a plea to the community and everyone in it
Thursday, November 15, 2001 by iMike | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
the holidays are upon on us. this is a time of gatherings, of sharing, of family, and of friends. it is a time to party. but i must stress and beg of you all of one thing -- please please please do not drink and drive. not this holiday season, or ever.
on october 6, 2001, i experienced the worst thing in my life. something i wish for no one to experience, but far too many have and many more will. me and my father were sitting home watching tv when he got a phone call. something told me before he got off the phone what it was. i just knew it. my beliefs were verified when he told me that my mother had gotten in a car accident. but the people had told us that it was a minor one and not to worry. so me and my father rush out of the house, and drive to the scene. it was then where i saw the worst thing ever. imagine driving up a road and seeing one of the worst car wrecks you have ever EVER seen in your life, only to find out that your mother is involved in it. a head on collision. both cars totaled. the other driver was drunk, swerved into my mother's lane, and hit her head on. she was lucky. she got away with "only" a bruised rib or two, a broken wrist, and a steel rod in her left arm with her whole body bruised. but the mental injuries are severe. whenever she drives with anyone, she clinches the door with her life, she flinches whenever a car passes by. she is emotionally torn. all because some guy decided to drive under the influence.
these types of accidents dont just affect those directly involved either. i write this forum post at 4:46 am because i keep reliving the whole experince and i cannot sleep and i wasnt even involved. all of my relatives are weary of everything. the emotional trauma we have all felt being of one stupid person is too much to handle at times, even one month and 9 days after the event.
the point of this forum post is not as a pity story, but as an example. an example of how one more can of beer, one shot, one swig can turn the lives of many upside down. i would rather see you all not drink at all, but that is unrealistic. so instead, i urge you all to give the keys to a friend who is not drinking or to just stay where you are. i care about you all, as does your family and your friends and your partners in this great community. i do not want you to live through the trauma my family, and especially my mother is going through. i know some of you have been down this road before and know exactly what i am speaking of. to you, i give my condolenses. to those who dont, please trust my words. they are genuine.
my mother was very lucky, but you or the other people involved may not be. one more drink could make you one more statistic.
the holidays are a time of joy, let's try to keep it that way.
on october 6, 2001, i experienced the worst thing in my life. something i wish for no one to experience, but far too many have and many more will. me and my father were sitting home watching tv when he got a phone call. something told me before he got off the phone what it was. i just knew it. my beliefs were verified when he told me that my mother had gotten in a car accident. but the people had told us that it was a minor one and not to worry. so me and my father rush out of the house, and drive to the scene. it was then where i saw the worst thing ever. imagine driving up a road and seeing one of the worst car wrecks you have ever EVER seen in your life, only to find out that your mother is involved in it. a head on collision. both cars totaled. the other driver was drunk, swerved into my mother's lane, and hit her head on. she was lucky. she got away with "only" a bruised rib or two, a broken wrist, and a steel rod in her left arm with her whole body bruised. but the mental injuries are severe. whenever she drives with anyone, she clinches the door with her life, she flinches whenever a car passes by. she is emotionally torn. all because some guy decided to drive under the influence.
these types of accidents dont just affect those directly involved either. i write this forum post at 4:46 am because i keep reliving the whole experince and i cannot sleep and i wasnt even involved. all of my relatives are weary of everything. the emotional trauma we have all felt being of one stupid person is too much to handle at times, even one month and 9 days after the event.
the point of this forum post is not as a pity story, but as an example. an example of how one more can of beer, one shot, one swig can turn the lives of many upside down. i would rather see you all not drink at all, but that is unrealistic. so instead, i urge you all to give the keys to a friend who is not drinking or to just stay where you are. i care about you all, as does your family and your friends and your partners in this great community. i do not want you to live through the trauma my family, and especially my mother is going through. i know some of you have been down this road before and know exactly what i am speaking of. to you, i give my condolenses. to those who dont, please trust my words. they are genuine.
my mother was very lucky, but you or the other people involved may not be. one more drink could make you one more statistic.
the holidays are a time of joy, let's try to keep it that way.
