I know exactly where I was and what I was doing and every minute detail of Friday, April 23, 1971. Actions on that date impacted three generations of my family. When Larry Oleson and his friend, Rod Hart were killed in an alcohol-related crash on East Sherman Avenue about 10:30 p.m., life as I knew it was changed forever. The driver survived. Larry was 22, a Vietnam combat vet with a Purple Heart, and a student at NIJC. We had found out just three days before that a baby was on the way. By the end of the day on April 23, 1971 Larry was dead. On April 23, 2010 I can't help but walk down that path of wondering what could have been in the thirty-nine years since. Our daughter, Melani will turn 39 in November and our grandson, Jared turned 13 this past December. Neither ever knew their father/grandfather. A lifetime lost.April is Drunk Driving Awareness Month. Our family is quite aware ... and will be every month of every year for the rest of our lives.
WOW! It is amazing how one single phone call can literally change your entire life. More importantly, how one person's decision to drink and drive impacted the lives of other people--forever!
ReplyDeleteKerri, thank you for such a personal reminder. Drunk driving is something that cannot be tolerated, no excuses EVER! It simply needs to be SO socially unacceptable that no one even considers doing it.
ReplyDeleteTexting and cell phone use while driving will one day be considered by society as a similar transgression and should be.
God Bless you Kerri.
ReplyDeleteSuperb article Kerri, I hope that people that I know in CdA will read it as they sometimes say...if I only had 2 beers..... Drunk driving cannot be tolerated not only for youngsters, olders are the most irresponsables unfortunatelly. You are doing a great job for the community. Many blessings.
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