If you've ever read or watched a story....about people you've never met....and it just touched you in a deep and personal way...you will understand why I am writing this post.
Yesterday...I was getting my daily dose of CafeMom....It really does give me a chance to chit chat with new friends and old friends....read funny stories...and get good advice...but if you are a Cafemommer... I don't have to tell you do I?!?.....
What I didn't expect was to read a post that would truly devestate me...as much as if I had known the people involved personally....
A fellow Cafemommer.....was tragically killed along with her 3 year old son and 11 month old daughter...when they were broadsided by a drunk driver last week.....I forced myself to click on the link to the article...which proved to be my undoing....how ABSOLUTELY SENSELESS and GUTWRENCHINGLY SAD....(I am including the link so everyone can see the devestation that someones thoughtless and cruel act has caused)....Story Here
Since my initial reading of this story yesterday, I've had a lot of thoughts run through my head...I've thought about what daddy would do if anything would happen to me and Pooh. I thought about what I would do, if something happend to Pooh and daddy....I thought about the dad/husband in this story...who now has to try and pick up the pieces of his broken life...I thought about how he'll spend Thanksgiving and Christmas this year...without his wife and children...who from what I've seen...were the most important things in his life...next to his faith in God...and I can see that that faith is what is helping him hold on....which is so completely admirable...for I know that it would be a huge struggle for me to believe God had a bigger plan with all of it.....heck, I have thought that question anyway....but in the end we just have to believe....and pray....
Pray for the survivors of this tragedy....pray for the three angels who are no longer with us....pray for the thousands of other families whose lives have been irrecovably changed forever due to the callus and careless acts of another.....and I really do mean callus and careless....
I was reading other comments about this story yesterday...and found them both interesting and telling...many of them stated "that well, alcohol impairs judgement...so therefore they don't KNOW that what they are doing can harm others....or will harm others"...um excuse me....but we all know...what happens when we get drunk....long before we take that first drink....we conciously decide even before getting smashed...that we'll either take the chance to drive...or not.....I feel like I know this to be true from watching friends beginning in college and up until now....
I've had friends who treat drinking as a nothing more than a way to keep themselves entertained....they have absolutely no desire to find responsibility with their drinking. One friend in particular got drunk almost every weekend in college....and on one particular occasion...got into an accident....and luckily didn't hurt anyone else.....In one aspect it was a wake-up call.....she didn't decide to curb her relationship with her drinking....she still got drunk every weekend.....and every Sunday morning paid homage to the porcelin god.....however she made the concious and responsible decision NEVER to drive again after she had a drink...even one....granted almost 2 years of that was forced due to the fact that she didn't have a license....(lots of people don't let that stop them)...but even to this day....she realizes even before she drinks, what can and most likely will happen....
So, I'm sorry if I don't buy the "it's the alchohol" defense...we ALL understand actions and consequences...We've ALL seen the commercials sponsored by MADD, the rallies in highschool before Prom...the speakers in the gym....the stories on the 6 o'clock news.....We ARE ALL aware....and we still chose to say "nope not me"....
And you know what stinks the most.....We give these jack-asses who do get arrested multiple chances to ....do it again.....like my friend....I love her....and I'm proud of her for making the decision she has about not being a repeat offender....but personally...I don't think we should have given her the chance....Driving is a privilage...not a right.....and it only takes one mistake to kill someone....why give them 2, 3 or 4 chances....
This woman who destroyed this poor family...had been arrested for multiple DUI's.....okay....there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with our judicial system...if we enable these people to have access to automobiles....it's like giving the crack addict...access to the crack...it's ridiculus...if these people want to be drunks....go for it....have fun....but don't put me, my family, my neighbors, or anyone else in their paths.....
I think I just get so upset....because there is nothing positive about this...there is no silver lining...there is no happy ending....and tomorrow...somewhere out there....it will happen again....
so please....if you read this...and I hope you do....please share this with your family or friends...maybe if we share this with enough people....someone out there will decide to make the right decision and not get behind the wheel....
The problem is we don't pay attention...we turn the channel, cover our ears....the old hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil adage...but really we have to feel it....to change it....it has to hit us...down in our gut...and make that lump rise in our throat...for us to stand up and say enough....
Well I feel it.....I really do.....
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10 comments:
I read that the other day too and it makes me so sad! I couldn't imagine my husband having to deal with the death of me and my son. Things like that really suck! I pray for her husband!!!!
The dangers that await us everyday are sometimes overwhelming. As moms we spend so much time thinking about the bad things and trying to prevent them...it is a scary truth that I really can't prevent them.
that just makes me feel sick inside. thank you for posting this to remind people of the dangers of drinking and driving. holidays are coming up and the rates always rise. I pray everyone stays safe out there this year.
So tragic.
How ridiculously tragic this is. I'm going over to read the article, but crossing my fingers it doesn't make me too teary, since I'm still at work...
I am so sad for the Daddy in this story. As you said... his holidays this year will be tainted by loss and grief, and there is nothing that will change that. He will be in my thoughts tonight.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I always love to have new visitors :D
I am going to read story now....and know I will be sad. I completely share your same feelings on don't play the drunk card...I didn't know what I was doing. WE ARE ALL EDUCATED over and over again.
Tragic. Just tragic. That poor father.
What is scary, is that there are many drunk drivers out there who will still drive after having their license taken away. So sad.
I'm heartbroken for this family. I will keep them in my prayers.
Your post was beautifully written.
I will keep this family in my prayers. And you are right, people already KNOW what can happen.
In high school my assistant principal was struck from behind while he was stopped at a stop sign by a (repeat offender) drunk driver. It pushed his car forward and up into a telephone pole and decapitated him before shoving his car another 100 yards into my then-boyfriends front yard. I drove that way a lot- it could have been me.
You'd think that perfect example of what happens would resonate with kids at my school. But I know several that didn't head the warning and had DUI's or wrecked their own cars. Some seriously. Thankfully none have killed someone, but I suppose its a matter of time if they don't stop.
When I was a teen driver I never thought about what other people could do to me. I worried about my own driving. I was careful. I couldn't understand why my parents waited up for me. Now, as a mom of 5, I know why. In about 3 years I will have a teen driver, and I will continue to have them for 10-13 years or so after that. I suppose I will sit, and worry, and pray as hard as I can. And remind my children what DOES happen, even if it isn't you being irresponsible.
Sorry this was so long. And thanks for the visit today! Bless this family.
I'm glad you posted this. It is heart wrenching...this particular story and the story of ALL others that are affected by drunk driving.
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