I will preface this with saying that this is a mixed bag of emotion and insight – Not the usual happy, or upbeat, stories that appear. And I will start with this:
No matter how far the walk. No matter how expensive the call. One – is ONE TOO MANY – Don’t Drink and Drive!!!
A moment of reflection
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
~Dr Seuss
While this is not in my normal writing style, I wanted to take a moment aside from the stories. In the early morning hours of April 9th, 3 promising lives were cut short, and a fourth changed forever. The fragility of this life cannot be overstated. FOUR. In an instant the worlds, and lives, of four families were changed forever.
One was a Spirited young woman attending Cal State Fullerton.
One was a Bright young man, attending law school to follow a dream, and become an agent in the world of sports.
One was a Bright young man, who had just achieved the dream of so many others – Reached the Pinnacle of his sport.
One was a Bright young man, who was in the midst of chasing his dreams in Sport.
If you haven’t been following the news, I am speaking about the accident involving the young Pitcher from the LA Angels’ Baseball team. I am not using names out of respect of the families, as I do not know their wishes.
Tragedy strikes at any given instant, anywhere in the world; but, it is not until such tragedy affects you, or someone you love, that it truly strikes into your heart and life.
I knew one of these victims rather well. We went to high school together. We both attended the same University…and both worked in the Sports Realm. This morning, his name was read to me over the phone, and instantaneously, my world changed again.
2 Years ago, I lost my brother-in-law in a car accident – and my life, and my view of it, was forever changed.
To read and hear that this accident, which has taken my friend – somebody’s son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt – was avoidable, but happened at the hands of selfishness.
I am not writing in search of sympathy or condolence, but rather, to remind us of how fragile life is. In an instant it is here – a beautiful miracle, born into the hands of parents. The next instant Shattered – Stolen. Joy and Tragedy often occupy the same space.
Their lives affected my life, and are intuitively a part of who I am in this World - and I am Better for it.
No matter how far the walk. No matter how expensive the call. NEVER NEVER NEVER – Drink and Drive
To the Families – May GOD bless and watch over you in this time of tragedy. My Prayers are with you.
