I just lost my best eigth grade clarinet player to an automobile accident. The family includes one of my best band parents, and a former euphonium player. The parent and older daughter were in their seat belts, and the younger daughter was not. The accident happened about 18 hours ago, and both of the seat belt users are walking out of the hospital.
Forgive me if this post crosses the line, but I beg and plead with everyone to use the seat belt. I really try not to make statements that will intentionally flame people, but those who do not use seat belts are foolish.
Tom Mason wrote:I must post this rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just lost my best eigth grade clarinet player to an automobile accident. The family includes one of my best band parents, and a former euphonium player. The parent and older daughter were in their seat belts, and the younger daughter was not. The accident happened about 18 hours ago, and both of the seat belt users are walking out of the hospital.
Forgive me if this post crosses the line, but I beg and plead with everyone to use the seat belt. I really try not to make statements that will intentionally flame people, but those who do not use seat belts are foolish.
Tom Mason
Regardless of one's views concerning seat belts, this is very sad news. I sense you have more to say than just your view on this important issue.
Tom Mason wrote:I must post this rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just lost my best eigth grade clarinet player to an automobile accident. The family includes one of my best band parents, and a former euphonium player. The parent and older daughter were in their seat belts, and the younger daughter was not. The accident happened about 18 hours ago, and both of the seat belt users are walking out of the hospital.
Forgive me if this post crosses the line, but I beg and plead with everyone to use the seat belt. I really try not to make statements that will intentionally flame people, but those who do not use seat belts are foolish.
Tom Mason
Sorry to hear of your loss. I feel very uncomfortable in a moving vehicle without a seatbelt on, and I wish this were the case for everybody.
bardus est ut bardus probo, Bill Souder
All mushrooms are edible, some are edible only once.
Tom Mason wrote:I must post this rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just lost my best eigth grade clarinet player to an automobile accident. The family includes one of my best band parents, and a former euphonium player. The parent and older daughter were in their seat belts, and the younger daughter was not. The accident happened about 18 hours ago, and both of the seat belt users are walking out of the hospital.
Forgive me if this post crosses the line, but I beg and plead with everyone to use the seat belt. I really try not to make statements that will intentionally flame people, but those who do not use seat belts are foolish.
Tom Mason
Regardless of one's views concerning seat belts, this is very sad news. I sense you have more to say than just your view on this important issue.
In this case, I am saying that there are some very important concepts that all should understand. Being in a moving vehicle without using the proper restraint systems is one of the most observed problems on the road. There are more problems with drivers and driving, but I choose not to open the can of worms.
As some of you know, I work in law enforcement as well as teach and perform. I have seen the accident reports, (in Arkansas, they are referred to as crash reports now) and worked crash scenes. To me, the only thing worse than seeing a teen age victim is an infant victim.
It is really silly how we never learn. Safety Belts really do save lives. The night i graduated from high school, one of my classmates lost his life. It probably could have been prevented if he was wearing his seat belt. My prayers are with the family.
Thoughts and prayers are with the family, and you and your students as well. When the inevetible question arises about how to best honor your clarinetist, have the response be a pledge to wear your seatbelt. I investigated a crash, ended up as a fatality, where a HS kid was killed--he was a baseball player, and all the kids at his school wore his number on their uniforms that year. I happened to umpire the "senior day" softball game, and ran into several of the players after the game. I asked about the #12 on their shirts (having a reasonable idea about why they had done it) and was able to give them that feedback: To truely honor his memory, wear a seatbelt, and make sure everyone in your car does. What an unneccessary loss!
The family includes one of my best band parents, and a former euphonium player. The parent and older daughter were in their seat belts, and the younger daughter was not. The accident happened about 18 hours ago, and both of the seat belt users are walking out of the hospital. 
Sorry to hear of your loss. I feel very uncomfortable in a moving vehicle without a seatbelt on, and I wish this were the case for everybody.
