I’m fascinated by history.
When we are young, we are taught about dates, battles, power struggles and mass migration. Boring right? It matters less that we know JFK was murdered on November 22, 1963 instead what the hell happened next: his wife, with blood still on her clothes, stood next to VP Johnson as he was sworn in to the office of the presidency aboard Air Force One roughly 90 minutes after President Kennedy was pronounced dead. I’m sure you can picture the famous black and white photograph with both Jackie and LBJ looking shocked, and his hand on a Bible.
History. Think about that photo, or take a look if you haven’t seen it lately. The people in this photo likely were, in that moment, participants of the biggest event of their lifetime. Outside of Lyndon Johnson and Jackie Kennedy, do you know anyone else in the picture? Me neither.
At the time, and after, it is likely that the other people in the photo spoke about this monumental occasion, but since none of them were about to be President, or wife of the assonated president, they have become, what I call “just passing through.” On that day, everyone in that picture must have been extremely important in their time, or they wouldn’t be on the plane. Are there books and stories about any of them? If you dig, you will find that the answer is yes. The answer is yes more than once....Jack Brooks? Anyone? Anyone?
I believe that none of us are ready to grasp the idea of history when we are in high school (and know zip about the big world). We take the classes we have to take, memorize the crap for the tests, write a few essays, throw out a few opinions and go on our merry way.
As adults, we revisit history that interests us by traveling to see where things happened, reading, research, and watching documentary films. We begin to grasp more of a timeline and perhaps increased empathy to the players, but unless one lives directly through the events, (think 9/11) it is impossible to feel what really happened.
Imagine getting a message while having a few drinks with your buddy after work and being told to come directly to The White House? That’s what went down with Vice President, Harry S. Truman. When he arrived, he found Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of current president Franklin Roosevelt. The exchange went like this:
Eleanor: “The President has died.”
Truman: “I’m terribly sorry to hear this. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Eleanor: “Is there anything we can do for you? You are the one in trouble now!”
Mic drop. Imagine being next to THAT conversation? Do you have any idea who was there for that? That must have been a defining moment of the lives of all people within earshot. They were just passing through.
My point is that, with the passage of time, we all must learn that lesson: ALL of us are just passing through. Global history records all kinds of names, events, places, and dates that are “worthy” of our attention. Until they’re not.
The man who opened his house to a dying president Lincoln must have been famous at the time, at least in Washington D.C. He was William Petersen. His wife was Anna. Their house is a museum. I’ve been there. Maybe I could feel the weight of history in their house. I’m not sure. I was just passing through.
All kinds of athletes have broken world records. Amazing. Until someone else goes by them.
John Raskob, your friend and mine. Remember that titan? No? He was a HUGE financial guy on Wall Street. Built a tower called The Empire State Building. He was very very important. Until he wasn’t.
It goes on and on with anyone and everyone. Time is nothing, until it’s everything. I wonder if these people and/or the people in their orbits understood that? Maybe they became so wrapped up in how important they were, they didn’t stop to realize that they were just passing through.
It only ends one way for all of us. In fact, it ends the same way: we are ALL just passing through.
Try to remember that the next time you sit at a red light too long, wait in line, hate your job, think you’re bored, or have lost your way. Don’t let these small things get in the way of what matters most: enjoying space, time, and experiences with people who matter most to you.
We are all just passing through.
Stay safe, stay awesome, and stay tuned.
This blog is dedicated to the memories of Sean Crosby, Denise “Dee” Bastien, Kyle Cox, and Jake Falasca.
Patrick moeschen 