Not gonna say too much today.....
On January 8, 1997 my friend Sam and her brother Randy were struck by a car and killed. Sam was 17 and Randy was 11. The man driving the car was reaching down to get a sip of beer, taking his eyes off the road, and that's why he hit them. He was sentenced to 200 hours community service and has been pulled over for DUI 3 times since. Today would have been Sam's 26th birthday. I'd like to share a letter I wrote to her this morning and am going to leave on her grave when I wish her a happy birthday today. I hope this can make sure none of you drink and drive. Happy birthday Sam, R.I.P.
Hey Sam,
People may say its a little strange writing to you but I figured what the hell its your birthday. There were a couple things I wanted to tell you. First off, Im sorry it took me so long to come see you. Its not that I didnt want to its just that I didnt want to face reality and physically see that youve really been taken from us. It was nice to come see you that first time though. Difficult, but nice. Thanks for sending Adam by the way, hes really fun to hang out with and a good friend.
Second, thanks for coming to visit me as often as you do. I know a lot of people loved you and Im sure youve got lots of rounds to make. I wanted to know I appreciate you including me in on that. We were only friends for a year and that makes me feel special; but thats who you were, Im glad it carried over to wherever you are now and you havent changed. By the way I still have that Power Rangers lunchbox we decorated with my white out pen. Its become one of my most prized possessions. I made a tee shirt too. Its the picture of you and me one day in dance class and it says, Drive carefully. Sam Deglin was my friend. I know it wont bring you back but maybe in some small way it can prevent someone else from losing their friend & daughter.
Third, about that essay you wrote that they printed in the paper. I still remember that day as if it were yesterday and again I wanna thank you for including me in it. The part where you called me a brilliant dancer still pierces my heart to this day. You were the first person to ever praise my art like that and if anybody else said it to me it wouldnt sound nearly as beautiful. I hope you know that made me strive harder in my profession and since then Ive always had you in my heart during a performance youve become my muse.
I wish I could tell you all these things in person. I wish I was going to go to wherever youd be now for a birthday party and catch up on old times. I wish it couldve been me instead of you. Im a firm believer in things happen for a reason but there was no reason for you and your brother to be taken from us. You lit up the world and everyones lives you came into contact with. Even though I only knew you for a short time I feel lucky just to have known you at all. And if a stranger were to read this I hope they would understand how special you were during your time here (Im not as talented a writer as you so I really do hope theyd get the picture).
Its finally nice to get all these things out after so long. Just know youre just as missed and loved as you were that horrific day almost 9 years ago when some higher power decided youd served your purpose in this life with us (how was that for a run-on sentence?). It truly was a black day in our lives and always will be. But we try not to remember how you died, we like to remember how you lived. We love you Sam and well never ever forget you. I hope Ill see you again when I join you over there. Happy birthday.
On January 8, 1997 my friend Sam and her brother Randy were struck by a car and killed. Sam was 17 and Randy was 11. The man driving the car was reaching down to get a sip of beer, taking his eyes off the road, and that's why he hit them. He was sentenced to 200 hours community service and has been pulled over for DUI 3 times since. Today would have been Sam's 26th birthday. I'd like to share a letter I wrote to her this morning and am going to leave on her grave when I wish her a happy birthday today. I hope this can make sure none of you drink and drive. Happy birthday Sam, R.I.P.
Hey Sam,
People may say its a little strange writing to you but I figured what the hell its your birthday. There were a couple things I wanted to tell you. First off, Im sorry it took me so long to come see you. Its not that I didnt want to its just that I didnt want to face reality and physically see that youve really been taken from us. It was nice to come see you that first time though. Difficult, but nice. Thanks for sending Adam by the way, hes really fun to hang out with and a good friend.
Second, thanks for coming to visit me as often as you do. I know a lot of people loved you and Im sure youve got lots of rounds to make. I wanted to know I appreciate you including me in on that. We were only friends for a year and that makes me feel special; but thats who you were, Im glad it carried over to wherever you are now and you havent changed. By the way I still have that Power Rangers lunchbox we decorated with my white out pen. Its become one of my most prized possessions. I made a tee shirt too. Its the picture of you and me one day in dance class and it says, Drive carefully. Sam Deglin was my friend. I know it wont bring you back but maybe in some small way it can prevent someone else from losing their friend & daughter.
Third, about that essay you wrote that they printed in the paper. I still remember that day as if it were yesterday and again I wanna thank you for including me in it. The part where you called me a brilliant dancer still pierces my heart to this day. You were the first person to ever praise my art like that and if anybody else said it to me it wouldnt sound nearly as beautiful. I hope you know that made me strive harder in my profession and since then Ive always had you in my heart during a performance youve become my muse.
I wish I could tell you all these things in person. I wish I was going to go to wherever youd be now for a birthday party and catch up on old times. I wish it couldve been me instead of you. Im a firm believer in things happen for a reason but there was no reason for you and your brother to be taken from us. You lit up the world and everyones lives you came into contact with. Even though I only knew you for a short time I feel lucky just to have known you at all. And if a stranger were to read this I hope they would understand how special you were during your time here (Im not as talented a writer as you so I really do hope theyd get the picture).
Its finally nice to get all these things out after so long. Just know youre just as missed and loved as you were that horrific day almost 9 years ago when some higher power decided youd served your purpose in this life with us (how was that for a run-on sentence?). It truly was a black day in our lives and always will be. But we try not to remember how you died, we like to remember how you lived. We love you Sam and well never ever forget you. I hope Ill see you again when I join you over there. Happy birthday.
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Happy b-day Sam!