That fateful night...

After much thought and not being able to figure out what the heck I wanted to post for my next blog, I had some recent inspirations. I realized I hadn't ever posted the story of "THE NIGHT" and after reading this Toledo Blade article I decided I needed too. Because it seems there are an awful lot of incorrect facts being spread about what exactly happened. Plus the comments have sent me into a rage I haven't felt in a while, so I need to cool off. Now I know I shouldn't let these stupid people get to me but sometimes it is so hard to believe that there are people who actually think that stuff about the horrific events that happened that night and the even worse events that happened after. We were kids and messed up, I realize this now. But I will never agree that we "got" what we deserved. We were and still are good kids, just made a mistake.

Now it has been over 5 years and my memory is a little fogged and I realize everyone has different memories of the night. But this is what I remember...

I guess I will start with how I had just gotten off work from the Francis Family YMCA (best job ever!) and was headed home when I got a phone call from my friend wanting to know what was going on for the night. Having no plans I invited everyone over to my house to just hang out. Eventually Ashley, Austin, and Charlie end up at my house, we eat pizza, watch a little Gone In 60 Seconds. Carl had gotten off work and wanted us to pick him up, I asked my mom if I could go get some ice cream and off we went. Now these next memories are very foggy for me and took a few years to remember. We went to a friend's house and Ding-Dong Ditched her house and then headed to Charlie's so he could change and we could pick up Carl. After that we went to another neighborhood and Ding-Dong Ditched a few more houses then went to another house for something (can't remember). Then headed back to my house because it was late and we had curfews. We headed up Secor to my parents' house when one boy decided to throw a plastic bottle at an on coming car. This was a stupid game that the kids at our high school played and I am sure all high schoolers have done some version of this once in their life. The bottle was thrown and we kept driving turned onto Sterns and then another bottle was thrown. But this time the car hit their breaks and as we turned right onto Monroe Rd, we saw the car begin to turn around. My heart instantly sank when I saw a set of head lights come raging around the corner behind us. The driver accelerates and I begin to think how can I get out of this? I remembered my parents always told me to make anyone driving a way I didn't like to pull over immediately. So I yell quick pull into a drive way and pretend like we weren't driving, my plan was to jump out and run home. As we past my sub-division entrance my heart sank once again. He turned left on to a dark country road with the car gaining on us. I yell once again quick pull into a driveway, no luck. This is where the fear really set in for me. I could feel the doom approaching. The car behind us was getting closer and closer, with each moment I feared for my life more and more. A stop sign came up, he let off the gas a little and I thought this is my moment to get out. But he didn't stop just kept going and the car behind us was so close that the entire interior of the car was lit up by the head lights. I remember just beginning to pray. I began to beg God to spare my life. To please let me survive this, I was too young to die. Had so much to live for and knew my life had purpose that had not yet been fulfilled. I wanted to live and asked God to please keep me safe. The road got darker and darker, then I saw the sign indicating an end of the road. At that moment I figured I was going to die. Suddenly everything went dark I heard someone yell "oh shit" and a loud bang. My next memory is a very bright white light. I felt like I was dead. Instantly I begged God to not let me die, I wasn't ready I needed to go home. I needed to be there for my sister. "Please God let me live and fulfill your purpose for my life"... I felt something say "okay".

At this moment the paramedics are carrying me out.. you can see my shoes through the door.

Suddenly a lady was asking me questions my age, phone number, address, SSN and so on. Then new dread came over my body.. "HOW WAS I GOING TO FACE MY PARENTS?!" I was going to be in so much trouble, I began to rehearse in my head what to say and just say sorry. Nothing but sorry and maybe I won't be grounded for ever. At this point I had no idea the severity of the accident. I assumed I was fine, the neck brace was just protocol. My mom and dad came into the room looking like they had just saw a ghost. I started saying sorry and my mom said "its okay are you okay?" I said I was fine and thats when my dad said "squeeze my finger"... so I did... then he asked "wiggle your toes for me"... I ask "did I do it?"... he answered "we'll talk about it later, I love you"......

TO BE CONTINUED