SGT. Nicole L. Gee
I’ve rewritten this first sentence about 9 times already trying to write something that sounded appropriate. Realistically there is no way to lead into this blog post in a way that makes the content any better. I really don’t care too much how it sounds, or how it reads, but rather am using this space to express my feelings towards recent events in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, it took a suicide bombing that killed 13 Americans to really grab my attention.
I’ve never really been one to voice my opinion too heavily on a subject that may be controversial or political in ties. Partly because confrontation stresses me out, but mainly because I don’t feel as if I’m ever truly knowledgable about a topic to tell someone “I believe this, because of ____.” However, the reason why I’m talking about current events is that it hits home on a new level. This is not an opinion on policy or what we should do, but rather a reaction to what has happened and how it makes me feel.
I saw on Facebook that one of the Marines killed in the suicide bombing in Kabul was from Roseville, CA. Her name was Nicole Gee. She was 23 years old and graduated from Oakmont Highschool in 2016. I was born in Roseville and grew up in the neighboring Granite Bay. I lived about 10 minutes from Oakmont High School and also graduated in 2016. Our lives were most likely very different, but we drove on the same roads, stopped at the same stoplights, shopped at the same mall, and possibly ate at the same restaurants. The small bit of connection and sense of community that I feel we shared really impacted me.
The truth is people die every day. It’s a reality of life, along with the fact that realistically most of the time you hear about someone dying there is a little sense of sympathy. It takes something close and personal to truly experience a personal shift of emotions.
Every now and then you get a wake-up call on how close you are to death. How easy life is taken and how fragile the human truly is. At 23 I feel like there is so much ahead of me, so many things to do, so many places to see, so many experiences that I want to experience. At 23, Nicole probably had the same intentions, same wishes, and same aspirations. I feel for her family, friends, and loved ones, hoping they can find comfort in a time of despair.
After reading Nicole’s story, I looked at the other fallen soldiers. All of which were right around my age, some even younger. All losing their lives protecting the lives of others with whom they share less of a connection than me and Nicole Gee. People on the other side of the planet. People whose simple liberties of hope are often negated by aggressive oppression and limitations set forth by people with more power.
And here I am. I play golf for a living. I wear what I want, say what I want, listen to what I want, read what I want, love what I want, study what I want, and simply do what I want. The unappreciated freedoms and life I have the opportunity to live are hard to rationalize. So when I say I’m grateful, I know it isn’t enough. I hate that it takes a wake-up call such as the recent events in Kabul and the tragic loss of life for me to feel grateful. I hate that me typing up a blog post is my way of expressing thanks.
However, in the sincerest form in which these words may carry, thank you Sgt. Nicole L Gee, and may you and everyone fighting for freedom forever rest in peace.
