Coincidence, or more likely the illusion of coincidence has a way of entering life at unexpected occasions. I don't believe in the concept of chance, luck or fate as these ideas denote something faceless and totally impersonal, but these are prevalent views of how events unfold at present, so they tend to enter our conversations on these occasions. This modern misconception regarding the nature of life and the events contained within is accompanied by an equally, if not more blatant one regarding the concept of conscience. Often defined as a feeling that causes one to question one's course of action, the root of the word deals with knowledge and its application to one's actions, as the translation of the word would be "with-knowledge" if put into modern English.
It is knowledge that informs and directs one's feelings, not the other way around, and being aware of that knowledge allows one to understand their emotional state. This self-awareness came to a head for me at the eve of the 7th anniversary of the tragic passing of Lorissa McComas, who's story I came to by what most would chalk up to happenstance. This knowledge has since informed how I approach certain parts of her body of work as a model and actress, but it has also come to affect how I react to certain other works of art that never before elicited a strong emotional response. Perhaps this is a bizarre thing to happen in the life of a person who admired, but never personally knew Lorissa.
Since making contact with friends and family of Lorissa and learning the truth, coupled with the fairly recent and tragic passing of the lead actor of the film in question, I have found myself unable to sit through the entire duration of Robin Williams' 1998 film "What Dreams May Come". The film definitely approaches the concept of life and death in such an extremely sentimental fashion that it would often move audiences to tears, though I never really regarded the film as particularly compelling or moving until just a couple years ago. Earlier this evening I managed to sit through the entire film, absorbing every iota of the lofty optimism coupled with occasions of adversity of otherworldly proportions that define's the film's plot, and came away with a desire to both reminisce on the past and hope for the future.
My reminiscence was largely concerned with reconciling the picture of Lorissa that I had up until her death with the endless rabbit-hole of twists and turns that has unveiled since that tragic day. What I saw in my youth was an unattainable perfection that seemed to transcend reality, and given the kind of outlook I had on life and the misery that often accompanies adolescence, the smile she wore in her various films and print work were the lone reminder that I wasn't in hell. Naturally as time went on I grew into myself and followed pursuits that would shape me into a far less cynical person, but I never forgot how I was at that time, and how a woman who I would never meet brought a needed ray of light into a very dark world.
Learning that my time as an extremely introverted, social misfit touched by Asperger's Syndrome was a pleasant holiday compared to the things that Lorissa experienced later in her life sickens me to no end. The reason for this isn't just some blind emotional response to the loss of something that made me feel good about myself for a time, but also because of the knowledge that there are people in this world who act in ways that affect everyone around them with no care or desire to understand the consequences, people who mock the gifts that they have been given in life and take for granted the destruction that they have wrought. This is the very basis of morality, knowledge, both of what we are doing and who it will affect.
In the face of evil, consequences must follow for the evildoer, hence the existence of a justice system. But often times justice requires the participation of those outside the justice system in order for things to happen. There are several avenues for reopening Lorissa's case that are still to be explored, including one now being promoted on the "Justice For Lorissa" Facebook page, that warrant consideration. God willing, November the 3rd might well be a day of mourning that could become the day that justice will move towards attainment. Whether success in this effort comes in this life or not, let it not be said that those with knowledge did nothing.
Rest In Peace Lorissa
