Death of an Innocent

[giveandreceive]

So I shared this on myspace, but thought I'd send it out again especially with the Superbowl coming and the guy getting sentenced today. Anyone who knew Becca knows this is her in the poem.
Death of an Innocent
I went to a party, Mom,
I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom,
So I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom,
The way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom,
Even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom,
I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
As everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom,
I knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me,
So responsible and sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom,
But as I pulled out into the road,
The other car didn't see me, Mom,
And hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
I hear the policeman say,
"The other guy is drunk," Mom,
And now I'm the one who will pay.
I'm lying here dying, Mom...
I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom,
And most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom,
I'll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom.
The others didn't think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank
And I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom?
It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now.
Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
And I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying
And all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.
Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom,
Put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.
Someone should have told him, Mom,
Not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom,
I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom.
I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom.
When I needed you,
you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom.
Before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive,
So why am I the one to die?
Becca rarely if ever drank, she was always the sober driver when we'd go out. Becca died a couple blocks away from her house. She had been out that night because she was scheduled to leave the next day to Italy to study abroad. The guy that hit her was 'blacked out,' which is alcohol related amnesia. He didn't even attempt to stop once he crashed into her passenger side. The only reason the cars stopped was because her side hit a pole. He was on probation from underage drinking & driving before. He had chance after chance and it took the law system a death of an innocent to put him in jail.

Please share with others so you won't feel the same pain we feel...

Poem obtained from Charity Guide

wcco.com - Video Library
Eagan man sentenced in student's DWI death

[artsykindofmom]

wow what a touching poem .I cryed because I am a mother and that pain you try to teach your kids the right things .Everyone that drinks and drive should read that.If they have to drink they need to call a cab.Sorry that was so heart breaking .but so true I didnt know Becca but I feel the pain I know nomatter what is said or done it cant change the past just maybe it will change someone from driveing dunk.I cant stop crying god be with you and your family and Becca.It a shame nothing was done before this are system is not the greatest .I to know how people get away with things nomatter what you have.I had to move my system let me down like it had you.Again you will be in my prayers.

[buddysmom]

(((hugs to you ))))

[tacatcon]

Very touching poem. I am so sorry about your friend. She was beautiful and so young. Just sickening that in this day and age, people don't get it.

[billig]

oops, I was cutting and pasting and took my own message away.

I was going to add a story about my brother NOT being on a trip with his buddies and the buddies had a horrible accident. My brother had to work the day they went to the cabin, so he was going to join them later. All I can say is Thank God my brother wasn't there!!!!
These guys were all drunk, driving two cars on some hilly roads in Wisconsin. One decided to pass the other, going up hill. Up to the hill there's a pick-up coming at them. The person in the pick-up is "ok"...which means alive, but I have no idea if they have life-long pains.
As for my brothers friends, the passenger in the front seat is dead, the driver and the passenger in the backseat were in the hospital for months and months recovering with things like broken pelvis's, cheekbones, legs broken in multiple places, that kind of thing. I believe the one in the backseat is actually dead now, but from a later snowmobile accident. Somehow a near death experience didn't calm his lifestyle. The driver is someone I am aware of through another friend who works in the same office, and this guy is cheating on his wife.
The friends in the other car watched this all happen right before their eyes. They were drunk too. I know of a few things about those bad apples too. This all made me realize that I couldn't understand why my brother hangs out with these guys! He's not like that! Really. My brother is a very responsible husband, father, employee, son.
I am such a fuddy-duddy...I don't like anything like that. Last night I went to Orchestra Hall and saw Mr. Sulu from Star Trek speak about the history of science fiction and the movie industry, interspersed with the Minnesota Orchestra playing all the music from all the major science fiction movies and I thought it was an absolute fabulous evening! And yesterday I went to a couple quilt exhibits with my quilt buddies and had a blast. (I have two quilts hanging at the White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church in Mahtomedi).

This will turn into a Hot-Headed thread if I get on to the subject of what I think they should do to drunk drivers. How dare you take a weapon that weighs 1-2 tons and get behind the wheel of it and voluntarily take the life of another human being! No one forced you to drive drunk! Especially here in the Twin Cities where we have taxis everywhere. And let me get onto another subject of prison...why aren't all our prisons self sufficient? All these criminals being let out early because we don't have space and money is just unacceptable! Prisons should be running themselves, we shouldn't have to pay for them.
If a drunk driver killed someone in my family, they would want a very long sentence...because when they get out, no one would ever find the body.

[hotcouponmama]

Great message - thank you for taking the time to share it here. It's a good reminder for us all, and after all, that's what a good community does - take care of each other.

HUGS to you and thanks!

[jolee]

this is sooo sad, but it needs to be shared

(((hugs)))

[mom2Isaac]

I remember when this poem first came out. It touched me then and it still does. Even more so now b/c back them I wasn't a mommy....

[misse]

My cousin is mad because the schools teach children that alcohol and cigarettes are a drug. I say anything to keep them from trying either one is a plus. My son has a classmate in a wheelchair for the rest of his life due to a drunk driver.

I would like to add. tell your teens if they go to a party and it looks like someone is not breathing call the ambulance and get help right away. don't stand around worrying about getting in trouble for drinking or worrying about the adult who bought the alcohol. worry about the person who is in danger.
we had a group of teens here that had a party and they let a teenage girl die because they were afraid to call the ambulance due to the underage drinkers. some of the kids were sober but they all did nothing.

[bnjv8crd]

Technically alcohol and cigarettes are a drug, just a legal one. I want the school to make it a point to tell the kids what can happen to them if they choose to do those things.