12 x 365

July 4, 1983

My parents took my brother Josh and I to the park for a barbecue picnic with their friends. The park we went to was a large park, next to a river, which allowed for a lot of room to run and cool water to play in as the summer day wore on.

The fireworks were beautiful. I watched them alone on my blanket. My brother and my mom, who was very pregnant with my sister, sat about 20 feet away. I enjoyed the solitude as I sipped my strawberry soda.

Fourth of July has always been my favorite holiday.

When we were leaving, my dad and 3 of his friends were loudly yelling and roughhousing in the back of Johns* truck. John was driving, and yelling with them through the window. I sat in the center of the bench seat between John and my mom. Josh was on her lap.

I remember looking at the speakers on the dash and wondering what had happened to the foam covers that were supposed to be on them. There were two right in front of me. They were round speakers, with slits in them in the shape of a large daisy on each.

The traffic was terrible as people were leaving for the night, and I was bored watching the car ahead of us creep forward a few feet at a time. When the car ahead of us managed to move a bit further, I startled when I heard John yell, "Hey! Watch this!"

He punched the gas pedal as hard as he could. The truck slammed into the car in front of us. Hard. I didn't have a seat belt.

I don't remember too much after that.... blood.... my head hurt.... my grandparents.... the hospital room.... the doctor.....

I ended that fourth of July with 12 stitches in the center of my forehead and a severe concussion. I still have the scar that makes me self conscious.

John went to prison for a few years, but I never saw him again.

I learned the lesson early about how important it is to drink responsibly. There is never a good enough excuse to get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you have been drinking.


*Name has been changed