Tags
choice, death, Diana Schwenk, drinking and driving, family, friends, Think, tragedy, wisdom, world issues
Don’t get me wrong. I like having a glass or two of my favourite cocktail. The occasional beer hits that spot on a hot summer’s day. A glass raised in a toast to a newly married couple or in honour of a loved one’s achievement helps us to celebrate the milestones in life. And in hard times, wine shared with a friend brings comfort and hope.
But please, when you are done and contemplating going home, stop and think about whether you should be driving or not.
Stop and think about our sons and daughters – we’ve worked hard to give them a good start in life. We’re proud of their accomplishments. We know that they will do great things and impact this world in remarkable ways.
Stop and think about our grandparents, our parents, our teachers, our coaches – all those wonderful people who have mentored us, taught us and helped us find our way in this world.
Stop and think about our friends. They are as close as family to us. They stand by us through thick and thin. They mean everything to us.
Stop and think about them. We love them so very much.
The cost of a bus ride or taxi seems trivial compared to the cost of losing a loved one.
~
I never met her. I understand that she was one of the happiest people ever. She was always smiling. She was always looking at the positives in any given situation.
A few days ago, Bailey drove her sister home after they enjoyed some time together.
I wasn’t there, but I imagine they hugged when Bailey dropped her off.
Maybe they talked about the next time they would get together.
Probably Bailey said I love you before her sister shut the car door.
I bet Bailey watched her sister open the house door and waved to her before she went in.
Maybe Bailey smiled when she thought of their day together – about how blessed she was to have a sister before she put the car into gear and drove off.
It is my understanding that Bailey was within a kilometer of her house when she was hit by a drunk driver.
Michaela 2nd from the left and Bailey, far right with friends on their graduation.
Please – Stop and think before you drive.
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who loved Bailey.
Rest in peace Bailey
~ THE HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
talktodiana 
Thank you for your excellent and poignant reminder, Diana.
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Thanks for stopping by Russ!
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This is so heart wrenching! What an unnecessary tragedy!!
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Yes it is…
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I was about 20 when 2 of my friends were hit by a drunk driver. Thankfully they both survived but both were badly injured. It was scary and a real wake-up for me. I decided then and there I could never put someone through what my friends families had to deal with or worse. It’s a good reminder. It’s never worth the risk.
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How wonderful that you could decide that at such a young age!
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Nothing like seeing your friend in a hospital bed to give you a wake up call.
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Very sad. I dimly recall a recent news headline but didn’t read further… People just forget how powerful …a car is. It is 1 ton ..machine or weapon at the wrong time.
Not only drunk driving, it also scares me to see people texting or on cell phone while driving –even though it’s illegal in our province.
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I know, it’s crazy Jean. Why are we so scared to be out of touch? Why is it necessary to be in touch 24/7?
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I wonder too.
It actually…would drive me nuts to be in contact several times per day over trivial stuff with a loved one if they normally are mobile, healthy individuals who are themselves reasonably well-organized.
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I sat on this post for 2 days because it brought back painful memories as my cousin, closest to me in age, was killed by a drunken driver 38 years ago. There is not a family function that goes by where I do not think of him, and every year that I live I am grateful for, as it is one more year of life for me that he did not enjoy. It turned me into an over-protective parent for those years when the kids were aged 17 – 22 with much nagging about drinking and driving and being mindful of others etc. However, as a 26 year old and then a doctor in the emergency department at the hospital (and having by then seen the mangled mess of bodies brought into the emergency room after car crashes), my eldest son took me to dinner and said to me ‘thanks Mum, for all your nagging, and especially thanks for not letting me ever to get into a car-load of five others with an inexperienced driver at the wheel. Now I know what you were on about’.
Your daughter will probably take this with her all her life, yet some day maybe she will see that it has given her a hidden strength, a disguised wisdom that she otherwise would not have had.
Thanks Diana for this post and if only we could get such messages out to a wider audience so that we could prevent such things ever happening.
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Wow Elizabeth, thank you for sharing your story. I’m so sorry for your loss. These tragedies change people forever. I feel for Bailey’s parents. No parent should have to bury their child. It’s so sad.
