You know the kind of days that puts life into perspective?

Things just happen some days that make you think. Saturday was one of those days.

I woke up knowing what I planned to do, but the funny thing about plans is that one tiny thing can turn them upside down. You can have everything organized, lists made out, ready to tackle your day and then — bam! — it all changes.

My change happened to come in the form of covering news on a busy day in Albert Lea.

Nobody could have predicted the fact that over the course of 12 to 24 hours our news team would be covering a man that would attempt to take his life, two separate automobile collisions on Front Street that would send several people to the hospital, and then early Sunday a multiple-person car accident on County Road 34 that would again test our area’s emergency teams and take a young mother from her children.

Change is quick.

Life happens fast.

When you think in the blink of an eye, your life can be totally different than what you planned it to be.

Thoughts that spun through my head during that 24-hour period were: What forces someone to want to take their life? How bad is it when not living is a better answer than living and facing your demons? I really hope that no one ever gets to that level and if they do, they ask for help or call a friend to get them through. Life is hard, but taking your life is no answer.

My thoughts then turned to the victims of the Front Street collisions. Two cars needed the jaws of life to extract people from them. I said some prayers for the people and just hoped that they would be OK. When you cover events for a newspaper, it is darn hard not to let your emotions get to you when you are trying to report these tragic events. It is hard not to feel for the families going through such a tragedy.

Thoughts then quickly turned to our emergency responders on this Saturday. I was amazed at how the Albert Lea police, fire and ambulance service was everywhere and also how the SWAT and response team from Owatonna stepped up and did an incredible job.

Alliant Energy was even Johnny-on-the-spot as they needed to be on Front Street because of a power line that was hit by one of the cars. These responders were courteous, quick-thinking, and professional from every angle you could see. I really felt good about what kind of hands the collision victims were in with these top-notch emergency staffs.

Later Saturday I stopped by the Corey Goodnature Golf Tournament to catch the auctions and see how the day went with this amazing event. Again looking around at all the people who pulled together and have been pulling together for three years just gives you shivers. Listening to Corey’s unit members and friends speak of how unselfish and calm this man, this hero was makes you feel lucky to have just heard of him, let alone be around people who knew him.

Again every year while watching this great event, my eyes always seem to find Don and Deb Goodnature, Corey’s top-notch parents, who without a doubt are the best people you will ever know. Watching as they humbly try to take it all in, the love, the giving, the honoring of their son, who humbly gave it all for us while serving his country in Afghanistan, is really too much to handle. I find myself looking into the lights above my head to stop from tearing up.

A big highlight for me was when I met Corey’s son and saw what a great kid he was. I kept thinking how this family turned what was a tragedy three years ago into a yearly triumph of both spirit and love. To remember Corey is to remember spirit, hope, dedication, and love. What a great legacy.

That same Saturday night — early Sunday morning really, at about 1:30 a.m. — came the news of the wreck out on County Road 34. Multiple vehicles, multiple injuries and the loss of a life. Again your thoughts go out to all of the families that are dealing with such tragedy. In this wreck there were several people all under the age of 25, and as of penning this column, some still in critical condition.

My prayers go out to all of the people involved in this one.

Kelly Abrego, a mother of three young children, lost her life. When someone loses a life, I believe in prayer. I pray not only for this young person, but I try to make sure I include everyone who is touched by this person. Think of what her parents are going through, her children, her siblings, cousins, friends, grandparents and the list goes on and on.

What is sad is that one person touches so many lives and you just never know in what way. Along with prayers, another thing you try to give people is hope. If you see what the Goodnatures have done and the hope that they give people every day to get through, it is amazing.

Now I realize that it takes time, but I really pray and hope that the Abrego family comes through this tragedy intact and full of love.

If you are reading this and believe in prayer or hope, please stop for a moment and include the Abrego family in your thoughts.

Life happens too fast.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.