remembering Calvin

Today’s post is a serious one, about remembering Calvin.  Three years ago on Saturday I received a horrible phone call from my dear friend Donna telling me her oldest son Calvin had been killed in a car accident.  The whole thing was a nightmare, and I still don’t know how Donna walks around breathing every day.  Calvin was an adorable, handsome, sweet, gifted 14-year-old who died too soon.

Calvin’s accident was just that; something tragic, an avoidable accident.  Calvin hated seat belts, and on a family road trip took his off to get more comfortable.  Everyone else in the car wearing a seat belt escaped with “superficial” injuries.

This is the part where I use this platform to stand up on a soapbox for a minute.  I can’t tell you how many times a day/week I see kids sitting on their parents lap, driving around town, on the freeway {!}, and  in the carpool lane.

The seat belts in your car are there for you to be protected, please don’t be complacent about the safety of your children.  The grief and heartache that can be avoided is immeasurable; you can take a simple precaution and WEAR your seat belt all the time, always.

Donna has been working with the Zero Fatalities campaign in Utah, along with other families who’ve endured similar tragedies.  She’s received a small measure of comfort educating the public, hopefully reaching youth who will listen to her advice. 

Please listen.

On Saturday to commemorate his death, his family went to the cemetery where he’s buried and set off 14 colorful paper lanterns into the night sky.  It was a beautiful remembrance of a beautiful boy.

— Donna wrote a sweet post about Calvin if you’d like to read it.  There’s music on her blog, so mute your speakers if you’re at work. —

{photo by Yang Tee Mon}

Allison

Hello there! I'm Allison Czarnecki, founder + editor of Petit Elefant, a blog all about style on a budget for every part of your life: style / home / travel / family. I do a lot of how-to beauty + style tutorials, travel posts, easy recipes, home remodel projects, and cool DIY crafts you totally want to try. I'm super happily married (to a hot Polish immigrant) and am the mother of two kids, a daughter and son, all of whom are featured here on the regular. We live in the country but we're a little bit rock + roll. Welcome!