Alison Bodey – Rest in Peace my old friend

I have known Alison Bodey pretty much as long as I have been alive.  We were both Millerstown rats, I was born there and moved away when I was four.  She was born there (I am pretty sure) and stayed for a long time.  I moved back later when I was about 14 or 15, moved in with Granny in the purple house because I don’t think anyone could tolerate my dumbassedness.   We had a lot of great times back in the day, we liked each other, we hated each other and for a short time we loved each other.  She was killed Thursday morning in a single car accident with her daughter in the car.  Here is the article from the paper in Springfield. 

A St. Paris woman was killed early Thursday morning when she lost control of her vehicle and overturned on Zimmerman Road.

Alison Bumgardner, 47, was killed in a single-vehicle crash when her 1997 GMC van went off the west side of the road and overturned shortly before 7 a.m. in the 6000 block of Zimmerman Road in Mad River Twp. in Champaign County, said Matt Melvin, Champaign County sheriff.

A second woman, Cailtin Woodrum, 26, was a passenger in the vehicle and was taken by ambulance to Mercy Memorial Hospital in Urbana, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Bumgardner was headed south on Zimmerman Road when she lost control, and she was partially ejected from the driver’s side of the vehicle, Melvin said. Champaign County Coroner Josh Richards pronounced her dead at the scene.

Deputies are still investigating the crash, but it doesn’t appear that drugs or alcohol were involved. Some snow was on the road, but it’s not clear what role, if any, the weather might have played in the accident, Melvin said.

Neither Bumgardner nor Woodrum appeared to be wearing a seat belt during the crash, Melvin said.

Seems so sanitary, it is really weird for me to read that.  I Google earthed the 6000 block of Zimmerman road, which I have driven on hundreds of times.  I could not tell me exactly where that is, neither could Bing maps.  I rolled over my first very first car (1974 Vega) on Zimmerman road, close to Millerstown road.  I wonder how far she was away from that spot when she died?   Deputy Melvin’s report is so to the point, does not appear that drugs or alcohol were involved.  Not clear what role, if any, the weather might have played. 

This article is so flat, so devoid of emotion and feeling – it is the antithesis of who Alison Bodey was.  There is no mention of her likes, her loves and nothing of her life at all.  Nothing about the loves of her life, Kiara, Caitlin and Wyatt, there was also no mention of Pink Floyd, nothing about horses, nothing about her hobby’s, nothing about the pain she suffered with - nothing about her at all really – just that she was not wearing her fucking seatbelt, it was almost as if Deputy Melvin wrapped up her life with that worthless stupid little tidbit of information.  I don’t know him and I know he was just doing his job but you know what – I don’t care – I don’t like him for summing up my friends life with that ending statement – Fuck you Matt Melvin, Champaign County sheriff.

It is very hard for me to read that article, and even harder to talk about.  I have lost friends before, she is not the first but she is the closest friend I have lost.  I say closest, it almost seems weird to say but I am so glad we reconnected after all the years on FB without seeing or hearing from each other.  It was weird, almost as if no time had passed at all when we reconnected on Facebook.  I have written about her before on the oratory, I did not mention her by name but here is a link to that blog

http://mroatmealsoratories.blogspot.com/2012/01/not-sure-where-to-start-this-one-mr.html

I remember asking her if it was OK to blog about her post – her response, “I don't mind. Thanks for the prayers.  It’s the best thing going for me. :-) Faith, hope, prayer, and laughter.   I won't let it get the best of me.”  I remember she messaged me after I posted it – “I thought it was good, and I do see similarities in the writing. I prefer to call it rambling. And as far as anyone and the paths of their lives, it is simply amazing how little, insignificant (at the time) happenings (or things that didn't happen) can mold or shape us into decisions we make. I think the little things make more of an impact for the most part than some big things.”

We messaged a few times when her Dad got really sick last year, he passed November.  She shared her frustrations with her brothers handling of that, even before their dad passed.  I was mad at him for that, but as I told her losing parents has weird effects on folks, especially siblings.  I shared some of my own experiences from when I lost my Mom and Dad.  There are never any words that seem right at times like those though.  I told her all you can do is forgive, if you don’t it will erode your soul.  I hope she was able to forgive him before she died.              

I remember on one trip back to Ohio a few years ago I took lots of pictures, fall in Ohio is beautiful.  Anyway, one of the pictures I posted on FB was of her Dad’s cows.  DAMNIT, I miss my friend!  How is it that she was taken from us, she was one of the good ones!! She was always positive, always forging on, regardless of the obstacles.  How weird, I miss her a lot and a lot of people’s lives will have a gigantic hole that can never be filled.  I was looking though her pictures on FB and laughing, she was a very funny woman.  Her sarcastic wit was well honed, even back in the day.  I enjoyed those road trips up to Morehead Kentucky to see her when I was stationed in Norfolk in the 80’s. 

Here is the last message I got from Alison, this was December 2^nd 2012. 

Good afternoon now!! I am not doing too bad, all things considering. Starting to feel a little better.  At least I'm able to eat. I think most of the ulcers have disappeared finally. Although this medicine the dr put me on for the Crohn's has been making me very shaky, out of breath, and kinda agitated all the time. I've been back to work for a week now. And trying to go through stuff at Dad's when I have time. Still haven't spoken to my brother since the Memorial service. Oh well, if he wants to be that way, guess I don't have much of a say in it. Hope all is well with you. I laughed at the blue sky pic you posted. That was a good one. Wish it were blue here. It’s 55 but gray and rainy.

She used this picture a lot as her profile picture, I think it sums her up her life much better than Matt Melvin, Champaign County sheriff could ever do!

 

 

I will miss you old friend – love ya!!                                         

Ps. Sorry if this rambled more than normal – I am still a little freaked out!