Day 19: A Little Perspective (J)

--
For the most part, this blog carries a jovial, banter-driven, some would say irreverent, tone.  Matt and I talk about our experiences, we attempt to entice a few chuckles from our handful of followers, and we give general updates to those loved ones and friends who'd like to check up on us once in a while.  As a self-imposed rule, "99 Days in Paradise" is not meant to be a news-site, political forum, or space for anyone's ideologies, beliefs, or empathy.  Today's post will set aside our regular tone for a moment, and provide a rare exception to that rule.

Several days ago, Typhoon Ondoy began to batter down the northern part of the Philippines, including Manila and twenty-three other provinces.  After dropping nearly double the amount of rain than Hurricane Katrina, flash floods have mercilessly ravaged the Philippines.  Nearly two-hundred people have died, countless more are missing, and over 500,000 Pilipinos remain displaced from their homes.  The pending aftermath seems even more grim.

The following link and story recounts the efforts of an 18-year old who saved over thirty people in his village by plucking them from a raging flood, one by one, before he lost his strength and succumbed to the relentlessly pounding water.  His body was found a few miles down from the village.

"Hero teenager saves more than 30 lives before he is swept away by Philippines floods."


Friends, please allow me a few brief closing thoughts.  Hawaii has been an amazing experience so far.  I don't feel guilty for having had this opportunity-- my parents worked very hard in order to educate me, those accomplishments I've earned have come through sel-motivated dedication and will, and I expect to have a bright future.  Still, I am immensely, humbly lucky-- thousands upon thousands of pieces have clicked miraculously into place for me to be here, at this place, at this moment.  In many ways, I have been given almost everything.  Yet, with a quick flip of fate's coin, it could have been my family on the shabby roof of a Manila shanty hut, struggling to hold on to life.  Moments like this just make you put things into a little perspective...