DavidK
Reply #2 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:08 AM
Reply #2 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:08 AM
Amen to both of you... I hope everyone takes this to heart and drives safe on the holidays and on everyday. Driving cars is probably the greatest responsibility we give ourselves and needs to be taken seriously. You don't think about it until it hits home but there's nothing more dangerous in most people's lives than the motorway.
I quit drinking a couple years ago, also for the same motivation. I'd been driving intoxicated for years and realized how stupid it was to do that. The only way I could guarantee myself I wouldn't do it again was to quit drinking (fortunately, before anything bad happened). I find life without booze is actually better than the other way around...
I quit drinking a couple years ago, also for the same motivation. I'd been driving intoxicated for years and realized how stupid it was to do that. The only way I could guarantee myself I wouldn't do it again was to quit drinking (fortunately, before anything bad happened). I find life without booze is actually better than the other way around...
Valhalla
Reply #3 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:25 AM
Reply #3 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:25 AM
I admire your willpower David.
i thoroughly enjoy the social aspect and the effect alcohol has on me.
It's just a case of knowing WHEN to drink and when to abstain.
i thoroughly enjoy the social aspect and the effect alcohol has on me.
It's just a case of knowing WHEN to drink and when to abstain.
BoXXi
Reply #4 Thursday, November 15, 2001 7:36 AM
Reply #4 Thursday, November 15, 2001 7:36 AM
Sorry to hear of your mother's accident Mike, I hope she regains her old self very soon. I personally do not drink at all, partly because of some of the reasons you mention above, but mainly because I don't need to drink to have a good time. Also I have two small children, and I could never endanger them for the sake of a drink, how would I live with myself if I hurt them?
And this is something that everyone should consider.....You have to live with the consequences of your actions, and believe me, your future christmas celebrations would never be the same for the rest of your life if you caused someone elses death, or if you were seriously injured yourself.
Please be careful this holiday, let someone who doesn't drink do the driving, and more importantly, watch out for the people that will ignore this kind of advice through their own selfishness, and will put YOUR life at risk.
Mike: I hope you manage to put this behind you, and have a wonderful Christmas.
And this is something that everyone should consider.....You have to live with the consequences of your actions, and believe me, your future christmas celebrations would never be the same for the rest of your life if you caused someone elses death, or if you were seriously injured yourself.
Please be careful this holiday, let someone who doesn't drink do the driving, and more importantly, watch out for the people that will ignore this kind of advice through their own selfishness, and will put YOUR life at risk.
Mike: I hope you manage to put this behind you, and have a wonderful Christmas.
craeonics
Reply #5 Thursday, November 15, 2001 9:37 AM
Reply #5 Thursday, November 15, 2001 9:37 AM
I don't like the taste of alcohol, so I don't drink. Consequently I'm also not that social.
Doreen
Reply #6 Thursday, November 15, 2001 10:59 AM
Reply #6 Thursday, November 15, 2001 10:59 AM
Well I don't drink cuz it makes me cry...
well it does! don't know why really, cept I've tried strawberry margaritas and they give me the giggles that's all they do.
I'm not into going out socially either, and my kids keep me tied up now. hehe
But seeing the results of traumatic injuries such as Car accidents, gunshots and stabbings all day long, I'd rather be home
well it does! don't know why really, cept I've tried strawberry margaritas and they give me the giggles that's all they do.
I'm not into going out socially either, and my kids keep me tied up now. hehe
But seeing the results of traumatic injuries such as Car accidents, gunshots and stabbings all day long, I'd rather be home
Doreen
Reply #7 Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:02 AM
Reply #7 Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:02 AM
First thing our hospital does on these cases is Drug and Alcohol testing unbeknown to them...
9 X's out of 10 (atleast at our County fac)
they are positive
9 X's out of 10 (atleast at our County fac)
they are positive
Doreen
Reply #8 Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:04 AM
Reply #8 Thursday, November 15, 2001 11:04 AM
If they did not make it, well Autopsy results pop up positive
really is shown clearly for me anyways...
really is shown clearly for me anyways...
paxx
Reply #9 Thursday, November 15, 2001 12:18 PM
Reply #9 Thursday, November 15, 2001 12:18 PM
I stopped drinking 5 years ago.
