Your kids!

[thirsty]

If you have kids, give them a hug. Spend every minute you can with them.

Most of you might remember that a couple of years ago my daughter was in a car accident that she walked away from unhurt somehow. I rebuilt her little chevy and once again it was her pride and joy. She took great care of it and even maintained it herself.

Last night she let her best friend drive. There was a bad accident as the result. Somehow my daughter walked away from this one too. I don't know how. She is just banged up pretty good. I didn't bother looking at the car but was told the rear tire was into the passenger's seat where she was sitting. I am so thankful! Her best friend didn't get off so lucky though. She was extracted with the jaws of life and might not walk again.

The reason I'm telling you this is that you just never know what will happen. When she was in the first accident a few years ago I realized how lucky we had gotten. We always give hugs & kisses and say we love you whenever anybody leaves. Yesterday was no exception, I got off the mower and did that when she left. Now I'm not a real mushy guy but I can tell you, this stuff is very trying on the heart when it happens. I am so thankful that our daughter is ok. I am also thankful that her best friend who is like a daughter to us also is still here. I found out what it would feel like if our daughter was critically injured through her. It's terrible.

So even if your the non mushy type like me make sure every minute counts with the family, even the goodbyes!

[Blazin]

I don't have kids myself, but I have half to three quarters of a dozen that are like my own. I always do things to show them, and tell them I love them. I know from the past six or severn years how quickly a young life can be gone. I lost three all at the age of 20 over a 5 year period, plus one of my good friends that was a couple years older than me to cancer the same summer the second child was taken from us. It tore my heart out every time.
I am so glad your girl is okay. Please tell her my thoughts are with her, and her friend. She will have emotional scars to deal with because of her friend being hurt, and her being so lucky.

[zieg85]

Glad to hear your daughter is OK.  I will pray for her friend.  Life is short no matter who you are.  In an instant things change.  I am especially thankful to be given a second chance to tell those in my life how much I love and appreciate them.  Hold you kid and hug her for me, I know where you are coming from first hand, luckily from a different angle...

[bake74]

     Also glad to hear that your daughter is ok.  I hope her friend will be ok and walk again.  My son is 21 and my daughter just turned 18 on Tuesday.
     Every minute I spend with them is special.  They grow up so fast, you just have to do the best you can and hope they take after the best parts of their parents.
     Prayers are with you and your daughter and her friend.

[klaussk]

My prayers are with your daughter and her friend.

[fitz]

Thirsty,
My thoughts go out to both family's.
Fitz

[thirsty]

Thanks everybody for thinking of them.
We have good news so far. My daughter's head injuries will leave no permanent damage. The broken jaw they thought she had at first,it turned out it wasn't. Other than hurting she is fine. One tough girl. She has been to see her friend at the hospital they transferred her to. Her friend's surgery was a success and she has moved both legs, slightly but she moved them some. She is expected to be moved to rehab soon.
I am away for work this weekend but talk to my daughter a few times a day. I hated to leave home but she is doing well. Can't wait to get back.

[bake74]

     Very pleased to hear both are doing better, hopefully it will not be too long before they both are up and being kids again.

[thirsty]

I still have not seen the car in person but this is a pic I took of one of our local newspapers that had done a story on it, The heading for the story was "Crash victims lucky to be alive". That was another reality check when I saw it in print.

[firefighter]

Oh my gosh thirsty, just read this story for the first time. So glad to hear your daughter fared as well as she did !!
These are the times that scare us parents the most. We're not out there every second to protect and guide our kids, and they have to deal with what this cruel world has to give them in different situations.
I pray for the continued recovery of your daughter and for the healing of her friend.

My son just turned 16 and got his license. Yesterday for the first time ever, I handed him the keys and watched him leave our driveway all by himself. It was a gut wrenching feeling knowing I'm not out there with him to guide and protect him.

As thirsty said, it's hard to be soft as a guy, but give your family hugs every day and let them know you love them.

[thirsty]

My son just turned 16 and got his license. Yesterday for the first time ever, I handed him the keys and watched him leave our driveway all by himself. It was a gut wrenching feeling knowing I'm not out there with him to guide and protect him.

firefighter,
Show your son the picture of Amber's car. Not to scare him, but just to let him know that this stuff happens. Even to ordinary people like us. I would like him to do everything he could and then some to avoid you getting one of those phone calls.

Earlier in the afternoon on that day I had those two beautiful 19 yr. old girls in the garage with me. They were sitting in my truck and harassing me about when I would be able to work on it some more. I even had to start it for them! They were full of life and so happy that afternoon. Little did I know that it could have been my last memory with them or one of them. That's kind of the reason I posted something here. I stopped what I was doing to hang out with them for a bit when they came to the garage. I'm glad I did.

[bobcooter]

Yeah, kids always think nothing will happen to them, always to someone else. I've knocked at deaths door twice in the last few years and I learned that every day may be your last. Thirsty is right. Stop and enjoy your kids and tell them you love them every time you have a chance.

[gto109]

Thirsty, this is the first I have read this and sorry to hear about the wreck and glad to hear that they both will be ok.   I have been in a few wrecks where people wondered how I walked away from them.  I know what it's like to be in a roll over, try and clear your head and and realize you can't feel your legs.  It's scary.  Thoughts and prayers go with both families.

[thirsty]

She will have emotional scars to deal with because of her friend being hurt, and her being so lucky.

You were right about this Blazin.

[7Stepside8]

Had a brother killed couple years ago and barely seen him but could have taken 10 minutes to go see him and times I had seen him driving past me I pretended I never seen him and still wonder why I did things like that. Few months after I went to prison for a couple years and really donged on me how much I seperated myself from my family yet kept the ones hurting me close. The day I got out my close grandma died and since I try my absolute best to communicate with ALL family members. Thankfully she is ok. Just thought Id give my 2 cents..