding could happen.
           There you are in a small space for hours forced to interact with each other… it turns into a place where laughing and visiting is commonplace and where, if your performance was poor, you hold each other up through silence on a losing ride home – ultimately it’s where relationships are forged.
How many trips had they taken and how many times had everything been alright? How many teams travel in this way all of the time?
It’s a tragic accident with so many people grieving for the loss of a family-member, friend, neighbour, coach, teammate, etc… My heart is heavy for all of you.
My heart also aches for the driver of the semi. When he began his day he never imagined that it would be impacted in such a way. What he must be feeling and going through as well… I honestly can’t even imagine.
           Thank you to all of the First Responders, something like that would be an extremely difficult situation to step into and will remain with you. We thank you for your efforts everyday to keep us safe or to give us aid when we’re in need.
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this event.
           Time will pass, but the memories you have will endure. The love you had for them and they for you will remain a warm embrace each time you think of them. Live your life to its fullest as they would have wanted you to do as they did – in pursuit of their dreams and living their passion.
