I am having a lot of trouble coping with the tragedy of the

four football players who got in trouble in the Gulf of Mexico and capsized.

I know one was rescued, but I just can't get the picture out of my mind of having three friends floating off to their deaths at sea.

I don't know why this is bothering so much, because there are lots of tragedies in which I'm sad, but never like this.

It really hit me when I read about the survivor's account of losing his friends.

And then, there's this haunting photo. Joyous on one account because he was found, but sadness because three people are missing.

I'm not really sure what I'm saying or whether anyone else ever feels this way, but maybe it's good to just get it off my chest.

All I know, is it's almost like they were family and I can't figure out why this is hitting me so hard. :cry:

but I'm glad you shared, cboy.

Thanks elleng.

.

maybe you identify with these guys on a personal level. are/were you an athlete?

something to do with how close I know teammates can get?

But I'm close with other circles of friends, so I don't know if that's it.

I don't even care that they were football players.

I'm just haunted by the fact that here you had four friends who went fishing and their boat overturned in make-believe-like storm conditions 40 miles out to sea.

And all but one eventually drifted away to die.

I can't imagine how horrifying it would be to watch not one but two of my friends who I love, drift out to sea away from the boat while I held on.

And then watch the third one, who had dived under the boat to retrieve the lifejackets and water to save my life, swim to his death because he was delirious and thought he saw rescue lights in the distance.

Maybe I living grief through the survivor.

It's so strange and I don't understand it.