My daughter would have been 28 today...please talk to your kids and

[grannylib]

anyone else you love about making sure they have a designated driver, especially with graduation party season upon us.
She left behind two young children, her fiance, two sisters, many aunts, uncles, and cousins, four grandparents, and the two saddest parents ever...
She's been gone 8 years now, but I still miss her every single day, and pray that no other family ever gets the phone call in the middle of the night that every parent dreads.

PLEASE talk to your kids, your neighbor's kids, your nieces and nephews, your spouse, your friends...anyone you love...

And make sure the words you say to those loved ones are not words you would regret if the unthinkable happened. The last words Emmy and I ever exchanged were "I love you" and I thank God for that.

Alcohol and motor vehicles are a recipe for disaster.

Talk to your kids. Let them know it's because you love them SO MUCH and couldn't bear to lose them. Make a pledge that YOU won't ever drink and drive, or allow yourself to be driven by someone who is impaired.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful girl....

[fooj]

1. Wise words.

(((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))) to you, Grannylib!

:hug:

[MissWaverly]

2. thanks for caring about others after your loss

thanks for trying to make the world a better place, thanks!

:-)

[Maestro]

3. So sorry for your loss

I will hug my kids extra hard tonight. :hug:

[elehhhhna]

4. already do, will continue...so sorry about your sweet daugher...

can't even imagine how it must feel. 20 is still just a baby.

peace

[renate]

5. I'm so sorry for your loss

It's so heartbreaking that she died so young and so unnecessarily.

Reading your story, I'm glad for three things: she gave you 20 years of love and joy, she gave you two grandchildren, and your last words together were loving ones.

:hug:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

6. I am sorry, grannylib

it must be the worst pain in the world. Thanks for the sober reminder.

[flvegan]

7. Again, I'm sorry.

Great message. Happy to Recommend.

Like you said, not just the kids, but anyone you love...or, maybe anyone you even know.

[bonito]

8. Tks, peace n/t

[mike_c]

9. I'm so sorry for your loss....

My daughter will be 26 in about a month. I wish there was something I could say to ease your loss.

xoxo
Mike C.

[lancdem]

10. I'm so sorry for your loss

:cry:

[Old and In the Way]

11. I can't begin to imagine your pain.

It is a parent's worst nightmare. As a parent of an 18YO, your words are taken to heart....peace be unto you.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. (((((grannylib))))))) and your (((((((family)))))). I am so deeply sorry

about your loss.

Thank you for your heartfelt advice.

One thing I do, with both of my sons, is to tell them I love them when ever they leave or I leave the house. I also end phone calls with letting them know that too.......

[flamingyouth]

13. I'm so sorry for your loss

Thank you for sharing this story. We can't hear this message enough.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine it. :hug:

[Mnemosyne]

14. Thank you grannylib for sharing and caring.

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you, her other loved ones and your grandchildren are doing alright. It's hard to lose a parent so young. My daughter lost her father when he was 28 in 1985. She was 6 and it was so hard for her. Still is for her in some ways at 27.

And this is the best advice you could ever give:

"And make sure the words you say to those loved ones are not words you would regret if the unthinkable happened. The last words Emmy and I ever exchanged were "I love you" and I thank God for that."


:hug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. Thank you for this

It just takes one reader to heed your words to avoid another senseless tragedy....
If I may add, even if you don't drink and drive, be especially careful if you know you are out and about when it is likely drunk drivers are on the road. If you can, start for home early or plan to stay until morning somewhere. I've never imbibed, but have had some close shaves when I was out too late near the state line here (my county is a dry county and people drive to the line to get booze-to my mind, better to have a county wet so that the cops can better regulate liquor consumption-and so bar owners know they are liable if they let someone drunk get behind a wheel...)

[AllieB]

16. I'm so sorry for your loss

:hug:

[Breeze54]

17. Luckily my youngest doesn't drink or drive but

his friends are all getting licenses now.... and cars.
He's working on getting his license and he's saving for a car.

You're story is a good reminder to EVERYBODY, not just high school kids!

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!!!!!!!! And BUCKLE UP TOO!!!!!

I'm sorry for your grief and heartache, :hug: but I'm glad you're turning it into a positive! ;)

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:








PS. I was hit by a drunk driver. He almost broke my neck... :grr:
He definately changed my life - - forever.......

