Further on up the road
The parking lot at the eastside New Glasgow funeral home was overflowing Thursday night, and cars were parked streets away as people gathered there to offer condolences, to remember, to pay respect to Kale Mason and his family.
I hardly knew the 19-year-old, who died in a swimming accident on May 19.
At a playoff game in March, Mason was outside the Pictou County Junior Scotians dressing room, and he thanked me for printing a photograph of him, taken just after he had scored a goal against the Antigonish Bulldogs. We joked about the beating he had taken in front of the Antigonish net and how he answered them by scoring a goal moments later. That was the only time I’d even spoken with him, as far as I can remember.
When I read a few online comments and remembrances of him this week on social media, there were a few constants: that Kale was outgoing, friendly, and liked people.
That was what I took away from that two-minute conversation just a few months ago, a time when his future was wide open and stretched seemingly forever.
When someone in their 70s or 80s dies, we may feel a sadness, but can take comfort in knowing they had a long life, and hopefully a good one. When a young person dies, that’s something else altogether.
We know tragedies can happen to the young – and they do all the time – we just never think they will. Until they do.
One of the things people were saying this week was ‘I can’t imagine what the people who loved him are going through.’ Neither can I, and I don’t want to. Who does? There are some things we are better off not knowing.
So, it seems Kale Mason had a positive impact on a lot of people in his all-too-brief life, was liked and respected by many and loved by those who were closest to him: his family, friends, teammates, his girlfriend. They all know who they are.That is a legacy a person simply cannot buy. It must be earned.
The Scotians made a post on their Facebook page last Saturday morning and I’ll end this by quoting it word for word. I’m not absolutely sure who wrote it, but I have a pretty good idea who it was, and these words say it better than I ever could.
“We are devastated by the loss of our bear ... kale ... thank you to everyone for your kind words and support ... he was our son, brother, protector and our best friend ... our hearts are with his mom, dad, brother and family ... such an unimaginable tragedy. Our community is in mourning and will never be the same ... rest easy bear we know you will continue to love and protect us always.”