Arrive Alive~ Don't Drink & Drive!

It is Friday evening of Labor Day weekend 2008 as I write this letter to you. At this time 8 years ago you were jumping out of the shower and into your Wrangler jeans, with not a care in the world. You and your friends were looking forward to a night of partying at the festival grounds at the annual WestFest Festival. Eight years ago tonight was the last night you slept on this earth. You partied hard on that last night from what we learned later. No doubt you "danced the legs" off many a pretty girl that night. You always did.

Tomorrow will be a tougher day. That Saturday afternoon 8 years ago your family and friends were frantically searching for you. You were nowhere to be found. You didn't show up to meet Aaron, your best friend, like you were supposed to. We knew something was wrong. We just didn't know that earlier that day you had died when your truck went over an embankment on a country road near our house and landed upside down in a pool of water. They told me you were knocked unconscious because you didn't have a seat belt on, and that you never knew when your lungs were filling with water and taking away your last breaths. I pray that was the case, and that you died a peaceful death, if there is such a thing.

Sometimes it seems like it has been centuries since we heard your truck pull into the driveway, and as you walked into the house we would hear you say "What's for dinner?" And sometimes it seems like it was yesterday. God only knows what I would give to hear that now, or have one of your bear hugs and hear you say "What's up, old man?" And your laugh. Son you have no idea how much I miss that laugh, and those brown eyes of yours that swept many a pretty girl off her feet. You may have died eight years ago but your memory has never died. Robert, you touched so many lives in your 20 short years.

I often think of how well you were doing in college, and of the plans you had for your life. And so often, I wonder who you'd be today. Kenny Chesney said it best in a song that I think captures what every parent feels that has lost a son or daughter. Yeah Son, I do often wonder, who you'd be today.

"Who You'd Be Today"

Sunny days seem to hurt the most.
I wear the pain like a heavy coat.
I feel you everywhere I go.
I see your smile, I see your face,
I hear you laughin' in the rain.
I still can't believe you're gone.

It ain't fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,
But death tore the pages all away.
God knows how I miss you,
All the hell that I've been through,
Just knowin' no-one could take your place.
An' sometimes I wonder,
Who'd you be today?

Would you see the world? Would you chase your dreams?
Settle down with a family,
I wonder what would you name your babies?
Some days the sky's so blue,
I feel like I can talk to you,
An' I know it might sound crazy.

It ain't fair: you died too young,
Like the story that had just begun,
But death tore the pages all away.
God knows how I miss you,
All the hell that I've been through,
Just knowin' no-one could take your place.
An' sometimes I wonder,
Who you'd be today?

Today, today, today.
Today, today, today.

Sunny days seem to hurt the most.
I wear the pain like a heavy coat.
The only thing that gives me hope,
Is I know I'll see you again some day.

Some day, some day, some day.

I love you Son. God knows I love you and miss you so much. I hope you somehow know that. Rest in peace my son. Rest in peace.

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