Today was an adventure on the road. The University of Michigan. In and out of the university hospital is such a grand outing, and takes most of the entire day. Out of all the days events, I can only remember following a truck on my way home.
On the back of this truck was a picture of a beautiful young woman. It took up half the tailgate.
On the other side it read, and I am quoting:
"FACT: My daughter was killed by a drunk driver.
FACT: He Also Died From The Crash.
FACT: I Wish He Had Lived So I Could Have Killed Him
THE FACT IS! DRUNK DRIVING KILLS."
THIS MESSAGE BROKE MY HEART IN TWO AND WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THIS EVENING SUDDENLY TOOK A BACK BURNER.
First of all, I am so absolutely sorry that you had to bury your child. I watched one of my dearest friends have to say goodbye to her 5-month-old unexpectedly, and that was the saddest thing I have ever experienced.
SADDEST!!!
As much as I hate to speak my mind, I despise alcohol. I have learned to live in harmony with the stuff because it is kind of hard to avoid it. I could rant and rave about all the terrible drinking and driving statistics. Validate your anger. My mission is to change people and the way they think.
After riding behind you for 30 minutes, I want to tell you how your message impacted me.
I was so sad.
The first line broke my heart. I actually thought the beautiful picture on your truck was part of an ad. So when I actually read the first line at the stop sign, my heart sunk.
My daughter was killed by a drunk driver...
I have two daughters. I couldn't imagine the immense pain that you felt.
I actually sped up so I could read the rest. The second line didn't really affect me at all. It was something that seemed irrelevant when I read it, until...
As the third line read through in my mind, I was tearing up. I cannot get this off of my mind. I am not a judgemental person, and I have no opinion on the wants or wishes of the person driving the car. It just broke my heart. Everything about the message you wanted to make, it just broke me.
The third line... That is all I can think of.
In the big scheme of things:
I hope you have found closure. If that has not happened to you, I hope someone can reach you. I mean REACH YOU. There are always lessons to learn in tragedy. No one likes to say that when it comes to losing something so important so close to you.
Life is so precious and should not be wasted.
I believe that life can be absolutely terrible.
I also believe that life can also be absolutely miraculous.
I hope that the third line changes someday into something like this...
FACT: I wish I could bring her back to hold one more time.
I know you are angry.
That's okay, and my opinion is just that. My opinion.
I hope that someday your heart isn't as angry as the day you made the sign on the back of your pick up. Your anger was where my thoughts immediately focused on.
I am sad about the anger.
I am very humbled tonight from all the outside support and the groups.
Like always,
Love you.
A.Levesque
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