Hopefully, one of our guys that quit the department, 42 days ago for greener pastures, is going to return. Not only is that good for the department but good for the team.
We just lost one of the more experienced divers so if he returns he could fill that void. I still have his gear together to re-issue it to him.
We had a chat about one of the contributing factors that caused the other experienced diver to leave. It involved the senseless death and recovery of a child that we know has been bugging him. But being the macho type he will never admit it or go for any of the offered help we have unlimited access to.
The one that might be returning mentioned that his teen recovery a couple of years ago is still with him. He said there isnt a day that goes by where he doesnt think about it. But at least he talks about his feelings.
We were together that day along with two others from the team. No matter how hard we swam with him in that canyon we just couldn't cover the couple of hundred yards fast enough. Thats what is bugging him the most, Not being fast enough. There were four of us pulling and pushing so it just couldn't have been any faster. But in his mind it wasnt fast enough. But he is dealing with it just fine and from the day of the incident has talked about it. He hasnt kept it inside like the other one.
Here is a sat pic of the area Im talking about:
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=11&Z=11&X=1258&Y=13209&W=1
It was in the channel between the reversed "L" dam mid photo. He drowned about where the channel first starts to widen. We had to swim him to the bridge further up the pic. A long long way when every second counts.
I knew the kid and he worked with my daughter within a mile from the accident site.
When you make a recovery talk it out any way you can. If talking it out with team members, spouse, relatives, friends or anyone you know works, fine. But if it doesnt work seek professional help.
People arent going to think youre a candidate for the loony bin if you go see a shrink. People do it all the time when they have trouble just getting through daily life. Compound that with the stress a PSD gets put through and macho will get you into an early grave and nothing else.
I have my days just like everyone else and on April 30, just leave me alone, it my day for the one I havent been able to shake sense 1986. I know I think about that little 7-year-old more than her family ever did. Somebody has to remember her. Why her, I dont know, because there have been so many over the years, most I dont even remember.
Anyway, now that I got totally off the original subject, lets hope we can get him back on-board.
Gary D.
We just lost one of the more experienced divers so if he returns he could fill that void. I still have his gear together to re-issue it to him.
We had a chat about one of the contributing factors that caused the other experienced diver to leave. It involved the senseless death and recovery of a child that we know has been bugging him. But being the macho type he will never admit it or go for any of the offered help we have unlimited access to.
The one that might be returning mentioned that his teen recovery a couple of years ago is still with him. He said there isnt a day that goes by where he doesnt think about it. But at least he talks about his feelings.
We were together that day along with two others from the team. No matter how hard we swam with him in that canyon we just couldn't cover the couple of hundred yards fast enough. Thats what is bugging him the most, Not being fast enough. There were four of us pulling and pushing so it just couldn't have been any faster. But in his mind it wasnt fast enough. But he is dealing with it just fine and from the day of the incident has talked about it. He hasnt kept it inside like the other one.
Here is a sat pic of the area Im talking about:
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=11&Z=11&X=1258&Y=13209&W=1
It was in the channel between the reversed "L" dam mid photo. He drowned about where the channel first starts to widen. We had to swim him to the bridge further up the pic. A long long way when every second counts.
I knew the kid and he worked with my daughter within a mile from the accident site.
When you make a recovery talk it out any way you can. If talking it out with team members, spouse, relatives, friends or anyone you know works, fine. But if it doesnt work seek professional help.
People arent going to think youre a candidate for the loony bin if you go see a shrink. People do it all the time when they have trouble just getting through daily life. Compound that with the stress a PSD gets put through and macho will get you into an early grave and nothing else.
I have my days just like everyone else and on April 30, just leave me alone, it my day for the one I havent been able to shake sense 1986. I know I think about that little 7-year-old more than her family ever did. Somebody has to remember her. Why her, I dont know, because there have been so many over the years, most I dont even remember.
Anyway, now that I got totally off the original subject, lets hope we can get him back on-board.
Gary D.