I only drink soda during partys and I'm always amazed how some people still today automatically associate party with intoxication. Every time I hear the "Come on Pax, have a beer, this is a party for goodness sake!", as if I can't have fun unless I drink. A shame...
I only drink soda during partys and I'm always amazed how some people still today automatically associate party with intoxication. Every time I hear the "Come on Pax, have a beer, this is a party for goodness sake!", as if I can't have fun unless I drink. A shame...
Doreen
Reply #10 Thursday, November 15, 2001 5:47 PM
Reply #10 Thursday, November 15, 2001 5:47 PM
weird I would get called today for a tox study, looking at the nums, you guys are 4 to 1 on us females for getting into serious trouble while intoxicated...
could mean most us girls stay home crying while you guys go outside more... (not sure though) hehe
not funny I know sorry, just strange to see the numbers today while this topic was on the board.
could mean most us girls stay home crying while you guys go outside more... (not sure though) hehe
not funny I know sorry, just strange to see the numbers today while this topic was on the board.
Scarebear
Reply #11 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:21 PM
Reply #11 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:21 PM
Very sorry to hear about your Mother. I've had a friend of the family hit when she was walking on the sidewalk.
I don't drink because I'm an idiot anyhow
I hope your message is effective to readers of this messageboard. Sometimes you need to see 'real life' stories for the message to actually hit home.
I don't drink because I'm an idiot anyhow
I hope your message is effective to readers of this messageboard. Sometimes you need to see 'real life' stories for the message to actually hit home.
peepod
Reply #12 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:49 PM
Reply #12 Thursday, November 15, 2001 6:49 PM
i'm a recovering alchoholic...i know how drinking can affect others you never meant to hurt and how it can affect yourself...sept 29th 1996 god set me free from that nightmare...i'm just glad i never killed anyone while driving in that intoxicated cloud...i dont hate the alchoholic..i hate his sickness.
Jafo
Reply #13 Friday, November 16, 2001 2:15 AM
Reply #13 Friday, November 16, 2001 2:15 AM
I'm a motor race official, so needless to say, I drink...
But I still have enough brain cells left to know not to drive...
But I still have enough brain cells left to know not to drive...
feline
Reply #14 Friday, November 16, 2001 12:20 PM
Reply #14 Friday, November 16, 2001 12:20 PM
a very sensible suggestion
personally, i went right off drinking during my student days. i never was that keen, but watching my "fellow" students approach was very dishartening.
their basic definition of a good night out was to drink so much that they made them selves throw up several times, and end up so drunk that they couldnt even remember most of what happened the next day.
personally, i went right off drinking during my student days. i never was that keen, but watching my "fellow" students approach was very dishartening.
their basic definition of a good night out was to drink so much that they made them selves throw up several times, and end up so drunk that they couldnt even remember most of what happened the next day.
Dork
Reply #15 Friday, November 16, 2001 2:35 PM
Reply #15 Friday, November 16, 2001 2:35 PM
eyemike, i'm sorry to hear that this has caused pain in your life. there was a time when i was that driver, never giving a thought to the lives i put a risk, in order to not be 'incovenienced'. that is no longer an issue with me, but it does happen, every day. being [somewhat] clearheaded now, i can't imagine going to a club one night, then when it's time to go home, rolling a pair of dice to determine whether or not i am going to kill someone on the way.
my heart is warmed, knowing that your mother was fortunate and is only a few ticks of a clock from being back to herself. there is hope in every tragedy, and your message is that.
oh yeah,
listen to imike!
my heart is warmed, knowing that your mother was fortunate and is only a few ticks of a clock from being back to herself. there is hope in every tragedy, and your message is that.
oh yeah,
listen to imike!
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Reply #1 Thursday, November 15, 2001 5:09 AM
Only the other night I was out at a Club. I was driving and had 3 Pints.... Coca Cola don't half give you gas...hee hee!
Listen to iMike.. it's not just the implications to yourself...ie losing your license..it's the innocent other parties involved.
Have a great holiday!