It makes me sad

I don’t know if it’s the time change, another bout of insomnia, or the fact that I threw my whole schedule out of whack the other day when I stayed till 3:30 AM talking on the phone, but I’ve dragging my butt around for days now. The only thought I can sustain or longer than 10 seconds is, “I want to lie down. I want to close my eyes.” I’ve found this zombie like state of mind to not be very conducive to blogging, but I’m gonna give it a go anyway.

There have been a lot of tragic deaths around the county lately, besides the passing of the Buckster. It all started with a string of local soldiers killed in Iraq. The first was 21-year-old Specialist Clay Farr, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Bagdad on Feb. 26. He was a graduate of Centennial High School, class of 2003. The next week, Adam Zanutto, 26, of Walker Basin, died at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., nine days after he was injured in a roadside bombing outside Baghdad. Finally, 24-year-old Shafter native Army Staff Sgt. Ricardo Barraza was killed during a combat mission in western Iraq on March 18. Three young men in as many weeks – three families torn apart.

This weekend two young girls lost their lives in separate car accidents. Five year old Monique Paniaqua was driving a gas powered go-cart Sunday afternoon around her north west Bakersfield home when she crossed paths with a Dodge Durango. She was rushed to KMC where she later died of her injuries. The driver of the Durango was arrested, but police say he was not at fault for the accident. Earlier that same morning 17 year old Samantha Giltner passed away after being struck while trying to turn left onto Ming. Gliltner, a popular Stockdale High School senior, was hit by fellow classmate Aaryn Sprayberry. Although Sparyberry was arrested for driving under the influence, police do not believe he was the cause of the accident.

I have refrained from talking much all of the tragic deaths going on lately cuz it tends to ruffle some feathers, and that is not my intention. I just want us to all be mindful of each other and to appreciate all life, no matter how small.

My heart goes out to each and every one of the families.