By By MaryClaire Foster
This past weekend I made my sixth trip down the aisle as a bridesmaid.
From the rehearsal to the reception, everything went smoothly and was beautiful, my dress fit, the food was delicious and the band played all night. All in all, it was a wonderful two days of events.
Then Sunday came and I received one of those dreaded phone calls you wish you had never answered, or in my case returned. My friend Brad had called saying our friend, Chad, had died early Sunday morning in a car accident.
He had been out Saturday night at a bachelor party celebrating and drove home alone after the festivities wrapped up. He fell asleep at the wheel and traveled into the other lane crashing head-on into another car, critically injuring its driver.
Chad was not only a great friend to countless people but also a loving father, and this month marked his second year home from serving in the war. In fact, he took Brad to the Army office to sign up two weeks after he had returned.
To think that he bravely served our country in the military and came home alive from the war only to lose his life in a car accident is unbelievable.
I can’t even begin to imagine what his family and girlfriend are going through.
So far in my life, I have been very fortunate to have only lost a handful of loved ones and never one in such a horrific way.
Like any death, this is a reminder to cherish your loved ones, but it has also served as a reminder about getting behind the wheel when you’ve been out celebrating.
I personally see nothing wrong with having a cocktail, but it’s what we do after having it that counts.
It’s a cruel reality, but still a reality, and I can’t help but think of the family and friends of the other driver who probably see my friend as the one who hurt their loved one. That’s not the legacy anyone, especially one so kind and good as Chad, should leave behind in another’s eyes.
It’s that time of year when there are all kinds of celebrations occurring, whether it be a wedding or graduation, and often with celebrating comes drinking.
I doubt my saying what we’ve all heard a million times will make any big impact on someone’s actions, but still I feel compelled to say it. Remember when you make the choice to drink and drive you risk hurting not only yourself, but your friends and family as well as anyone else on the road with you.
I hope you will say some extra prayers for Chad’s family and friends and the other driver and their family and friends as they deal with the aftermath of this accident.
MaryClaire Foster is news editor for the Atmore Advance. She can be reached at (251) 368-2123 or via email at lifestyles@atmoreadvance.com