An important message for my beloved readers

I will be the first to admit that I have made many, MANY mistakes. Mistakes that could have killed someone. Mistakes that I should not have gotten away with. I am (or I should say those around me are) lucky. My mistakes never turned into a painful life lesson. When I lived through my years of drunken and "buzzed" driving, I never hurt anyone. I never hurt myself. But I could have. In the blink of an eye I could have hit someone when I ran a red light. I could have not seen another car as I squinted one eye to focus my vision. When I think back now, I HATE what I did. I was what I will warn my children about.

I will say that I have NEVER driven drunk, buzzed, or anything else with my children. And I haven't even driven myself after having had a few drinks since they were born. I am too valuable to these two little children that need me so desperately. I want to see them grow up, I don't want them to miss my comforting them because of my stupid judgment. But there has been a time or two, when I had to think twice. Was I really too buzzed to drive? I only had two drinks after all. The truth is...yes. And after thinking...I didn't.And in all honesty, if you have to question if you are too buzzed to drive, then you are. Don't do it.

Everyone seems to be talking about texting and driving lately. And I agree with all of the warnings. But the thing is, even ONE drink depending on the situation/drink/person can put you in the same distracted capacity as texting does. It is dangerous. And even if you don't cause an accident, buzzed driving can cause repercussions to both you and your family. Do you want to look into your loving spouse's face and tell them that they were not important enough to you not to drive buzzed, and instead of spending the night of a fresh New Year with them, you spent it in jail. Do you want to be the one to look at your child one day and have to apologize that you were too cheap to spend $20 on a cab but instead spent a chunk of their college fund your YOUR DWI/DUI arrest?

The New Year is supposed to bring promise, hope, and new memories. I plead to you , don't let those dreams be ones broken for an unexpecting family driving home as you "miss" a red light. Don't let those hopes die for a pregnant wife whose husband may die an a drunk driving accident. And don't let those memories be the painful one's of a mistake that could have been prevented.


We do EVERYTHING in our power to avoid accidents to our children. We put plugs in outlets, we wrap up cords, we follow the "SIDS" guidelines. We buckle them safely in carseats, avoid choking hazards, give them their immunizations. So this year, I ask that you sign THIS pledge, promising not to drive buzzed/drunk. Go that extra step to do everything YOU can do to ensure your loved ones have you in their life for another year. Protect your children from YOUR bad decisions. Be the hero and the role model that you want to be for your kids. Don't think it can't happen to you. A split second, a broken taillight causing you to get pulled over, a missed stop sign, a late reaction, can change your life. Just ask Emily.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB9WxnfBILU&feature=player_embedded

So, please enjoy your New Year's Eve. Kiss your loved ones at midnight. Celebrate with a couple of drinks. Dance, laugh, and have fun. But please....if you do choose to drink....call a cab, a friend, anyone. And sign and print THIS to remind you of what is waiting for you at home to sneak in and kiss them goodnight.