Week 4-The Crash!

We were coming home from my son's basketball game last night when we were struck by a drunk driver. Thankfully no one had any major injuries. The woman who hit may family has prior DUI'S! My emotions are all over the map. The social worker in me knows that she must be an alcoholic and clearly needs help. The mother in me is furious that she harmed my children and could have killed them.

After we were hit, I immediately checked on my children and then I went to check on the other car. I asked the women if she was ok. She said she was and then asked if there was anyway to keep the police out of this. As she spoke that sentence I could see she and hear that she was intoxicated. This furthers my anger as my first thought was to make sure everyone was ok and hers was to not involve the police. She never even asked if my children were ok!!!! As we waited for the police she started to complain about the damage to her car. My goodness I had to walk away as I never wanted to hit someone so bad in my life. (I know that is very un-social worker of me, but at least I did walk away!!) I do not understand how she could think so clearly about the consequences of her actions after being hit by an air bag but could not think of it prior to starting up her car. Her immediate thoughts after the accident was not wanting to get into trouble..Why didn't she think of this before she went to the bar when she knew she did have a safe way home? Why have the previous DUI'S not made an impact on her? What will it take for her to change her ways? I do not feel her illness or bad choices should absolve her from her responsibility to society.

When I asked her why she would put my family at risk? Why she felt she had the right to drive drunk and risk killing someone? She said she was just really mad about something. Yes so am I!!!

This accident has also re-enforced my love of my community as before I was even able to get my children out of the car there was a host of bystanders there to help us. I am so thankful to live in a community full of wonderful people willing to help without ever being asked.

 

Week 3 of Semester two..on our way!

I am excited to start my second semester at HSU and feel great to have one semester under my belt. The first few weeks I have had a few challenges with the updated system but am finding my way. I am nervous and overwhelmed with the thought of the work load for the semester. It feels like an avalanche of work but I will continue to dig my way out one paper or one post at a time.

I found this weeks reading Chapter 3 of Why I Write to mimic my feelings. I really enjoyed Timothy Patrick McCarthy's writing about the struggles and accomplishments in his life. I found it interesting he still experienced feelings of "intellectual inadequacy" at his level of academia(p.31). I love that he was so honest in his self-reflection and allowed us to view him through his words. I found Mr. McCarthy's to be inspirational when he wrote he would "replace insecurity with courage"(p.38). I think I shall strive for the same. I also think this is a central message I will be trying to empower my clients with. If we are able to let go of our insecurities and proceed with courage it seem the possibilities would be limitless.

I wish you all a great week!

McCarthy, Timothy Patrick (2006). Why I Write. In J. Downs (Ed.), Why We Write(pp. 27-38) New York:Routledge.