I smiled at the part where your son took you out for dinner and thanked you.
xo
Diana
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What a sad and tragic event –Unfortunately similar awful scenarios like this one happen all too often. Hopefully someday people will learn not to drink and drive.
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Perhaps a person’s car needs to be taken away!
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SUCH a great post. I have always been adamantly against drunk driving. It can literally ruin lives in SECONDS. So sad for that beautiful girl’s family. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks Alicia. It does ruin lives and change family forever. So frustrating because it’s entirely preventable!
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The thing is though when a person is drunk the don’t stop and think and if they do think they think they are fine to drive drinking makes it impossible to think clearly…………………
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Yeah there seems to be a line of no return…
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My condolences! It’s clearly still a problem, but at least society is beginning to treat it as such.
Back in the 80s or so, there was a strong wink-nudge attitude. My company used to host events with open bars back in those days, and then we all drove home in company vehicles. Every other Friday, after the bi-weekly meeting, our boss would take us across the street to the bar and get us hammered. (And then we drove home,… etc.)
It’s kind of shocking to think back on.
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A lot of stuff is shocking looking back like no seat belts for example!
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Ah, yes, good example! It’s hard to even imagine driving without a seat belt anymore!
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This is a topic which is very important to me. Our laws around making people accountable for what happens when they get behind a wheel impaired are ludicrously inadequate and the weak sentences, if any,t hat are handed out are an outrage. To me, it is second degree manslaughter, pure and simple and you should do 5 to 10 for it.
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Hi Seb, thanks for chiming in. It sounds like perhaps you’ve been touched by this type of tragedy and if that’s the case, I am truly sorry.
Peace to you,
Diana
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Peace and prayers for Bailey and all her loved ones. Such an unnecessary death!!
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Yes it is Tersia, so sad.
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this is so sad and unfair 😦
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That it is Kristi ❤
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Poignant call to action…you are wise and brave to put this out. Such an unnecessary loss of a beautiful young life.
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Sad to lose a life over something we have power to choose.
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Peace and prayers for Bailey, her family, friends, and Michaela.
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Thank you my dear – peace to you as well.
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❤
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I am so with you on this one… I don’t drink… having given up 25 years ago…., as an alcoholic I drove many times as drunk as can be… The Good Lord must have looked after me, as I have never had an accident… but when I think back, it is with absolute horror of what I might have done to some other totally innocent person…
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I’m so glad that you can look back with relief and congrats on 25 years of sobriety bulldog!
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There are no words for how tragic this is. Hugs to you and Michaela and prayers to her family.
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Those closest to Bailey can sure use all the prayers and support offered. Thanks Jody.
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What a tragic and preventable end for a beautiful young woman. My heart goes out to her family and friends, and especially to your daughter. RIP, Bailey.
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Thanks Jennifer. My daughter has been quite shook up about this.
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I can’t imagine how devastated she must be!
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She is very sad and angry.
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Who could blame her? Anger is a justifiable emotion in this circumstance for sure. If people want to drink is one thing, but to get behind the wheel of a car and become a menace on the road is completely another thing. A young life snuffed out because of this is beyond understanding.
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Oh Diana. So tragic and sad — and unnecessary a loss. Hugs and blessings to you, your daughter, Bailey’s family and everyone involved in this tragic story.
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It is so very sad indeed. Thanks Louise.
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I feel very sad about this event and my heartfelt sympathy goes to the Bailey’s family.
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Thanks Mom. I can’t imagine what they must be going through.
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when I was a young man, my roommate’s sister was hit by a drunk driver as she walked on the sidewalk near her house.
the driver had had eleven violations in the past, and hit her came back, saw her, and drove away.
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Horrible, just horrible…
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sorry for Bailey’s family and all her friends – your daughter 😦 and for Bailey’s life cut short…
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Me too – thanks for stopping by.
xo
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Very sad. Between drinking and texting there are way too many accidents and tragedies like this. Sorry for your daughter’s loss.
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So true. Thank you Lisa.
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