When a young person filled with life and possibilities dies in a
such a tragic way as Erin Kinkel did early Sunday morning, words
are difficult to come by. There is no understanding when suddenly,
inexplicably time has run out.
When a young person filled with life and possibilities dies in a such a tragic way as Erin Kinkel did early Sunday morning, words are difficult to come by. There is no understanding when suddenly, inexplicably time has run out.
It seems so senseless and empty. The pictures of Erin are so alive. The words spoken about her are so full of joy and hope. And the words one can speak about her seem to pale in the shadow of her young life … “a friend you could count on, rock-solid in gymnastics competition, a leader on the cheerleading squad, Garlic Festival volunteer, she loved the theater …”
Her gymnastics coach at Gilroy High School, Nichole Anagnostan, spoke thoughtfully of Erin and her crestfallen teammates: “My wish for them is that they just get inspired by Erin’s life and make the most of their lives.”
What else can one do but take the memory and pay tribute to Erin by making a bit of improvement in oneself?
Perhaps there is a lesson, but it’s an age-old one that most parents understand and most teen-agers do not: young people, despite what they believe, are not bulletproof. Silly decisions – like riding in the back of a pick-up without seatbelts and going joy riding on a winding rural road – can have tragic consequences.
Erin, no doubt, would want other parents to take the opportunity to talk to their children about unforeseen consequences. Resist the temptation to preach, but also resist the temptation to let it pass, because it is a sensitive time.
Erin leaves behind a loving family and many friends made from all the activities she enjoyed. Local summer theater devotees of the STAR program at Gavilan, for example, will remember her for the tumbling routines which for years were worked into the performances to showcase her talents.
Her memorial service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Oakwood Country School in Morgan Hill, which she attended from its opening nine years ago until her eighth grade graduation in 2002.
It will be packed with people, many of whom will likely share loving memories of the spunky, red-headed young woman who would have started her junior year in high school in just a few weeks.
Erin Kinkel’s door has been closed, but perhaps in her memory, our community can open some windows – a scholarship fund, a gymnastics season dedicated to her memory, a page in the GHS yearbook, a personal promise made to emulate one of her best qualities in some way. In doing that, we honor her spirit. And that is the best we can do.