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!
:mad:

[redwitch]

18. thank you for looking out for others in spite of your own pain

no one ever thinks it will happen to them or theirs until it does. And young people think they are immortal. :hug:

[hlthe2b]

19. My tears for you and my promise to spread the word....

There was so little asknowledged recognition of the risks and societal lack of acceptance for drinking & driving when I was very young. There is NO excuse now. May peace be with you and your family.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. I can't begin to imagine, grannylib .......

being a parent is hard, being a parent who loses a child, is beyond words.

We do love them so. All of them. Thank for your words of wisdom.

[Mikimouse]

21. Hugs, grannylib, very sorry for your loss...

I don't know what I would do if something similar happened to one of my girls.

[babylonsister]

22. All the foolish things we did in our youth, after your

words of wisdom, I'm glad we woke up. Thank you for sharing, granny, love to beautiful Emmy, and perhaps your post may dissuade young ones who think they're invulnerable to think twice. :hug:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

23. So sorry, grannylib

My thoughts are with you and your family on this sad day.

[midnight]

24. Bless you Grannylib

I have a Emmy too.

[Wheezy]

25. Thank you. n/t

:(

[Spazito]

26. Thank you for posting this important message

My sympathies to you and your family on your loss.

:hug:

[Jazz2006]

27. So very sorry for your loss,

and it is admirable indeed that despite the depth of your pain, you reach out to send a reminder to others in an effort to prevent further tragedies.

:hug:

[Rainscents]

28. I'm so sorry for your loss.

My daughter will be 28 end of this year... It's one of the worst thing for parents to lose their child.

[nutsnberries]

29. thanks for reaching out to everyone with love in her honor and

hugs to you and your family. i'm sorry to hear about your great loss.

k&r

[GreenPartyVoter]

30. *hugs*

[globalvillage]

31. I'm sorry, grannylib.

Wise words, thank you. Happy birthday to your little girl.

[Bucky]

32. Extremely important message just as we come up to graduation night

Lots of kids taken stupid damned risks during the end of May because they're graduating and wanting to celebrate it. Too too many of them won't survive their graduation week. Every week when my students leave class on Friday I wish them "have a safe weekend" and "only idiots drink and drive" hoping that this joking repetition will sink in at the right moment.

[hopeisaplace]

33. my heart goes out to you and your family,

my oldest turns 20 on Thursday. I can't imagine what you have
had to endure. Wise words for sure. I talk to my kids about
drinking and driving often. Actually, M.A.D.D. is one of the
charities I support.
Happy birthday to your beautiful girl from our family too.

[mdmc]

34. the best thing that my parents did for me was to allow me to have

parties and to make sure no one drove drunk. I really had a great designated driver program within my circle of friends in high school.

My thoughts are with you, and her.

[Maddy McCall]

35. I am so sorry, grannylib.

My heart breaks for you.

:hug:

I have already started talking to MMjr about the dangers of driving while drinking. I will continue to do so.

Thank you for this selfless post. :pals:

[Rowdyboy]

36. You honor her memory beautifully....

God bless....

[Control-Z]

37. Too moved for words.

Happy Birthday, to your beautiful girl...

[DeepModem Mom]

38. Thank you, and bless you.

[w8liftinglady]

39. Bless you...and yes,I actually had "the talk" with my oldest tonight.

...he is freshly out of the army and fighting a lot of demons.He knows he can call us if he has too much to drink.I hurt for you,love....and thank you for sharing this with us.It helps.:hug:

[earth mom]

40. I'm sorry for your loss and I thank you for your post.

25 years ago this past April, my mom was killed by a drunk driver as she was walking across the street. I well understand your pain and important words of wisdom. :hug:

[libhill]

41. Sorry for your loss...

my wifes nephew was killed in a one car roll over two weeks ago... same thing, drinking and driving. The boy was killed instantly. People should take your words to heart, and I mean all of us. I just noticed on the news tonight, that a local Police Commander had been arrested on a DWI charge. After twenty something years on the force, and at his age, he should have known better...

[kdpeters]

42. My brother would have been 37 April 30th

I feel your loss. It's been 22 years since I lost my older brother, my role model, my idol to a drunk driver and there hasn't yet been a day since that I don't miss his absence. I am the person I am today because of what happened that night. That event has influenced everything I've experienced since. To this day, a car to me is a sometimes necessary evil -- a big, rolling weapon that must be handled and treated with all the reverence and respect of a loaded gun. In many, many ways it's made me a much better person, but I'd rather to have never had to learn those lessons. I've learned that the three things you must be ready and willing to say to those you love are "I'm sorry," "Thank you," and "I love you" because it's devastating to let these things go unsaid until it's too late.

Peace,
Karl

[NanceGreggs]

43. We will never know ...

... how many lives you may have saved with this post tonight -- reminding those with young children to talk about this, reminding those who are young to think about it.

