As many of you know while visiting relatives out of town, I had a car accident in the month of September which placed me in the hospital with life threatening injuries, bruising to my voice box, and had my jaw wired shut for a bit. I was in the car with 3 other people; my 2 brothers and a cousin. An Escalade hit us broadside at over 85 MPH because its drunken occupants were running from the police. Everyone in my brothers sedan was wearing a seat belt. The people evading the police were caught and sent to the precinct/jail hospital or whatever and everyone in our car? Rounded up into ambulances and sent to the nearest hospital.

That was almost 8 weeks ago. I’m glad we all had insurance, we’re all almost fine now you know, handling our day to day business. My oldest brother is doing physical therapy, down to twice a week; I can speak, a bit soft but better. The baby brother, well, not a baby at 23 but nonetheless the youngest is back to swimming and after 6 weeks in an un-conscience state, my 32 year old cousin died late last week.

Talking to him in the hospital bed these past few weeks not knowing if he could understand me, going out with friends to get my mind off things. It makes me numb, y’know? All the planning in the world doesn’t prepare you for the real thing. Having to look at him in a hospital bed, then in the morgue then in a casket it all takes a toll. Although my family’s prepped ourselves for such things it’s hard. He leaves behind 2 sons (whose mother, his wife, ALSO died by the hands of a drunken driver) that will be cared for by his sister.

The guys who hit us? Don’t even get me started on the driver and his buddy; not sure I can control myself…

My point? Live life to the fullest; it’s WAY to short for some, to long for others…