Say a little prayer for me....

[Larry Harp]

... and clear the roads, my baby boy, Andy is turning 16 tomorrow.

Before

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After



He's working right now to save up for his first car. You'll never believe what his dreamcar is....an old Volvo station wagon. He says it's "underground".



Harpo

 

[William H. (Bill) Barham]

What great pics and oh what great trepidation I would have if I were you.n Good looking kid Harpo and the one as a little one is adorable. Mom must be a looker I'm sorry but Andy doesn't look at all like he's even close to 16... You know, my first dream car was a Volvo, NOT Boy am I lost as to whatever "underground" means...



Bill

 

[fatrap]

Having lot's of experience with high school age boys my statement has always been. The most dangerous animal on the North American planet is a teenage boy with a car. I'd rather give them a gun than a car. Most know a gun isn't a toy. Almost all think a car is a toy.

Good luck Harpo the prayer has been said. I made my boy read the "The Day I died poem" Sorry to be so serious.

fatrap

 

[TrepMan]

Harpo - Good looking kid! And that Volvo (if he's talking the V70R or the 750R) is a fast front drive machine!!! Oh and a good full sized mattress will fit if the back seat is folded down. NOW you know why he wants it!!! LOL

 

[Larry Harp]

I agree with you Mike...but what can you do??? I was driving at 15 before I even had a license. It's what every boy lives for. The best a parent can do is train them from day one and keep a tight line on them. He is already enroled in a Drivers Ed course, I have spent a lot of windshield time with him teaching him defensive driving. I stress things like not going through a green light without looking both ways and just keeping an eye out for other drivers mistakes. I told him that it doesn't matter if the other guy is at fault if you're dead. We have already agreed on some basic ground rules such as no more than one other teenage passenger, no driving after dark at least for the first few months, and he will be ristricted to just the city streets in our little town. He is a good kid with a good head on his shoulders, I think, at least I hope he will do okay.



What is the poem you mentioned?



Harpo

 

[Larry Harp]

Trep, go back farther....he's thinking about an old 240 from the 70's or early 80's. My wife drove an 82 240DL for so long it was the disgrace of the neighborhood. It was the weirdest color you ever saw. I called it Gotebo Beige....Gotebo is a small town in western Okla where the dirt is a reddish tan color. Andy grew up in that car I wish we still had it. It would be perfect for Andy. When my daughter, Amie started driving she said she would rather walk than drive the old Volvo. I said "FINE, WALK" but my little girl wrapped me around her little finger and I eventually co-signed for her a brand new Mitsubishi Eclispe. She has worked and made every payment. Andy thinks her car is "Preppy".



Harpo

 

[Staci Matheis]

Just so he doesn't get a Fiat! :lol::lol::lol::lol:





Happy Birthday, Andy!!!





me!

 

[Sue DeLelys]

Harpo,



I remember those days and am saying that prayer for you now.



Like me! said, Happy 16th Andy! Enjoy!



Sue

 

[JR F]

Good Luck Harpo

 

[Rusty Williams]

Volvo station wagon? Hummmmmmm i had a chevy wagon in high school...and i used it for...uhh never mind. Just watch for the sleeping bag in the back in case it *breaks down* trick!!!



RW

 

[BJ Laster]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fatrap]

Harpo

I've been trying to find it. I know our driver's ed teacher has it somewhere. It's more of an essay. This is just from my memory but It starts out with something like this: "The day I died started out just like any other day. I sweet talked Mom out of the car keys so I got drive to school. I had my freedom I was the master of my domain. I know I was driving to fast and maybe showing off a little. When I passed that car that was going too slow I never seen the on coming car. The crash was terrible. The sound of breaking glass and tearing metal. I remember the sad look on the ambulance driver's face as he looked at me and loaded my body onto the stretcher. When my Dad viewed my broken torn body he broke down and fell to his knees crying. "That's him, that's my son he said." The funeral was sad. My friend's were crying. The girls touched my hand and said goodbye. My mother was so overwelmed with grief my Dad had to hold her up.

Wait! this isn't suspose to be happening. I'm only sixteen. I have my hold life ahead of me. Please God give me another chance.:.... I can't remember the rest but that's the gist of it.





