Megan Stielstra's Blog

Last Friday, a tragic car accident resulted in the deaths of three Chicago musicians: John Glick of the Returnables, Michael Dalquist of Silkworm, and Doug Meis of the Dials and Exo. Please join me in keeping these guys and their families in your hearts and minds. You can offer condolences at the bands’ websites, or, if you knew any of these guys, there are memorial services this week and upcoming memorial concerts in the works (gapers block can give you contact information here).

If you ever saw me read at Schuba’s with vocalist Julie Korman, you would be familiar with Exo—who we’ve opened for a few times—and therefore Doug, their drummer. He was a close friend of Julie and her family, and I was lucky enough to know him and his wonderful, gentle spirit.

Right now there’s nothing but shock, not just for these untimely deaths, but the manner in how they happened.

The guys were driving back to work after lunch. They were stopped at a red light. They were purposely hit head-on by a twenty-three year old girl driving seventy miles an hour, who rammed their car in an attempt to end her own life. All three guys died: the girl is fine.

I don’t know where to begin with this one, so instead, I’ll end: if you’re going through something painful, please please please talk to someone. Talk to a friend, a family member, your co-worker, your teacher, your pastor, someone you’re comfortable with even if you’re scared in the moment. If you feel totally alone, here are some phone numbers of places you can get help. Please take care of yourselves. Please keep in mind that a desperate action does not only affect the person committing that action: it affects families, communities, and, in this case, very innocent bystanders whose lives were cut too short too soon.

I don’t mean to sound all public service announcement.

But this grief could have been avoided.