Sadness, Anger, Hope & Prayer
My mind weighs heavy on me today. I find myself trying to process feelings that I am not sure what to do with; sadness and anger for people I don’t even know personally.
In September 2015, Jennifer Neville-Lake lost all three of her children and her father when an impaired driver hit the van they were in. I do not know her, but my thoughts and prayers have been with this woman ever since I heard this story on the news. I am heartbroken for her. How does a mother go on when she’s lost all of her children in one brief moment in time? I can’t even fathom it. I think to myself “if it were me how would I go on?” And I can’t complete the thought. I can’t. My children are my soul. Without them I would be lost forever.
On that September afternoon, Marco Muzzo got behind the wheel of his car and drove home drunk after arriving from Las Vegas from his bachelor party. He could have taken a cab. He could have asked for someone to pick him up. But he CHOSE to drive impaired, and in one brief moment in time his CHOICE took four lives. FOUR LIVES! I don’t know Marco Muzzo, but I can’t help but wonder in his 29 years of life, surely this man has learned the dangers of drinking and driving. How could he have thought it was a smart idea to get behind the wheel that day? I have such a hard time processing this.
Today was the sentencing for Marco Muzzo, hence the sadness and anger I mentioned before. Ten years minus time served and eligible for parole after serving one-third of his sentence. Once he is released he will not be able to drive for 12 years. Maybe I’m too emotional about this case but how is there justice in this sentence? I know nothing will bring back those sweet children, but how is this enough? I understand that he is a first-time offender, but how is this sentence enough for a man who drove impaired THREE TIMES over the legal limit? Nobody forced him to drink. He CHOSE to. Nobody forced him to drive drunk. He CHOSE to. How is this sentence enough for a man who took four lives?
All I can do is hope and pray.
I hope that Mr. Muzzo will think about that poor choice he made for the rest of his life. I hope that he thinks of those beautiful children every day and begs their souls for forgiveness for cutting their lives much too short. I hope he never drinks another drop of alcohol again. I hope when he eventually goes free that he will be an advocate for driving sober.
I pray for Jennifer Neville-Lake. I pray that somehow she finds peace. I pray that she somehow finds joy in her life again. I pray for her children. I pray that they are together with their grandfather and their souls are at rest and happy.
I hope that this tragic story teaches people never to drink and drive. I hope that anyone out there who has thought about driving impaired will think about this story, those precious kids and the horrible decision Marco Muzzo made and choose not to make the same mistake.
I hope and I pray.