Another note. BJ pay heed. I was pulling to the lake a month ago. I was on a two lane highway and was heading East. I had a wrecker behind me and a oncoming car approaching in the West bound lane. Suddenly a red Pontiac came up from behind the on coming car. Going too fast he tried to pull in behind the car he was approaching. He lost control and spun into my lane. I had already pulled off into the ditch when he came spinning by me. The car struck the wrecker traveling behind me head on. Everything just exploded. Red plastic and black junk flying in everydirection.

I pulled into a rural church parking lot and started back on foot. I've done this before. I've smelt the smells of blood, and bodies torn into pieces and was already for another nightmare. Instead the four boys, recent graduates from a local high school, where out of the car. One had a seriously broken wrist one other had a head injury, non serious. They had all been wearing seatbelts. The man driving the wrecker was shook up but uninjured. The dual wheels on the wrecker were torn off and the bed of the wrecker was bent almost 90 degrees from the cab.

The cause of the accident I found out from my sheriff buddies was the Driver of the car was showing off how fast graduation present would go. He didn't realize he couldn't slow down in time. He tried to pass but the wrecker and I were in the way. He lost control.

Sorry for the long post. And the drama.

Tell him congrats from me on his milestone. Be careful. I'm sorry doesn't bring back anyone.

fatrap

 

[Larry Harp]

Mike, did you happen to catch NBC Dateline last night? It was very interesting considering our conversation just befor it came on. They had a segment about 16 year old drivers. Fortunatly Andy watched it with me and talk about an eyeopener for him. They discussed how the immature human brain cannot make the kind of life or death decisions that are needed to be a truly safe driver until the age of 20. They pointed out that 70% of 16 year olds will have some form of traffic accident and that they have 150% more accidents than even 17 year olds. They started out the segment by interviewing a couple who had lost their 16 year old daughter in an accident. They showed an experimental device that places two cameras in the car with the teenage driver. It was incredible who these teenage drivers, knowing that they were being filmed did some of the stupidest things. One went off the road while yelling at some kids in another car, several just drove through stop signs and red lights without even seeing them. Thankfully, Andy watched and I believe it sank in why his mother and I have such concern about him driving and that we're not just being overprotective.



Harpo

 

[Bruce Yeaton]

Congrats Sooner! Next is college and before you know it you'll be a grandfather

 

[fatrap]

Harpo

I didn't see it but am privy to the studies. Our Driver's Ed teacher and I share an office. He's told me of the studies and the techniques used to help teach the students how to avoid these mistakes. My son has only had one accident but the daughter has had four. One a telephone ran out from a ditch in front of her. One she missed a turn and went into a soybean field, Whoever made the road was stupid to make the curve that tight. Get the picture? Girls have a hard time because they are trying to put on make up while talking to the girls next to them and the boyfriend on the cellphone all this and having to put up with stupid other people driving around themLOL. Oh well. Say your prayers and and read him that essay.

Good luck.

fatrap

 

[Larry Harp]

Mike, I Googled for that poem every which way I could think of but didn't score a hit. I did find the Parent/Teen Driver Contract which is very interesting. I also came across then NBC Dateline story that I was talking about, I copied a link for you.



I appreciate your concern I'm worried too. For some reason I wasn't as worried when my daughter started driving. She was always a grown-up, when she was 16 she acted more like she was 21 and now that she's 21 she acts like she's older than me.



Harpo
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8501174/

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

FAtrap, this one?





I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said.

You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.

I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.

Now the party is finally ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight.

As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece.

Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.



I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out on the road,

the other car didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say,

the other guy is drunk, Mom, and but I'm the one who'll pay.



I'm lying here dying, Mom....I wish you'd get here soon.

How could this happen to me, Mom? My life burst like a balloon.

There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.

I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a very short time.



I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.

It was the others, Mom. The others who didn't think.

He was probably at the same party as I.

The difference is, he drank....now I will die.



Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.

I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don't think it's fair.

I'm lying here dying....all he can do is stare.



Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave.

And when I go to Heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.

Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive.

If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.



My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared.

Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there.

I have one last question, Mom, before I say good bye.

I didn't drink and drive, Mom, so why am I to die?





Someone made the effort to write this poem. So please, forward this to as many people as you can. And see if we can get a chain going around the world that will make people understand that drinking and driving don't mix.

 

[William H. (Bill) Barham]

Man o' Man... If this doesn't make you cry you're not human.



Bill

 

[Tim Jeffers]

I've seen the poem that "fatrap" is talking about - Title is "Dead at 17" I believe.



TJ

 

[Tim Jeffers]

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/only17.htm