What a fitting memorial to your daughter, to potentially save others' lives in her name.

All of our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours tonight.

[lildreamer316]

44. My thoughts are with you..

from a former president of SADD.

[auntAgonist]

45. My heart goes out to you grannylib.

thank you for sharing. I'm so terribly sorry for your loss.

aA
:hug:

[Nostradammit]

46. Your beautiful girl had a beautiful mother -

Thanks for the reminder. You honor her with this message.

[BlueIris]

47. I'm sorry for your loss, grannylib. I'm sure it still hurts like hell.

And, seriously, what you posted about getting a designated driver if you are even slightly impaired--by anything, including stress or lack of sleep, and sharing that message with the young or underinformed. It really is just that important.

[pecwae]

48. My son will be 30 on August 7;

he was killed in an auto accident 11/10/98. I have received that phone call. The grief softens around the edges over time, but never heals completely.

Hugs for you, dear grannylib. I know where you're coming from.

Hugs to you grannylib.

[BrklynLiberal]

54. I am so sorry for your tragic loss.

I have a 35 year old son, and cannot begin to imagine the pain.
:cry:

[depakid]

49. Driving safely period- and wearing a seatbelt

I've also lost people I've loved- one because she fell asleep at the wheel and another because he was too stubborn to wear his seatbelt.

(((((((grannylib)))))))))

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

50. God Bless, grannylib. And thank you.

[dogday]

51. Words cannot express

how sorry I am for your loss... My youngest is 11 and I have already started talking to her and showing her articles on what happens.. I will let her read yours, I could not of said it any better. I will light a candle today in remembrance of your daughter.... Good thoughts and wishes going out to you :hug:

[garybeck]

52. sorrow and blessings to you.

I'm sure it still feels like yesterday. some things words can not describe. thank you for reaching out.

[BrklynLiberal]

53. I cannot imagine the heartache....

Thanks so much for posting this very, very important warning.
:cry: :hug:

[TexasLady]

55. my heart hurts so much for you

and you cant pound these thoughts enough! my brother will be gone nine years, as he thought it a fine idea to ride a motorcycle on my 34th b-day drunk. hell, he only had a few drinks too, as the evening was quite young....i was thankful he took no others with him...

my sentiments of happy b-day to your daughter as well.

[Danascot]

56. My 16yo son just got his license last week

Your post made me take the time to send him this email. Thank you:

Hey Sam,

I just read a sad story about parents remembering the birthday of a teenager who had been killed by a drunk driver and how devastated the family still was several years after the event. When I hear things like that it hits home because I couldn't bear for you to be hurt or killed. I wanted to emphasize a couple of things I've mentioned to you before.

There are risk factors that exponentially increase the odds of an accident involving young people:

The odds go up for each additional person in the car, and;

When the passengers are being rowdy.

When music is being played loudly.

When the occupants are intoxicated on alcohol or drugs, even if only the passengers but especially if it's the driver.

When speed or careless driving is involved.

Right now you are the best and safest driver I know. I hope you will recall my little sermon here if you become aware that any of those situations are developing, and take steps to defuse them, whether you are the driver or a passenger.

If you find yourself in a bad situation, I hope you know you can call me anytime, night or day. If it's humanly possible, I will come get you or get you help. If it isn't I hope you will be able to refuse to ride in an unsafe situation or if you are the driver and are impaired, that you will take a nap or chill out for a couple of hours.

Love, Dad

[redqueen]

57. I'm so sorry, grannylib...

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[me b zola]

58. Peace to you, grannylib

:hug:

[i miss america]

59. Peace to you Grannylib

:hug:

[HeeBGBz]

60. My daughter is 26 today

Your words hit home. My daughter is in Boston for 10 days for her best friends wedding. She tends to drink a bit too much and before she left I warned her not to over indulge and take any chances in unfamiliar territory. I'm hoping she won't party too hard in her birthday celebrations.

I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for your post.

[DemExpat]

61. Oh, grannylib, this is the unthinkable....my daughter Emmy will be 25

in September.

I am so sorry for your loss of your beautiful girl.

:hug: :cry: :hug:

DemEx

[Raine]

62. So sorry...

:hug:

[stop the bleeding]

63. Peace and Happy Birthday to you

When my lady and I first started seeing each other just before 9/11 she could never understand why I insisted that you always try to remember to tell the ones you love - that you love them. However it didn't take her long to realize what/why I was saying.

Peace to you and your family.

[wicket]

64. My god, I am so sorry

:hug: