Anything But Gray

I got home from dropping the kids off at school this morning and I called next door to see how Rick and Gabby were doing. Mom had called me to let me know Gabby stayed home sick and she wanted me to see if they wanted some of the donuts she brought home last night….so I call. Rick tells me that they are talking about the kid that died Friday night on the news this morning. So I look it up online, to see what's going on….
I find this article…

so sad…

That night, my impression of these kids were they are punks. Punk kids, thinking they are invincible and being completely stupid and reckless without any regard for human life, theirs or anyone else's. I was, quite frankly, pissed off. Had Shelly and I been there one second earlier. …or one inch over in either direction, we would've been in a head on collision…it was very much a near miss and really scary. And I was pissed as hell at these kids. Here I am out with my friend on a Friday night, just talking and listening to music and cruising around….and these kids almost hit us. This, coupled with the fact that they tried to walk away from the scene and the fighting with people who were trying to keep them from running….my impression was they were punk ass kids. But then you read this and it breaks your heart.

Maybe they were good kids that made one stupid, stupid mistake….and made it bigger by trying to run. Had he had stayed at the scene, he would've been sent to the hospital and they probably could've saved him. So I know it's his own doing….but how many mistakes did I make at that age, that could've killed me? More than I care to admit. I went through a period where I was really reckless….not in this type of way….but I did my fair share of things that should've or could've killed me, but all in all..I was a good kid, at heart.  Maybe these kids are too. I hope the others learn something from this…..don't make a dumb mistake, bigger. If you srew up, take your punishment…don't try to run from mistakes you make. Maybe the others will take this with them through life…

I hope so.
I hope something positive can come from this senseless tragedy.

The police called me last night and Shelly and I will have to go down to the police station to give a more detailed statement. I don't want to go. I really don't.
What's done is done….what does what we saw, change?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.

And all I keep thinking, over and over….
Why did you run?
Why the hell did you run???