Re: RE: OT: Michele

January 9, 2008

Oh Michele, I am so very sorry to hear that. How horribly tragic, I had no idea.

The laws have gotten better, but still have a very, very long way to go. We

regulate smoking better than we do alcohol!!!

I went to my insurance agent's office today and her dad was also killed by a

drunk driver, something I hadn't known before. I've been pretty shook up all

day. I only slept about 4 hours last night. The prednisone is not helping my

mood, that is for sure. You'd think I had been through a major trauma the way I

am acting today. I think I just am really stressed right now, plus, it brought

back memories of my terrible accident 9 years ago that took me years to recover

from , and likely triggered my RA, and caused a lawsuit (I was sued over an

accident caused by severe wind and had to go through a trial and an appeal).

Anyway, I know I did the right thing. I talked to the other driver's insurance

agent today and she said the wife is really upset. I said, Well, I'm sorry for

her, but her husband did not need to be on the street. I am still very glad he

hit me and it was minimal, better for that to have happened and we stopped him

than for him to have gone on and killed someone.

Enough whining.

How is your mom? Chris?

and Rob 18 JAS

OT: You are not going to believe this

>

> Today, I was off so I took the opportunity to visit my dear friend,

> , who is staying with her parents about an hour and a half

> away in

> Greenwood, Indiana. 's mother has been given a diagnosis of

> terminalthroat cancer. has taken FMLA and gone up to stay

> with and help her

> family, and give her sister a break. Not only is 's mother

> (Shirley)ill, but 's dad has multiple medical problems and

> is on a

> walker. Then there is 's 47 year old brother, , who is blind,

> diabetic, and schizophrenic and very childlike. It is a terrible

> situation. Shirley has been the rock of the family. She says she is

> ready to meet the Lord whenever he is ready for her, but leaving her

> husband and son behind is just so heartbreaking for her. I went

> up today

> for a visit. Was there most of the day. Long story short, coming

> home I

> missed my exit and found myself going down I65 towards

> Louisville. I got

> off, thinking I'd go to Veterans Parkway and get gas, and

> changed my

> mind on the off ramp. I got in the left lane and was sitting

> there at

> the light, stopped, when a drunk driver hit me...in Rob's brand new

> (albeit used) Durango that I had just picked up from him in

> Indianapolis, as I need to get it LICENSED tomorrow. So here I

> am with a

> guy who is begging me not to call police, when I can tell he has been

> drinking. It was a 20 minute act of stalling while called the

> police (from home, after I called him on my cell), so the guy would

> think the police just 'happened' up on our accident. It was

> heartbreaking to see him being cuffed but I knew I did the right thing

> getting him off the street. I just kept thinking of two of Rob's

> classmates, one drunk who drove her car and killed the other.

> This got

> me so upset and sad, and crying while I watched the scene unfold

> in my

> rear view mirror. I'm not hurt physically, the car isn't bad,

> just a few

> scratches, but we had to get this guy off the street. Of course,

> he told

> me his life story about why I shouldn't turn him in. I told him

> I had

> seen many tragedies related to alcohol and that it was not fair

> for him

> to be taking chances with others lives! Nervy, aren't I. So, I just

> played along with him, listened to his story, taking FOREVER to write

> his name and address, and making him get out his insurance card,

> licensewhile stalling for time till the police arrived. At least

> he was a

> pleasant, talky drunk...poor fellow. He is sitting in jail as I

> type. He

> is God's child too so please pray for him, his name is .

> I'm so shook up I doubt I will sleep tonight. It was a pretty

> harrowingexperience waiting for the police. But thank God he hit

> me, did little

> damage, and is now off the street where he can't hurt anyone.

> I'm going to wait to tell Rob about the Durango, he doesn't deal well

> with anger these days...oi

>

January 9, 2008

I can understand how you are feeling. Even though it may not seem major,

it is still something that happened to you. It could have been worse and

that may be what your brain keeps telling you. That is how I felt after

my accident. On the one hand I felt silly that I was so upset when I

knew it could have been worse, yet it still made me feel so vulnerable.

Thanks for asking after my mom. I did catch your email from a while ago,

but have been quite busy that I did not respond as I wanted to. My mom

is physically doing better. The wound however is not healing as they

would like so the nurses have started this regimen that includes some

type of seaweed thing that is placed in the wound to help the skin begin

growing and healing. Mentally she is crabby and not her usual self.

Sometimes she acts and sounds so helpless (which is not my mom at all)

that it gets quite frustrating. So, we are all just doing our best. She

goes to Dr Peerson at the end of the month in Indy and perhaps she will

get the brace off. Then I figure it will be a lot of PT.

is doing ok. They really like him at his job, so he has not looked

into college as he is flattered that they think so highly of him. Which

is great, he is a hard worker and quite smart (if I do say so myself

LOL) but of course, I would love him to have something more to fall back

on. Physically, it is much the same. Days when it is cold and damp are

toughest on him, plus when he works on the side detailing trucks and

cars, I can notice the limping and sore hands. He has mentioned going

back to a dr, so I will keep pushing that door open. His asthma also has

its flare days and good days. I even have my DH thinking about getting

back to the dr for his RA.

Hope Rob will enjoy his next semester. How many classes is he taking?

Make sure you rest today (and don't feel guilty!). You deserve it,

Michele

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of snooksmama@...

Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 1:09 PM

Subject: Re: RE: OT: Michele

Oh Michele, I am so very sorry to hear that. How horribly tragic, I had

no idea. The laws have gotten better, but still have a very, very long

way to go. We regulate smoking better than we do alcohol!!!

I went to my insurance agent's office today and her dad was also killed

by a drunk driver, something I hadn't known before. I've been pretty

shook up all day. I only slept about 4 hours last night. The prednisone

is not helping my mood, that is for sure. You'd think I had been through

a major trauma the way I am acting today. I think I just am really

stressed right now, plus, it brought back memories of my terrible

accident 9 years ago that took me years to recover from , and likely

triggered my RA, and caused a lawsuit (I was sued over an accident

caused by severe wind and had to go through a trial and an appeal).

Anyway, I know I did the right thing. I talked to the other driver's

insurance agent today and she said the wife is really upset. I said,

Well, I'm sorry for her, but her husband did not need to be on the

street. I am still very glad he hit me and it was minimal, better for

that to have happened and we stopped him than for him to have gone on

and killed someone.