Drunk Driving

We all know it's bad. We all know it's wrong. But WHY do people continue to do it?

I can't even tell you how or why, but last night I stumbled across a myspace page that was a memorial to Kelli Lewis, an 18 year old killed in a crash in 2001. She was supposed to have a designated driver, but refused to leave with that person. Instead, in her drunken state, she chose to leave with three others who were also drunk. Kelli and two boys were in one car, another boy in a second. 4 miles from her home, they did a bit of impulse drag racing. The car Kelli was in lost control, flew through some trees and landed upside down in a person's yard. The car landed on top of Kelli, all 3 riders were killed insantly. Yes, it was her bad choices that killed her, but that doesn't mean her mother can't make something good of loosing her first born child. It's Kelli's story that has influenced "Kelli's Law". I have no idea if it's actually in effect yet, but I know I've heard of it. For those of you who haven't, basically it's to get a field breathalyzer equipped in EVERY highway patrol car and to be administered on anyone suspected of drunk driving. Anyway, Kelli's mother runs the page and has many pictures of Kelli, including very graphic photos of the crash that killed her daughter (graphic meaning you can see Kelli in the wreckage). I've looked at them, several times since she accepted my friend request this morning. Some may say that's disgusting, that I'm mental or disturbed. But you know what, it's the truth. The God damned ugly truth of what stupid people do. I have NEVER nor will I EVER drive drunk. I never planned on it, I've never thought about it or been tempted to when drinking. But I know people who do. And you know what? No matter how close of friends they may be, a part of me hates them for the past times they have driven drunk and the times that lie ahead when they will again. Looking at Kelli's page, there are SEVERAL memorial pages dedicated to people lost in car accidents...whether from alcohol involved or something really stupid. The sad thing is, 99% of the pages I ventured onto today were for those who's sunset came before their 18th birthday. I can think of 3 pages that were dedicated to women who were pregnant at the time. There are many who were dedicated to children as young as 5. Some were even for those who were lost many years ago...back in a day when myspace and the internet didn't exist. There are pages for lost ones who have been angels longer than they were on this earth. And there were quite a few stories where the person driving drunk has survived, even one or two where nothing was done to punish the ones who SHOULD have died.

Why am I blogging this? Because it has hit me hard. I've never had a friend too close to me die. A girl I had been friends with in elementry, somewhat through middle school and really started getting disconnected from in high school that died from drugs. But every story was so heartbreaking. And maybe it's because the holiday season is upon us, which tends to mean a lot of partying. But You can feel the pain these families and friends are STILL going through. The pain NEVER leaves. I am going to some how post this counter that has the number of drunk driving related deaths so far this year in the United States. I've had it open on my browser for about an hour and a half and the number has gone up by three. THREE! In the last hour and a half, 3 families have lost a child/sibiling/grandchild/neice/nephew/mother/father/aunt/uncle/grandparent/friend. That is far too many families spending their Thanksgiving mourning tomorrow. Instead of being thankful for their family being alive and healthy, they are forced to be thankful for the time they HAD with their loved one.

Now, I know a lot of you out there are saying "oh one beer doesn't do anything to me, so it's ok". I know this. We have plenty of parties, I see how alcohol effects different people. My husband could have 2 beers and it barely does a thing to him. But you know what, he doesn't drive. Have fun. Be smart. You're not Super Man, you're not invincible. Be an example, not a statistic. If not for yourself, think of your family and friends. The ones who love you. As Denzel Washington said in the movie John Q. "I AM NOT GOING TO BURY MY SON! MY SON IS GOING TO BURY ME!" That's the way it's supposed to be, don't change that. I'm thinking about finding a little tiny combination (so people can't find they key and open it) safe to start putting people's keys in during our parties so they can't leave after they've started drinking. Some will hate me for it but you know what, don't drink and drive.