Butterflies are Free...

Hey everyone,

{{{Kind of a long post today.  PLEASE scroll down for MERCY'S TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE and a preview of a BRAND NEW stamp from the Greeting Farm that is FAIRY awesome, if you ask me ;)}}}

Today's Challenge at Die Cuts R Us has us feeling girlie and whimsical and I LOVE that!   There aren't a whole lot of cards I want to make that DON'T involve at least one of those two things, LOL.   Anyway, today's challenge is to simply create a "girly" card and so head on over to the DCRU DT Blog for more details on that!

Also, be sure to check out what the rest of the DCRU DT has been up for this challenge:

• Amber
• Cara
• Gwen
• Jessica (that's me!)
• Lori
• Margie
• Sammye Jo-DT Coordinator
• Sarahbeth Burke

Ok, now for the disclosure, LOL....: The rest of this post is a bit nerve-wracking as the idea for my card today came from a date that I wish I didn't have to commemorate, but that has left an indelible mark on my life as well as many others around me.  I wrote something several years ago and haven't showed it to anyone and well, for some reason, today I felt it was time.

Eighteen years and 9 days ago, I got a phone call from a friend to let me know that one of my childhood best friends Meggan had been in a terrible accident.  She was 14, I was 15.   It had been a few years since I had seen her on a real regular basis because I had moved to another town and we were going to different schools, but she was one of my favorite people and I adored her and her family.

On November 17th, 1991, Meggan died as an innocent victim of a careless, reckless, and horrific drunk driving incident.  The next year or so of my life was pretty tied up with emotion, regret...a year that was  consumed by following the news and papers to be sure that justice was done to the drunk kids responsible for her accident and that ultimately took her life.  I became a confirmed Catholic that year and took her name w/ special permission from my church as my Confirmation name to honor her life.   Most importantly, though, I made the choice to become an advocate for my high school friends about the dangers of drinking and driving and the devastating impact and ruined lives it can cause in the process.   That is one thing I NEVER did and now that I'm a mom myself, I really hope I can instill this in my kids.

I normally try not to turn blog posts into Public Service announcements but please, do not drink and drive.  If there is anything I know, it is the pain and sheer agony that has been caused to Meggan's family and all the people in her life who knew her and loved her...including me.  Not to mention the two other girls killed in that crash.  It happens all the time...every minute... and it has to stop.  When I think about who that wonderful, BEAUTIFUL girl would have been today it makes me crazy to think that it couldn't have been stopped...I can only imagine how her family feels.  Especially today.  November 17th.

There isn't much I can do today to comfort her family who still relives this horrific event every day...not even much I can do for myself not to be sad from time to time, but you better believe that I will do everything I can to turn around what I know and try to remind people, especially my own family.    In thinking about all of this tonight, I wrote something for Meg, and although I'm a little apprehensive about sharing it, it means too much not to.

My whole life I've been obsessed with butterflies.   You all know this by now, I'm sure :)   When Meggan died, the liturgy program for her funeral mass had the words "Butterflies are free" typed on it.   It moved me at 15; you can only imagine how it moves me to think about that now.   I hope you, too are moved by the poem I wrote so many years ago...the rhythm/banter isn't the best, obviously, but I hope you find it as meaningful as I do and that it moves you in some way.  You may have to click on the pic to read it better, but those were my words years ago and they still ring so, so true today.

Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far.    I just want to say this:


Even if you tell ONE person not to drink and drive today, you could save a life.  Perhaps several.

I want to dedicate today's post to Meggan's family, specifically my friend Jen, Meg's sister.  She is a beautiful person on the inside and out and I know she could use an extra hug today...which I am sending across the miles, Jen..to you and your Mom.   Thanks for all you do to educate people and to keep Meg alive and with her loved ones as best you can.   I love you guys always.

Much love and thanks for being here,
Jessica