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Tim Ryerson

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MADD!!

Blog Posted by Tim Ryerson: 7/1/2014 7:34:00 AM

Hello again my friends! My one and only reason for posting this is that I hope it might serve as a warning and perhaps do some kind of good to whoever happens to read this. This poem is what I WISH I had able to read as a victim impact statement...The poem is rather graphic and brutal but so be it...What happened was MUCH more so. Thanks - Tim

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

"Your honor, against my advice, my client has decided to plead no contest. I respectfully ask for leniency and that he be ordered to pay restitution to Tim, Vicki Ryerson & family which would include the following"...

Walk back to that street
Crawl inside that wreck
Feel his last heart-beat
Touch his broken neck

Wake up in their dream
Face their blackest fears
Hear his mother scream
Collapse inside their tears

Stumble through their haze
Hate their morning lights
Trudge through empty days
Dread their sleepless nights

Cower on their edge
Hear their demons hiss
Slip upon their ledge
Fall in their abyss

Snap beneath their strains
Bleed out from their wounds
Spatter from their brains
Rot inside their tombs

Toe the line you crossed
Bear the cross you made
Lose what they have lost
Pay the price they paid

Yes, walk back to your street
Crawl inside your wreck
Feel your last heart-beat
Touch your broken neck...

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) was with us through every hearing, the trial and final sentencing. Our rep knew all the lawyers, judges and the DA and told us what judges were lenient, strict etc...If you donate to charity, I cannot think of a better way to do so

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Jayne
Eggins

Date: 7/2/2014 6:44:00 AM

Though ive never lost anyone like this I did have a very bad accident when i was 17 the driver at fault nodded off after a drink filled night before, this is heartbreaking Tim told with truth and a truckload of paun... big hugs xxxxx

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 7:05:00 AM

The idiots at PS have screwed something and I can't see your whole comment, so I will have to guess that you were hit by a drunk driver? Nevertheless, Thank you dear lady for your comment and support...

Poet Destroyer
A

Date: 7/1/2014 6:18:00 PM

AWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Linda

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 5:56:00 PM

And thanks for helping make this there-yet-there-yet...

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 6:55:00 PM

Thank you Linda dear, you are one of a kind. God DEFINITELY broke the mold...

Nette
Onclaud

Date: 7/1/2014 4:25:00 PM

i did a poem on this theme.. how heartbreaking for you, tim... keep your chin up!.. well done and huggs

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 6:58:00 PM

Thanks SO much Nettie! I would LOVE to see the poem you speak of...

Casarah
Nance

Date: 7/1/2014 4:11:00 PM

*hugs* thank you for sharing, with eyes full of tears, I offer you thousand of healing thoughts my friend. xox

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 7:00:00 PM

You have no idea what your comment means to me my friend, and that goes for the comment on my poem as well...

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 7/1/2014 3:05:00 PM

an excellent poem on the topic, Tim. I read down in the comments that your cousin has survived the ordeal, so I'm thankful for you guys for that!

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 7:10:00 PM

Thank you to my best friend on the Soup...You have lended support to me from the beginning and I will NEVER forget that. Yes, I remember the loss of your brother to similar circumstances and of course, I understand, sympathize and identify...

Jadazzle
United

Date: 7/1/2014 11:42:00 AM

I would love to see drink drivers who cause the death of another banned from driving for life - nothing else is good enough and it could act as a deterrent to others stupid enough to do it. Sadly the law is not on the side of the victim's family. My heart goes out to you Tim, Have just read your other heartbreaking poem. Jan xxx

Jadazzle United
Date: 7/2/2014 2:32:00 AM

I agree Tim, the penalties for ANY drink driving offence are a joke and sadly as Andrea says they simply re-offend. The whole system needs reviewing and we need much harder hitting education for the young. Personally I would love to see zero tolerance for drink and drugs driving but that will never happen. Hugs Jan xxx

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 7:27:00 PM

I agree with you Jan but I wouldn't stop there. ANYONE who drives recklessly and causes a fatality should be prosecuted and put in jail...In a strange sort of way, it could be an even worse offense...It's like, 'you're not drunk but you're gonna drive that way SOBER???' Thanks for the comment my friend!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/1/2014 2:58:00 PM

they get their licences suspended but drive anyway. there is nothing to stop them. As long as they don"T get caught, they do it again and again. That is the "land of the free" that I know!

Barbara
Gorelick

Date: 7/1/2014 11:39:00 AM

Oh Tim, I am so sorry to read about this.. puts our trivial problems in perspective. I really had no idea what MADD did, although of course I have heard of them. Im glad you could share this with us. BG

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 2:39:00 AM

Barbara - We go back a long way don't we? I can tell by reading your poems that you've had your share of heartbreak and losses as well. Your humility humbles me...

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/1/2014 2:59:00 PM

I think MADD did not exist when my brother was killed by a drunk driver in the early 80's. The killer got nothing, not even a slap on the hand.

