Cautious Joy

Cautious Joy

June 4th, 2010 @ 12:12 pm by Mrs. Pudding
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When I was in college, I worked at a School of English. The school was associated with our university, and we had students from all over the world enrolled in our program. I worked as a Monitor - it was my job to organize social activities for our students, as well as to lead them in conversation. It was an absolutely amazing experience, which allowed me to befriend people from all over the world.

One of the people that I got to know very well was Mario. As the youngest person in our program (he was only 16 at the time - the program caters mostly to college level students), he astonished everyone with his drive to master the English language, and his carefree attitude. He was one of those people that you knew would grow up to be someone great - he was wise beyond his years without being condescending.

At the end of the semester, Mario returned to his home in Mexico. He would eventually enroll in med school and get engaged.

This morning, I received news that Mario had been kidnapped, and despite the fact that his parents paid over a million pesos in ransom, he was found dead a couple of days ago.

While one bride to be is preparing her wedding vows, another is mourning the loss of her murdered fiance.

Cautious Joy used to be my Weddingbee screen name. The phrase is my personal reminder that everything in life is balanced - there must be an equal amount of joy and sadness. When I experience something joyful, I try to savor every minute so that I can recall the moment in times of hardship. When I experience times of pain, I try to remind myself that joy is just around the corner.

A wedding is such an all consuming, monumental moment in our lives. We work so hard at making it the perfect day - the dress has to be “The One”, the invites must be printed on the thickest paper, the bride must be at her most radiant - that we sometimes forget to be grateful for the joy that we have already been given.

I don’t know Mario’s fiancee, or his family for that matter. I hope that somehow my thoughts and prayers will reach them. And who knows - perhaps through the power of the internet, this post will find a way to them.

Mario was a wonderful man, and the world is a much sadder place without him.

Tags: relationships, vermont |

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41 Responses to “Cautious Joy”

1 2 3 Last

Member

kayakgirl73 (message) 2,157 posts, Buzzing bee

How sad. How awful. I hope the murderer is caught.

6/4/10 @ 12:19 pm (reply)

Member

Roux (message) 1,352 posts, Bumble bee

Oh my goodness, this is so sad. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend, and my heart goes out to his fiancee. It just shows how lucky we are to have the people who love us, and how important it is to cherish each other, as nothing is certain. Its so easy to get caught up in the details, when what really matters is just people and love.

6/4/10 @ 12:21 pm (reply)

Guest

Christine

What a terrible thing to happen. Thinking of you and that poor young man’s family and friends.

6/4/10 @ 12:22 pm (reply)

Member

froggy518 (message) 268 posts, Helper bee

What a tragedy. Thinking of and praying for all whose lives were touched by Mario.

6/4/10 @ 12:24 pm (reply)

Member

winter (message) 1,333 posts, Bumble bee

that is terrible. i will pray for the family and their loved ones

6/4/10 @ 12:25 pm (reply)

Member

supergeek (message) 111 posts, Blushing bee

I’m really sorry to hear about that. My thoughts & prayers are with his family.

6/4/10 @ 12:26 pm (reply)

Member

denverbirdlet (message) 750 posts, Busy bee

i’m so sorry to hear about your friend. I hope you and his family can find some consolation and closure to this horrible event.

6/4/10 @ 12:28 pm (reply)

Member

Aubergold (message) 1,406 posts, Bumble bee

Im crying as I read/type this. What a tragedy; we must truly remain grateful for our blessings, even through life’s annoyances. Compared to what this young man and his family have had to endure most of us are truly just dealing with annoyances most of the time. Great post Pudding!

6/4/10 @ 12:30 pm (reply)

Member

sapphirebride (message) 1,747 posts, Bumble bee

I like your approach: thanks for the reminder to always be aware of both the bitter and the sweet.

6/4/10 @ 12:37 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Octopus (message) 1,446 posts, Bumble bee

Pudding, oh no! What a horrible tragedy! I’m so sorry to you for losing a friend, and especially for his poor, grieving fiancee and parents.

6/4/10 @ 12:39 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Taco (message) 950 posts, Busy bee

I try to think about these things all the time, as sad as it can be. Beyond weddings and the this and that related to them, there are far greater things that happen around us.

6/4/10 @ 12:46 pm (reply)

12.

Bee

Mrs. Pencils (message) 1,027 posts, Bumble bee

Sobering but a good reminder to be thankful for what we have right now. thanks Pudding

6/4/10 @ 12:52 pm (reply)

13.

Member

LovestheBear (message) 1,250 posts, Bumble bee

I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. What a horrible situation. Thanks for the reminder–it’s always good to remember to appreciate the good things in life, big and small.

6/4/10 @ 12:57 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Mrs. Perfume (message) 2,253 posts, Buzzing bee

My word, Pudding. This is a poignant and sobering reminder that life is indeed about balance as well as the realities of life. I am so sorry to hear this. But it is a much needed reality check.

6/4/10 @ 1:00 pm (reply)

15.

Bee

Miss Elephant (message) 6,182 posts, Bee Keeper

That is such a tragedy. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
Thank you for the reminder to appreciate the good in life.

6/4/10 @ 1:07 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Mrs. Pug (message) 3,753 posts, Honey bee

oh, that is heartbreaking. such a sad but necessary reminder that we can’t take anything for granted.

6/4/10 @ 1:08 pm (reply)

17.

Bee

Mrs. Pug (message) 3,753 posts, Honey bee

i’m sorry, that made it sound like this tragedy was necessary–obviously i did not mean that, i meant that we all need to remember to be grateful.

6/4/10 @ 1:08 pm (reply)

18.

Member

Miss Pinot Grigio (message) 1,410 posts, Bumble bee

That is so incredibly sad to hear. I just don’t know why the such a large segment of the Mexican population is so violent and emotionally detached.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family & fiancee.

6/4/10 @ 1:14 pm (reply)

19.

Member

daisie (message) 57 posts, Worker bee

I am so sorry to hear about Mario and can’t even imagine the pain his family and fiancee are going through..
Ms. Pinot Grigio - “I just don’t know why the such a large segment of the Mexican population is so violent and emotionally detached.” I’m not sure if you meant for that statement to be as clearly offensive and blatantly racist as it comes off as, but as someone with Mexican blood in her, I can tell you we’re NOT all “so violent and emotionally detached”. It happens with ANY race/ethnic group/social group… a few bad apples can make the whole orchard look sour.. Please rethink your comment.

6/4/10 @ 1:38 pm (reply)

20.