I'm amazed at how things seem to circle back around just as you are about to leave a place. For example, in yesterday's Santa Fe New Mexican, there were two articles to which I have a connection.
The first was the letter that hubby and I wrote about the whole You Can't Walk in the Santa Fe National Cemetery thing. That was in the "My View" section. It had been a while since we sent the letter to the paper, so I figured maybe they just weren't going to put it in. Frankly, though we're still ticked off about it, at this point we are ready to move on and leave it behind us. But it is nice closure to see that we pursued it as far as we could.
The second thing was the paper's headline saying that Scott Owens, who last year was found not guilty of causing the deaths of four teenagers in a 2009 car crash, was arrested again for DUI. I was an alternate juror on Scott's trial, in which it was stipulated that he was indeed highly intoxicated, but his defense attorney argued that he nevertheless was NOT the cause of the accident. I was relieved not to ultimately be a deciding juror, but I did sit through the entire, very intense, 10-day trial.
I was shocked when he was found not guilty, and would not have voted that way. But when that's how it came out, I prayed that he would seize this huge second chance he'd been given, straighten himself out, live a sober life and be an asset to society. So I am very saddened by this turn of events.
I've found this circling around of past events has happened every time I've been ready to move on from a place. Does this happen to you too?
Oh! And P.S. In just two weeks, we've raised more than $10,000 for Jenise!
Great work on the fund raising. Wow...time is running out yes?
ReplyDeleteThat's a terrific amount, well done. And I want to smack that person upside the head and tell him he's wasting his life and he's a danger to others.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Sarah.
DeleteWow, nice job with fundraising!
ReplyDeleteI am so Happy!
DeleteSo they printed your cemetery letter! Good!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about the young man. He is walking a sad path. I hope he doesn't hurt anyone else while he travels it. :(
Good job on the fundraising, indeed!!
Have a great Tuesday. :)
Hi Rita - yes, they printed it! And people coming into the yoga studio mentioned it. I know, it's sad about Scott Owens and I also hope he doesn't hurt anyone else too. :)
DeleteWonderful about your fund raising.
ReplyDeleteGreat that your letter was finally published.
I don't know whether the young man going DUI again makes me sadder or madder. He is obviously a slow learner. And a danger to himself and others. If he is going to continue down this road I hope the only person he damages is himself. Which is of course not possible - his family and friends would also be hurt.
I will never forget the families of the teenagers who were killed in the 2009 accident. One dad had dreadlocks and looked liked he'd lived a hard life, but he showed up for that trial every single day, for his daughter who died in the crash.
DeleteHi Melissa - so pleased about your fundraising for Jenise; the letter getting into the paper re walking in the cemetery .. glad it's appeared; your juror assessment - desperate for all concerned. Happy days ahead as life gathers momentum .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary - on all counts.
Delete