By Shirley McDonald
Before you turn on the
ignition of your vehicle, take a moment and a deep breath. Focus.
Clear your mind and think safety for yourself and others. Engage your seat belt, forget the cell
phone.
Before entering a work
zone, pay attention to the alerts that are given well before entry into the
zone. Think about those whose lives
depend upon you. We have all heard these
admonitions, unfortunately many do not really listen to the message. Save a
life, it may be your own.
In memory of Scott
McDonald
killed in a work zone June 1, 2005:
A fraction of a second,
a different decision, more awareness, and response ability and you might still
be here with your family and friends. A
horrific work zone accident on highway 75 took you away from us 10 years ago
and our memories, dreams and plans with you and for you all changed.
Now you are
immortalized, frozen in time while we go on living. You are missed every second of every day. Your
loss created a hole that cannot be filled.
A piece of each of us left behind died with you. Thankfully, you gave so
much to us during your life that we can hold on to who you were and who you
were becoming, but we will never know who you would have become.
Your enthusiasm for
life, your constant dreaming that life would always get better, knowing that
effort and direction in life could get you where you wanted to be are sorely
missed. Your commitment to caring for and about others is a precious memory. Each
holiday, birthday, anniversary, special shared event becomes a time of sadness
and memory of you and your lack of presence in our lives today. We have had to
learn to get beyond constant grief and focus on today and what we can do to
honor your name.
As we have said goodbye
to other relatives and friends our grief for your loss has swelled again and
threatened to overtake us, but that grief has also proven to us that life goes
on and that even with grief there can be joy as we commit to other
relationships taking the risk to lose again knowing the benefits of being
connected.
No one knows what
happens when we die. But my mother's belief is that heaven exists and that you
are there at peace and with those you have loved who have gone before you. I
believe that you can see those of us left behind and serve as our angel. You
will always be loved.
Shirley McDonald is the mother of KDOT employee Scotty
McDonald, who was killed in a work zone crash in 2005.
Highway workers use safe practices when they are out working to maintain the Kansas road system, but they are completly reliant on the safe driving practices of motorists driving on our Kansas roads, so we all need to be extra alert in work zones.
ReplyDeleteShirley, What a heart-felt tribute to your son and a great reminder to everyone to slow down and really pay attention while driving. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis whole story is so powerful, but the sentence, you are missed every second of every day really hits home. And to think of all the things you and your family have missed out on sharing with him is so sad. Lives are on the line in work zones and families are affected forever.
ReplyDeleteShirley, beautiful words. It is hard to believe it was 10 years ago, it still feels like yesterday when it happened. I was one of the first few that arrived on scene after the call went out over the radio. RIP Scotty. Honor you with a moment of memory of you, every time I pass your memorial!
ReplyDeleteScott, thanks so much for your efforts on behalf of Scotty at the accident. Coming to suh a scene must have been horrifying. I have always been comforted by knowing that others were with him in his last moments of life. I believe that he knew you were there trying to help and that it helped him to be less frightened. Thanks also for continuing to remember him.
DeleteShirley