Letter to the Editor: Remembering Blanca

Thank you to Michele Pitre McElearney for the following Letter to the Editor:

I have had a heavy heart.

Every day at school pick up time, I sit with some moms, who are also picking up their kids. We talk, we share personal stories, and we look forward to seeing each other on school days. Although, we don't even know each other’s names, Friday I learned that one of the moms we sat with, was Blanca ( I know her name now), who was killed in the train crash with her dad in Brentwood.

I knew I hadn't seen her last week, but thought that maybe her daughter was sick. I don’t know what happened and I guess we may never know. But, I knew a beautiful woman, with big heart, who loved her children and family. We actually talked of our kids the week before. We were watching another mom who brings her beautiful little son. We both were staring at him and than turned to each other and talked of how me missed those days.

I have watched her beautiful little girl come to her when school ended. They were a close, happy family. I do not believe she would have crossed those tracks intentionally. She would not have put herself, her dad or her family at risk of losing them. I truly believe an emergency must have been happening. Maybe her dad was having a heart attack or some issue that scared her to feel she needed to get him someplace quickly. Whatever the reason maybe, I hate that I need to read messages from heartless people expressing how stupid it was to do such a thing. I have also come to learn that the people who judge others are the ones who are not happy themselves.

Be selective with your stupid judgments and posts...children are involved. A family lost their mom and grandpa. Isn't that enough to suffer through? I know your name now, Blanca... I will miss our chats and I will miss you. It’s funny how people become a part of your life.

It reminded me of an article I tore from a magazine after 9/11. It was a story of how the people you meet, on train, on a bus, etc. become familiar and a part of your life. You wonder how they are when you don't seem them, but yet we don't even know their names. And how on 9/11, those train rides changed significantly. The riders that were familiar weren't anymore and you mourned for them, knowing heir fate.

I am sad and our conversations are going through my mind. She was a beautiful person and loved her family dearly. Please pray for her family.

-Michele Pitre McElearney

Related links:

• Commack Mother of Three Killed in LIRR Crash
• Report: Husband Shocked of Wife's Driving Through LIRR Gates