Tim
Ryerson

Date: 7/1/2014 11:35:00 AM

Cont...The judge was on OUR side and was extremely sympathetic at the sentencing, saying something like "If I could, I'd put you away for the rest of your life but I can't" At the end he was forced to apologize to all of us present which he did while shedding crocodile tears and mumbling... Then my wife performed one of the most incredible acts of forgiveness I have ever seen. She got up, took both his hands and gave him a tender, motherly lecture. Amazing...

Constance La France
Date: 7/1/2014 1:57:00 PM

Tim, your wife is wise, for to hold the hate would only grow and destroy you in the end, that person has to live with what they did forever and ever ~~

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 11:37:00 AM

I will stop rambling now...

Tim
Ryerson

Date: 7/1/2014 11:17:00 AM

Indulge me if you would...The young man (punk) received ONE year minus time served (About 9 months) The city police AND the Highway Patrol both arrived at the scene. The HWP wanted to do the investigation but the police got their egos up, so instead of a doing blood alcohol test on the scene they waited til he was taken to the hospital and treated (Poor fella had a broken) When they finally took the test, he of course had time to sober up and the DA told us that if we went for Vehicular Homicide which carries up to a 20 yr. sentence, we could lose the whole case, so we had to settle for Negligent Homicide and were forced to pre-agree with the sentencing...

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 7/1/2014 4:42:00 PM

I'm sorry that you lost a brother too dear Andrea.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/1/2014 3:04:00 PM

I meant to say, the man thought he had JUST hit a tree, and did not realize he had hit DAle too. He had a woman on his lap. Or you get the idea. My mom and dad flew down to Texas for the trial and it was all about "poor guy, his first offense" They had to pay for the flight and the funeral and the guy paid nothing.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/1/2014 3:02:00 PM

sorry how it went down, Tim. I have written about my brother Dale and how he was hit by a drunk as he sat on a sidewalk curb at 2 a.m with out another car in sight. What are the odds??? The driver did not know he had hit DAle. He thought he'd hit a tree. He was not even punished by a fine. This was 1984

Charmaine
Chircop

Date: 7/1/2014 10:23:00 AM

I read your last poem Tim..I thought you lost a neighbour or a friend,but nw Im.reading and I guess you lost a son?I have no words to ease your pain Tim.All I have are prayers dear friend.

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 7/2/2014 4:59:00 PM

Tnks for the prayers dear

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 2:48:00 AM

Dearest Charma - All I can say is that your reply on my poem applies here as well. You are a true treasure to me. SO sorry to hear about your cousin. I pray that God will lay His healing hands upon him...

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 7/1/2014 10:31:00 AM

Few years ago my cousin was close to.death for a whole month cause of careless driving from the other party.A guy went wrong way direct hit with sn Evo in my cousin's car.Apart from a month in Intensive care playing with death, He had another two months to follow in hospital and nw still suffers from eleven percent disability.He got a compensation~but cant bring his health to where it was.It hurts yes,and I hope people reading your blog can learn from this terrible experience and act more responsible.Im sorry Tm

Constance
La France

Date: 7/1/2014 10:02:00 AM

Tim, I am so sorry for your loss, no sentencing or words can soothe the pain your family is feeling, God Bless You all.

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 3:04:00 AM

We go back a long way do we not?

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 3:02:00 AM

Thank you SO very much my dear and treasured friend Constance. All I can say is that my reply to your comment on my latest poem on the same subject most certainly applies here...

Carol
Eastman

Date: 7/1/2014 9:55:00 AM

I've never heard this message said this well before... My family and I are sorry for your loss. We never drink at all. Our foster son is with us because both his parents are alcoholics... Their kids suffered greatly, too.

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 3:12:00 AM

Thank you SO much my dear friend. Your comment means the world and much more to me...I admire you for taking in a foster son. I have no doubt you have been a positive influence...

Eileen
Manassian

Date: 7/1/2014 9:31:00 AM

Tim...you know my thoughts. I've shared them with you. This is so heart wrenching. Only a parent can know the pain of losing son or daughter. One person's carelessness impacts a group of people...forever. It's mad. Words are useless. I'm sending you my heartfelt hugs...

Eileen
Manassian

Date: 7/1/2014 9:24:00 AM

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 3:31:00 AM

And yes, I know your thoughts. You have been so very supportive and sympathetic both here and on FB. I admire and thank you for that...Most people with children of their own shy away when they hear of the loss of a child by another person and I can't say that I blame them...

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 4:56:00 PM

You are a great lady with a great soul...

Debbie
Guzzi

Date: 7/1/2014 9:23:00 AM

I know what you went through, perhaps you can do a contest on the theme of what drinking does to people?

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 11:57:00 AM

I know that you know Deb...I'll never forget that you were one of the first to comment on a similar version and helped me edit and whittle it down...You also encouraged me to write more about it which of course, I did.Thanks dear friend of mine...

Joyce
Johnson

Date: 7/1/2014 8:28:00 AM

Dear Tim, I don't know what really happened to you but I know it must have been horrendous and am so sorry. If only words could change things. So sorry. Love, Joyce

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/2/2014 3:20:00 AM

We share a common bond and I admire you for surviving your loss...

Tim Ryerson
Date: 7/1/2014 9:03:00 AM

Thanks so much Joyce...I know that you lost a son as well so I'm sure you identify...

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MADD!!

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