Eloise really enjoyed spending the time with Karen. Karen is significant in our family history a) because she has been a life long friend and b) because she was in the same car accident in which Pat was killed in 1963. I was enthralled with Karen's, Brent's and Eloise's recollection of the tragic event which almost took Karen's life also.
What I gathered from the discussion is that many people's lives were changed dramatically, and even blessed, that fateful evening.
Among the stories that I want to remember is Karen's tale of how seconds before the accident, Pat, in the front seat, turned to Karen, in the back seat, and their eyes locked with each other in a deep, eternally binding exchange. No time for words to be spoken but it was as they each knew something terrible was about to happen. But also, a love and bond was forged that would last forever.
Karen also shared a story about the driver of the car. His life had been somewhat of a mess up to the point of the accident. A time after the accident, he sought out Eloise to apologize for his part in the accident that caused the death of her daughter. He was not prepared for Eloise's response. She immediately and sincerely forgave him and expressed her sorrow and empathy for the burden he would have to carry through his life. She explained that because of certain things that had happened in the days leading up to the accident, she had an assurance that this was Pat's time to go. She then said something to the effect "I'm sorry that you had to be part of carrying out the event to bring it to pass". Eloise's response changed his life. He served an extremely successful career in the military and eventually served as a Stake President. He told Karen that he attributes his change of heart to the forgiveness he received from a grieving mother who loved the Lord.
Eloise brought a measure of consolation to Karen when she told that in the days before the accident she had had a number of dreams that prepared her, in a way, for the loss. Also she told of a discussion that her and Pat had where Pat related that she had the distinct feeling that "something in her life was different" but that she could not explain the feeling or identify the cause. As the events came to a close and some time elapsed, this conversation and the dreams brought Eloise peace that everything was in order.
The scriptures teach that God knew the end of the world from the beginning. It appears that he also knows the end of his children's lives from the beginning also, and has prepared a way for them be happy as well as bare the burdens which are a part of this existence.
