April 7 is Green Shirt Day.
On April 6, 2018, Canadians were heartbroken to hear the news of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. Of the 29 passengers, sixteen lost their lives and thirteen will all bear physical and emotional scars for life.
On April 7, 2018, Humboldt Broncos defence man Logan Boulet succumbed to his injuries. His parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet offered to donate his organs so that six lives could live on. They did so because Logan told his parents he was registering as an organ donor and that he was inspired by his coach and mentor Ric Suggitt. Ric passed on June 27th, 2017 and was an organ donor and saved 6 lives.
Green Shirt Day was created to honour, remember, and recognize all the victims and families of that fatal (Humboldt) crash and to continue Logan’s legacy by inspiring Canadians to talk to their families and register as organ donors. The Logan Boulet Effect is leaving a lasting impression on Canadians.
I no longer have a drivers’ license by which I can leave my organs in the event of a crash and some are intact. I remember writing about it when I first signed my parts away. The thought of leaving one’s organs gives one pause. For people who believe in a literal Judgement Day it’s really tough. How can they stand up and be counted if parts of them are missing—or cremated? Well, it could happen in more traumatic ways, like a sudden necessary amputation. What about a hysterectomy? Those in charge of Judgement Day will see to the details.
I had an aunt who wrote her obituary and planned her funeral well before she had any inkling of her death.. She even chose her clothes. She owned a classic Grecian-style evening gown, white, of course, that she sent to the cleaners so as to be ready for the Day.. She figured it was ageless and would not be out of style in whatever future century Judgment Day would take place.When she died I asked my aunt, her sister, who was looking after the arrangements, what she was wearing in her coffin: her newest Hardy Amies suit. She would have been disappointed.
Well, we can’t plan our future, least of all now in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. But we could give a future to six other people with the best legacy possible. BTW, I think Judgement Day happens for each us instantly at the moment of passing. You dpn’t have to worry about what you look like.